Cheesy Taco Pasta Bake

Treat your taste buds to a fiesta of flavor with this cheesy taco pasta bake. It's the best of both worlds - zesty tacos and comforting pasta - coming together in cheesy, savory, comfort food perfection. This delicious taco casserole is a budget-friendly meal that's quick and easy, customizable, and makes excellent leftovers.

Mexican and Italian are two of my favorite cuisines, and this cheesy casserole combines them into a hearty and savory comfort food meal so I don't have to choose one over the other.

After combining all of your ingredients, you can either serve this taco pasta bake straight from the stovetop, or bake it in the oven. Garnish it with your favorite toppings, like tortilla chips, jalapeños, or black olives.

If you love baked pasta, be sure to try this spinach artichoke pasta bake!

Jump to:

• ⭐️ Why This Taco Pasta Casserole is the Best
• 🧀 Ingredient Notes
• 🥘 Variations & Substitutions
• 🔪 How to Make Taco Pasta Bake
• 👩🏼‍🍳 Expert Tips
• 🌶️ Baked Taco Pasta Toppings
• 🍽 How to Serve Taco Noodle Casserole
• 💬 Frequently Asked Questions
• 🍝 More Pasta Recipes
• Taco Pasta Bake Recipe

⭐️ Why This Taco Pasta Casserole is the Best

• It's like a cheesy Hamburger Helper dinner casserole, but made fresher and tastier with Mexican flavors
• Budget-friendly recipe made with 7 simple ingredients
• Easy Mexican pasta casserole that's great for busy weeknights or to feed a crowd
• Perfect comfort food that makes excellent leftovers and freezes well
• Kid-friendly taco noodle bake
• Customize it according to what you have on hand

🧀 Ingredient Notes

• Pasta - I used medium pasta shells since I like their texture, and it allows the meat, sauce, and cheese to get into all of the crevices. Any type of short pasta, like penne or fusilli, will work great.
• Ground meat - I used ground turkey since it's a lean protein, but you can use chicken or beef as well.
• Yellow onion - Adds a layer of flavor and slight sweetness
• Garlic - Use fresh garlic or jarred garlic for the best flavor
• Taco seasoning - If you have homemade taco seasoning, go ahead and use that here. I used a store-bought packet of taco seasoning.
• Chunky salsa - I used chunky salsa because I like a thicker sauce, but if you want a thinner sauce, go for a more watery salsa.
• Shredded cheddar cheese or Mexican blend cheese - You can use either type of cheese here. Or mix in some Pepper jack for a slight kick!

🥘 Variations & Substitutions

• Meatless: Not a meat eater? No problem! Substitute 2 cups of refried beans or chickpeas for the ground meat.
• Gluten-free: Use gluten-free pasta for a gluten-free taco bake.
• Creamy: Stir in 4 oz. of sour cream or cream cheese to make a creamy sauce.
• Make it on the stovetop: You can totally serve this without baking it in the oven. You won't be getting the golden, cheesy bits on top, but it will still be delicious.

🔪 How to Make Taco Pasta Bake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9"x13" baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

Over high heat, bring a large pot of (salted) water to a boil. Add pasta and cook 2 minutes less than package instructions, stirring occasionally to prevent the noodles from sticking together. After pasta is cooked, set aside ¾ cup of pasta water and drain the pasta.

Spray a large frying pan with non-stick cooking spray and place over medium heat. Cook the ground meat with onion and garlic, using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula to break up meat as it cooks. Cook until meat is no longer pink. Drain fat from the pan and return it to the heat.

Add the taco seasoning, pasta water, and salsa. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a low boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes.

Add cooked pasta and 1 ½ cups of shredded cheese, and mix well. Transfer the mixture to prepared baking dish and sprinkle remaining ½ cup of cheese on top. Bake uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden and bubbly. Garnish with your preferred toppings and serve immediately.

👩🏼‍🍳 Expert Tips

• Storage: Cover and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• How to reheat: You can reheat it in the microwave, or cover it with foil and place in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20 minutes.
• How to freeze: After taco bake has completely cooled, portion it into quart-size freezer bags for individual servings. To thaw, place in the fridge overnight.
• Salt pasta water. Be generous when you salt your pasta water. As the water is absorbed into the noodles, the salt is absorbed along with it, giving it flavor. So, be generous with that salt!
• Drain the excess fat. After browning your meat, drain the excess grease. If you use lean ground turkey, you can skip this step.
• Don't overcook pasta. Make sure that you cook pasta 2 minutes less than the recommended cooking time.
• Reserve pasta water. Be sure to reserve ¾ cup of pasta water before draining your pasta. It contains starch, which helps to thicken the sauce and ensures that it sticks to the pasta.

🌶️ Baked Taco Pasta Toppings

• guacamole
• black olives
• green onions
• corn
• jalapeños
• cilantro
• taco sauce
• diced tomatoes
• tortilla chips

🍽 How to Serve Taco Noodle Casserole

This taco casserole is pretty hearty, so depending on who you're serving, here are some suggestions on how to serve it.

• Pair it with a refreshing side salad

• For a heartier meal, serve it with garlic bread or cornbread

• Add extra vegetables to your meal by serving it with roasted Brussels sprouts

💬 Frequently Asked Questions

🍝 More Pasta Recipes

Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also stay in touch with us through social media by following us on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook.

Subscribe to my email newsletter to get a FREE e-book of 15 Healthy Weeknight Recipes, and get new recipes delivered to your inbox every week!