Description
Homemade Cheesy Taco Cream Cheese Pasta blends Mexican-inspired flavors with creamy comfort. Quick weeknight dinners become extraordinary with this simple, delicious recipe that satisfies pasta and taco cravings in one hearty dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef or turkey
- 12 oz (340 g) pasta (penne, rigatoni, or your choice)
- 4 oz (115 g) cream cheese (softened)
- 1 cup (120 g) shredded cheddar cheese or Mexican blend cheese
- 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning (or homemade seasoning)
- ½ cup water
- 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies (such as Rotel)
- ¼ cup sour cream (optional)
- 2 tbsps chopped fresh cilantro (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Boiling Preparation: Fill a large pot with salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Cook pasta until al dente, then drain while reserving a small amount of starchy cooking liquid.
- Meat Preparation: In a spacious skillet, brown ground beef over medium heat, breaking it into fine crumbles until thoroughly cooked and developing a rich caramelized exterior. Drain excess fat.
- Seasoning Integration: Sprinkle taco seasoning over beef, adding water to create a robust sauce. Simmer until the mixture reduces and flavors intensify.
- Creamy Fusion: Blend undrained green chili tomatoes and cream cheese into the seasoned meat. Stir continuously to create a smooth, uniform sauce with deep flavor profiles.
- Pasta Incorporation: Add cooked pasta directly into the skillet, tossing completely to ensure every pasta strand is evenly coated with the spicy meat sauce. Adjust consistency using reserved pasta water if needed.
- Cheese Melting: Scatter shredded cheddar across the pasta, stirring until achieving a glossy, fully melted texture. Fold in sour cream to enhance the dish’s creamy richness and provide a tangy undertone.
- Final Touch: Optionally garnish with fresh cilantro for a vibrant, herbaceous accent. Serve piping hot to maintain optimal flavor and texture.
Notes
- Pasta Water Preservation: Reserve some starchy pasta water before draining to help create a silky, cohesive sauce that perfectly coats the noodles and enhances overall dish texture.
- Beef Browning Technique: Cook ground beef over moderate heat, allowing it to develop a deep caramelized exterior for maximum flavor depth and rich meaty complexity.
- Seasoning Integration: Thoroughly mix taco seasoning with beef and allow it to simmer, which helps intensify the spice profile and ensures even flavor distribution throughout the dish.
- Cheese Melting Wisdom: Add shredded cheddar gradually and stir continuously to achieve a smooth, luxurious melted consistency without creating clumpy or separated cheese sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg