Name: Taco Spaghetti (One Pot)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 pound ground meat (beef, turkey, or chicken); 1 medium onion (chopped); 1/4 cup taco seasoning; 1 cup salsa (fresh or jarred); 8 oz spaghetti; 3 cups water; 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.

Use this easy taco spaghetti recipe to create a delicious one-skillet dinner loaded with meat, cheese, and those signature Tex-Mex flavors.

Busy weeknight? This taco spaghetti is cooked in one pan and loaded with cheesy, saucy goodness that your family will devour.

Easy Taco Spaghetti

This taco spaghetti uses the same one-skillet method as my beef pasta goulash, so the spaghetti cooks right in the pan (not separately) and incorporates all the flavors my family loves from my taco pasta recipe.

That means fewer dishes and way more flavor, since the noodles absorb all the taco-seasoned liquid as they cook. My family devours it without a single complaint, making it the perfect meal for busy weeknights when my mom-brain can’t handle one more thing.

Ingredients

You can make this recipe with your favorite spaghetti, although whole wheat pasta needs 5 more minutes of cooking time. Use any ground meat (beef, chicken, or turkey) you like to use in your recipes, and flavor it with taco seasoning. Salsa can be mild, spicy, chunky, or smooth; it’s used for flavor and as a liquid. Water is added to cook the pasta, and shredded cheddar cheese ties it all together at the very end.

How to Make Taco Spaghetti

You’ll find all the details in the recipe card, but essentially, this is how easy making this meal is:

1. Brown the meat and onions in the skillet. Then, add the seasoning, salsa, and water and mix.
2. Place the spaghetti on top, and bring the liquid to a boil. Stir.
3. Cook the spaghetti with the heat on low, covered, for 15 minutes.
4. Add the cheese to the cooked taco pasta, and toss to combine.

Recipe Variations

You can make this taco spaghetti spicier by adding fresh chopped jalapeños, or kick up the veggie factor by adding spinach, bell pepper, zucchini, corn, or mushrooms. No ground beef? Use ground chicken or turkey!

Taco Spaghetti (One Pot)

Servings: 6

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 25

Total Time: 30

Use this easy taco spaghetti recipe to create a delicious one-skillet dinner loaded with meat, cheese, and those signature Tex-Mex flavors.

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground meat, beef, turkey, or chicken
1 medium onion, chopped
¼ cup taco seasoning
1 cup salsa, fresh or jarred
8 oz spaghetti
3 cups water
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

Cook the beef:

In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat. When the beef is nearly cooked, add the chopped onions and continue to cook until the beef is fully cooked through and the onions are tender.
Add the taco seasoning and the salsa to the skillet and mix well. Pour the water, mix it, and spread it out as a single layer.

Cook the spaghetti:

Place the spaghetti on top and bring it to a boil. Once it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet with a lid, and simmer (undisturbed) for 15 minutes.
At this point, the pasta will have absorbed the liquid and will be cooked. Open the lid and toss the spaghetti with kitchen tongs. Top with the shredded cheese and mix to melt it while incorporating it with the taco spaghetti.