One-Pot Taco Mac & Cheese
This one-pot taco mac and cheese is so creamy and packed with taco flavor in every bite. Everything cooks together - including the pasta - for an easy weeknight dinner with minimal cleanup!
Ingredients
- 1 small onion (finely diced)
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 pack taco seasoning
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoon tomato & chicken bouillon
- 10 oz Rotel tomatoes & green chilies
- 1 lb elbow noodles or shells
- 1 lb Velveeta cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Optional Toppings
- shredded lettuce
- diced tomatoes
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium/high heat, brown the ground beef. Add onions and cook for 3-4 minutes, until translucent. Drain any excess grease.
- Add seasonings, bouillon, Rotel, and 3 cups of water to the ground beef mixture. Add noodles and stir well, until noodles are submerged in water.
- Bring this mixture to a boil and cook for 7-10 minutes, stirring every few minutes. Most of the water should cook out as the noodles boil, so no need to drain afterwards.
- Cube Velveeta into 1" pieces. Once noodles are done cooking, add velveeta and stir until cheese is melted and you have a smooth, creamy sauce.
- Add cheddar to the top of the cooked macaroni mixture and allow it to melt before serving.
- Serve topped with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, or you favorite taco topping.
Notes
- Drain the beef after browning to keep the sauce creamy (not greasy).
- Stir while it simmers so the pasta doesn’t stick and cooks evenly.
- Keep heat low when adding Velveeta to prevent a grainy or separated sauce.
- Sauce too thick? Add a splash of milk or hot water at the end.
- Sauce too thin? Simmer a couple minutes longer uncovered to thicken.
- Great for leftovers - it thickens in the fridge; thin it out with a splash of milk when reheating.
- Freezer-friendly up to 2 months (pasta may soften a bit after thawing).
- Best pasta shapes: elbows or small shells.
- Toppings make it extra fun: shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, jalapeños, sour cream, crushed tortilla chips.
- Easy swaps: ground turkey/chicken, or pepper jack/Mexican blend for a different flavor.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 561kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 32gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 1987mgPotassium: 585mgFiber: 3gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 1152IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 464mgIron: 3mg
