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Cheesy Taco Spaghetti

Taco-seasoned beef and tomatoes tossed with spaghetti and topped with melted Mexican cheese—an easy blend of pasta and taco night.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course, Pasta
Cuisine: Italian, Mexican
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz spaghetti noodles
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ cup diced onion
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 10 oz Rotel tomatoes undrained
  • ½ cup original taco sauce or more to taste
Homemade Taco Seasoning
  • 1½ –2 teaspoons chili powder
  • ½ –1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ –½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • 1½ –2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend divided
  • Chopped cilantro and green onions for garnish
Optional toppings: diced tomatoes, sour cream, sliced black olives, jalapeños, avocado

Method
 

Cook the Spaghetti
  1. Boil the spaghetti in salted water until just al dente. Drain and set aside so it's ready to stir in later.
Sauté Aromatics & Brown the Beef
  1. Over medium heat, warm the olive oil in a large deep skillet. Add the diced onion and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook until it becomes fragrant—just around 30 seconds. Add the ground beef, season it with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and cook until it’s fully browned. Drain off any excess fat to keep the dish from becoming greasy.
Build the Sauce
  1. Stir in the can of Rotel tomatoes (with juices) and taco sauce. Let the mixture simmer briefly, allowing the flavors to meld and warm the sauce evenly.
Add Pasta & Season
  1. Add the drained spaghetti into the skillet, tossing it to coat evenly in the beef and tomato mixture.
Sprinkle Taco Seasoning & Cheese
  1. Combine your homemade taco seasoning blend and sprinkle it over the pasta and beef, stirring well to distribute the spices. Mix in 1 cup of shredded cheese, allowing it to melt into the noodles and sauce. Taste, adjust seasoning, and if you’d like a richer texture, stir in more cheese.
Melt the Topping
  1. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top of the spaghetti, cover the skillet, and let it sit on low heat for a few minutes to melt the top layer into a gooey blanket.
Garnish & Serve
  1. Top the cheesy taco spaghetti with chopped cilantro and green onions. Serve immediately, letting everyone customize with optional toppings like sour cream, diced tomatoes, olives, or avocado.