Description
Spicy taco mac & cheese fiesta brings Mexican-inspired comfort to classic pasta perfection. Cheesy noodles dance with zesty seasoning, creating a mouthwatering blend that promises pure culinary excitement you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) lean ground beef
- 8 ounces (227 grams) Velveeta cheese, shredded or diced
- 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
Liquid and Seasoning:
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 1-ounce package taco seasoning
- 1 10.5-ounce can unsalted cream of chicken soup
Pasta and Tomatoes:
- 8 ounces (227 grams) elbow macaroni, uncooked
- 1 10-ounce can diced tomatoes and green chiles, drained
Instructions
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish thoroughly with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat until completely cooked, ensuring no pink remains. Drain excess fat.
- Add taco seasoning and water to the beef, simmering until liquid completely absorbs and meat is well-coated.
- Create cheese sauce by combining soup, milk, broth, diced tomatoes with chiles, and Velveeta in a saucepan. Melt ingredients over medium heat, stirring constantly until smooth and creamy.
- Fold cooked meat into the cheese sauce, then gently incorporate pasta, mixing thoroughly to ensure even distribution.
- Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish, cover securely, and refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to meld.
- Remove casserole from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Uncover dish and sprinkle Mexican cheese evenly across the top.
- Bake for 60 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly, and casserole is heated through completely.
Notes
- Enhance flavor by using homemade taco seasoning for a fresher, more robust taste profile.
- Make the dish gluten-free by substituting regular pasta with gluten-free alternatives like chickpea or rice pasta.
- Boost nutrition by adding diced bell peppers or black beans to increase vegetable content and protein.
- Create a spicier version by mixing in diced jalapeños or using hot taco seasoning for heat lovers.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 479 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg