Shake up your dinner routine with my simple Taco Spaghetti recipe! A warmly spiced taco meat sauce is tossed with al dente noodles and melty cheddar cheese for a meal the whole family will love.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup pasta water and drain the pasta well.
While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and onion, and cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in the taco seasoning, tomatoes, and ½ cup reserved pasta water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
Add the cooked spaghetti and cheese, stirring together until the cheese melts. Serve immediately, garnished with cilantro and your favorite toppings, like diced tomatoes, sour cream, and more cheese.
Notes
Shredding your own cheese from a block melts better since it doesn’t have the starchy coating on it like pre-shredded cheese.
Salt your pasta water! You only get one shot to season your noodles, so don’t miss the opportunity.
Don’t rinse your pasta! This will get rid of the starches on the outside that make it easier for the sauce to cling to the noodles. You can even skip using a colander—just pull the cooked spaghetti from the cooking water and place it into the pan with your meat sauce using tongs.