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.
Find it online: https://www.eatswithsoul.com/cheesy-taco-pasta-casserole/