Taco Mac and Cheese
Let's make taco mac and cheese! This recipe is perfect for an easy weeknight meal -- ready to serve in 30 minutes!
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time20 minutes mins
Total Time30 minutes mins
Course: Pasta
Cuisine: American
Keyword: taco mac and cheese
Servings: 6
Author: Emily Richter
- 8 oz. elbow macaroni
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 lb. 85% ground beef
- ½ large white onion chopped
- ½ green bell pepper minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning we used this homemade taco seasoning
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup salsa any kind
- 8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese ~2 cups
- 4 oz. shredded Monterey jack cheese ~1 cup
Garnish
- sour cream
- chopped tomatoes or pico
- cilantro
- sliced jalapeños
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions. About 7 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Heat a large skillet over medium/high heat and add avocado oil. Add the ground beef and cook until most of the pink is gone. About 3 or 4 minutes.
Add the onions and peppers and cook for another 3-4 minutes. Add the taco seasoning and cook for an additional minute.
Reduce the heat to low and add the salsa and heavy cream. Bring to a simmer and fold in the cheddar and Monterey jack cheese.
Transfer the cooked pasta to the pan and stir so that everything is fully coated in cheese sauce.
Serve topped with your favorite taco toppings.
- Make this vegetarian by using black beans instead of ground beef. Cook the onions and peppers, then add the black beans to the seasonings.
- All salsas are different. We used a thin blended salsa in this recipe. The level of spice in this will vary depending on the salsa you use.
Calories: 629kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 40g | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g