Taco Mac: Easy One-Pot Beef and Pasta
Ground beef, elbow pasta, Rotel, beans, and Colby Jack come together in this one-pot meal with taco seasoning and a beef bouillon base. Everything cooks in a large covered skillet, so the pasta is added directly to the simmering liquid after the beef and seasonings are in place.
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Watch How to Make It
The recipe finishes with shredded Colby Jack melted over the pasta. It is a straightforward dinner built around the ingredients and timing in the skillet.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
This taco mac uses ground beef along with dark red kidney beans and Rotel, then cooks dry elbow pasta in the same skillet. Taco seasoning, chili seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and beef bouillon are all added during the process.
The cheese goes on after the pasta is done, followed by a final cover so it can melt. The finished dish is served straight from the skillet.
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Ingredients You'll Need
Ground beef is browned first, with the seasonings added when it is about halfway done. The recipe uses taco seasoning, chili seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and beef bouillon.
After the beef is browned, add a can of drained and rinsed dark red kidney beans, a can of undrained Rotel, and water. Dry elbow pasta is added once the skillet contents are simmering, and shredded Colby Jack is used at the end.
How To Make It
Start by browning ground beef in a larger skillet with a lid . Once it’s about half way done season with all your seasonings , once all the way brown. Add drained beans, untrained Rotel .
Water and bullion. Once simmering add pasta cover and cook on low covered for 12-15 minutes stirring a few times.
Once pasta is done top with shredded cheese and cover and let melt . Then enjoy. Serving And Variations
Serve the taco mac after the Colby Jack has melted over the cooked pasta. The recipe combines the beef, beans, Rotel, seasonings, and pasta in the skillet before the final cheese topping.
For the stated method, add the pasta only after the liquid is simmering, then keep the skillet covered while it cooks on low. Stirring a few times is part of the 12 to 15 minute covered cooking period.
Taco Mac takes 40 minutes total, including 15 minutes of prep time and 25 minutes of cook time. This recipe uses 1.5 cups of dry elbow pasta. No. The recipe calls for unstrained Rotel. The kidney beans should be drained and rinsed. After the mixture is simmering, add the pasta, cover, and cook on low for 12-15 minutes, stirring a few times. Once the pasta is done, top the Taco Mac with shredded Colby Jack, cover it, and let the cheese melt.Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Taco Mac take to make?
What kind of pasta is used in Taco Mac?
Do I drain the Rotel before adding it?
How long should the pasta cook?
When is the cheese added?
Wrapping Up
This skillet taco mac moves from browned, seasoned beef to simmered pasta, then finishes under melted Colby Jack. Recipe created by Big Ks Que for Trust Me Try It.
Even more from Big Ks Que

Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 can Rotel
- 1 can dark red kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 3 cup water
- 1 tsp beef bouillon
- 1 tsp chilli seasoning
- 1 tsp taco seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1.5 cup dry elbow pasta
- 8 oz block shredded Colby Jack
Instructions
- Start by browning ground beef in a larger skillet with a lid . Once it’s about half way done season with all your seasonings , once all the way brown .
- Add drained beans, untrained Rotel . Water and bullion. Once simmering add pasta cover and cook on low covered for 12-15 minutes stirring a few times .
- Once pasta is done top with shredded cheese and cover and let melt . Then enjoy!
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