Taco Pasta Bake

This is a nod to my baked spaghetti casserole recipe that everyone loves but with a taco twist! You can prep this dish ahead of time so when you get home from work, all that has to be done is baking the casserole in the oven.

This post has been recently updated with new pictures and info to help you get that picture-perfect image for sharing on social media! 5/21/20

Ingredients List: 

Pasta: campanelle, fusille, penne, rigatoni, spaghetti, etc, elbow macaroni can all be used for taco pasta. 

Protein: I like to use lean ground beef. If you are looking for something leaner use ground chicken or ground turkey. 

Salsa: Any brand of jarred salsa works  At first, I tried this with crushed tomatoes and it was very bland. The salsa just gives it a lot more flavor depending on how spicy you like it! 

Additional Add ins: canned corn, canned black beans

Garnish Ideas: tortilla strips, tomatoes, sour cream, cilantro, hot sauce, more cheese

How to make Taco Pasta Bake 

1.  Preheat the oven to 350 F degrees.
2.  Cook spaghetti according to directions on the packet. Drain and place cooked spaghetti in a bowl. Add sour cream, Stir until the spaghetti is coated in all the sour cream.
3. While the spaghetti is cooking,  brown the ground beef until cooked through; drain any extra fat. Add in the taco seasoning packet with ¼ cup of water, and stir in salsa. Set aside.
4. If  you wish to add any corn or black beans add them to the salsa and meat mixture.  
5. Lightly grease a 9x13" pan. Spread half of the meat sauce in the bottom of the dish. Put spaghetti on top of sauce and top with remaining meat sauce.
6. After 30 minutes, take the casserole out,  and top it with shredded cheese. Place back in the oven or until cheese has melted on top. 2 to 5 minutes.
7. Garnish with chopped tomatoes and sliced green onions. Or any other garnish mentioned in the post.
8. Makes 8 servings.

Recipe Tips:

Make ahead: Assemble this casserole the day before. Let it cool completely before refrigerating. Keep it in the refrigerator overnight or wrapped tightly in the plastic wrap. The next day, follow baking instructions and top with cheese. 

Cooking for 1 or 2 people: Half the recipe and place the ingredients in a smaller baking dish. 

Other Recipes You Might Enjoy

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5 Easy Recipes with Cake Mix and Canned Pumpkin 

Air Fryer Chocolate Cake 

Unicorn Cheesecake 

Evil Oreo Cake 

*If you make this recipe please comment and rate the recipe below to let everyone know how it is, or tag me on Instagram! If you want to upload a photo you can do that on Pinterest. Just find the post for it. 

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