Are you ready to create the ultimate comfort food mash-up that will have the whole family running to the dinner table? A dish that combines all the zesty, savory, and cheesy goodness of your favorite taco night with the hearty, satisfying comfort of a baked pasta casserole? This incredible, super-easy Taco Pasta Casserole is that perfect meal! We’re talking tender pasta, savory ground turkey, and a rainbow of veggies, all tossed in a rich and creamy, taco-seasoned tomato sauce and baked under a glorious, gooey blanket of melted cheddar cheese.
This isn’t just another casserole recipe; it’s your new go-to for a delicious, one-pot (mostly!) meal that is perfect for busy weeknights. We’ll show you how to use a few smart shortcuts to create a stunning, from-scratch-tasting casserole that is perfect for a comforting family dinner, a potluck, or for stocking your freezer with a delicious, ready-to-bake meal.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview: The Ultimate Comfort Food Mash-Up
What makes this Taco Pasta Casserole so spectacularly delicious is its incredible, crowd-pleasing flavor and its wonderfully simple preparation. This recipe is a masterpiece of family-friendly cooking. The heart of the dish is a rich and savory, from-scratch taco meat sauce, made with lean ground turkey, a colorful medley of fresh bell peppers and onions, and protein-packed black beans. The sauce is made extra easy with canned tomatoes and a packet of taco seasoning, and a brilliant hack of stirring in Greek yogurt gives it a wonderful, tangy creaminess. This beautiful sauce is then tossed with tender pasta and baked under a generous blanket of melted cheddar cheese until hot, bubbly, and irresistible.
| Metric | Time / Level |
| Total Time | 50 minutes |
| Active Prep Time | 20 minutes |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Servings | 8 |
The Taco Night Superstars: The Essential Ingredients
This iconic dish uses a handful of smart shortcuts and high-quality pantry staples to create its signature comforting and cheesy flavor.
- The Hearty Taco Filling:
- Ground Turkey: For a healthy and delicious base, it is highly recommended to use a lean 93/7 ground turkey.
- Taco Seasoning: Using a 1-ounce packet of your favorite store-bought taco seasoning is a fantastic and convenient shortcut that provides a deep, savory, and complex flavor base with zero extra effort.
- Black Beans: A can of black beans adds a wonderful, creamy texture and a great boost of plant-based protein and fiber to the meal.
- The Creamy Sauce Hack:
- Greek Yogurt: This is the brilliant and healthy secret to a creamy sauce! A full-fat plain Greek yogurt (or sour cream) adds a wonderful, tangy creaminess to the tomato sauce without the need for a heavy cream or a separate cheese sauce.
- The Toppings: A generous sprinkle of shredded sharp cheddar cheese is the perfect choice for a classic, tangy flavor and a beautiful, gooey, golden-brown topping.
Step-by-Step to the Best Taco Pasta Casserole
This delicious, one-dish meal is incredibly simple to prepare.
Step 1: Cook the Pasta and the Taco Meat Sauce
Step 1: First, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Step 2: Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Cook your 10 ounces of pasta according to the package instructions until it is perfectly al dente.
Pro Tip: It is a great idea to cook your pasta for 1 minute less than the package directs. The pasta will continue to cook in the hot sauce in the oven, and this will prevent your final casserole from being soft and mushy. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
Step 3: While the pasta is cooking, heat the 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large, oven-safe pot or Dutch oven over a medium heat. Add the 1 pound of ground turkey and cook until it is lightly browned.
Step 4: Add in your 1 cup of diced red onion and your diced red and green bell peppers. Sauté for about 5 minutes, and then add in the 1 tablespoon of minced garlic and sauté for one more minute until it is very fragrant.
Step 5: Add in your 1-ounce package of taco seasoning, the 1 can of diced tomatoes & green chiles, the 1 can of tomato sauce, the 1/3 cup of plain Greek yogurt, and the 1 can of drained and rinsed black beans. Stir everything together to combine.
Part 2: Assemble and Bake to Bubbly, Cheesy Perfection
Step 1: Once the pasta is cooked, add it into the pot with the meat and vegetable mixture. Stir everything together until the pasta is well coated.
Step 2: If you are using an oven-safe Dutch oven, you can leave the pasta in the same pot. If not, transfer the mixture to a casserole dish.
Step 3: Top the casserole with your 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese.
Step 4: Bake for 20 minutes, until the sauce is hot and bubbling around the edges and the cheese on top is completely melted and a beautiful golden brown.
Let the casserole rest for a few minutes before you serve it. Garnish with your favorite taco toppings and enjoy!
Cheesy Taco Pasta Casserole (Easy One-Pot Meal!)
An easy, one-pot (mostly) casserole that combines the beloved flavors of tacos with a hearty pasta bake. This simple weeknight meal features a savory sauce made with ground turkey, bell peppers, and onions, all seasoned with a packet of taco seasoning. Canned tomatoes, black beans, and Greek yogurt are stirred in to create a rich, creamy base. The sauce is then combined with cooked pasta, topped with shredded cheddar cheese, and baked in a Dutch oven or casserole dish until hot and bubbly.
Ingredients
- 10 ounces pasta (of choice)
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
- 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup diced red onion
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 (1-ounce) package taco seasoning
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes & green chilies, undrained
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- For Garnish (optional):
- Chopped cilantro
- Sliced jalapeños
- Crushed tortilla chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions, until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the ground turkey and cook until lightly browned.
- Add the diced peppers and onion to the pot. Sauté for 5 minutes, then add the minced garlic and sauté for one additional minute.
- Stir in the taco seasoning, the can of diced tomatoes and green chilies, the tomato sauce, the Greek yogurt, and the black beans. Mix to combine.
- Add the cooked pasta to the meat and vegetable mixture and stir well.
- If using a Dutch oven, leave the mixture in the pot. Otherwise, transfer it to a casserole dish.
- Top the casserole with the shredded cheddar cheese.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish with chopped cilantro, sliced jalapeños, and crushed tortilla chips, if desired, and serve.
Notes
- This is a great ‘one-pot’ meal if you use a Dutch oven that can go from the stovetop to the oven, which makes for easy cleanup.
- Using Greek yogurt is a healthier way to add creaminess to the sauce compared to heavy cream or sour cream.
- Cooking the pasta until it is ‘al dente’ is important as it will continue to cook in the oven and absorb the sauce without becoming mushy.
The Ultimate Toppings Bar
A hearty bowl of taco pasta is the perfect canvas for all sorts of delicious toppings! Set out a variety of small bowls so everyone can customize their own perfect bowl.
- Creamy & Cooling: A large dollop of sour cream or more Greek yogurt, and fresh, diced avocado or a simple guacamole.
- Fresh & Zesty: A sprinkle of fresh, chopped cilantro or sliced green onions, and some fresh pico de gallo.
- Crunchy: A large handful of salty, crushed tortilla chips.
- Spicy: A few slices of fresh or pickled jalapeños.
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Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
This Taco Pasta Casserole is the ultimate make-ahead and freezer-friendly meal.
- Make-Ahead: You can fully assemble the entire, unbaked casserole up to 2 days in advance. Simply cover it tightly with foil and store it in the refrigerator. When you are ready to bake, you may need to add 15-20 minutes to the total baking time.
- Storage: Store any leftover baked casserole, well-covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: This casserole freezes beautifully! You can freeze it either before or after baking. Let it cool completely, then wrap the pan very well in a double layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of foil. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the absolute, number one secret to a pasta casserole that is not dry?
The secret is to use plenty of sauce! It is important to make sure that your pasta is generously and completely coated in the sauce before you bake it. This recipe also cleverly uses Greek yogurt, which adds a wonderful, creamy moisture to the entire dish.
Q2: Can I make this casserole ahead of time and freeze it?
Yes, this is a perfect freezer meal! The best method is to assemble the entire unbaked casserole in a freezer-safe baking dish. Then, you can wrap the dish very well in a double layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of foil. When you are ready to eat, you can bake it directly from frozen, just be sure to cover it with foil for the first hour and then uncover it, and add about 45-60 extra minutes to the total baking time.
Q3: Can I make my own taco seasoning instead of using a packet?
Yes, absolutely! A simple and delicious homemade taco seasoning can be made by combining 1 tablespoon of chili powder, 2 teaspoons of ground cumin, 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano.
Q4: Can I make this recipe vegetarian?
Of course! To make a delicious and hearty vegetarian taco casserole, simply omit the ground turkey and use vegetable broth. To make up for the bulk, you can add an extra can of your favorite beans, like pinto or kidney beans, and about a cup of corn.
Q5: What is the best kind of cheese to use for a taco casserole?
A classic, sharp cheddar cheese or a pre-shredded Mexican cheese blend (which typically includes cheddar, Monterey Jack, and other cheeses) are both fantastic choices because they have a bold, tangy flavor and melt beautifully.