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Taco Spaghetti

Name: Taco Spaghetti
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 8 servings.
Cuisine: North America, Mexican
Ingredients: 12 ounces uncooked spaghetti; 1 pound ground beef; 1 envelope taco seasoning; 3/4 cup water; 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained; 1 can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes and green chiles, undrained; 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend, divided; 2/3 cup salsa

32 reviews

Test Kitchen Approved

Total Time

Prep: 20 min. Bake: 25 min.

Makes

8 servings

Updated: May. 12, 2023

I came up with this kid-friendly taco spaghetti recipe one afternoon when I was using up leftover spaghetti and ground beef. When I'm lucky enough to have extra time, I make two batches and freeze one. —Johanna Van Ness, Wichita, Kansas

Ingredients

12 ounces uncooked spaghetti
1 pound ground beef
1 envelope taco seasoning
3/4 cup water
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes and green chiles, undrained
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend, divided
2/3 cup salsa

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Break spaghetti into thirds; cook according to package directions for al dente.
Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, cook beef over medium heat 6-8 minutes or until no longer pink, breaking into crumbles; drain. Stir in taco seasoning and water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in beans, tomatoes, 1 cup cheese and salsa. Drain spaghetti; add to beef mixture and toss to combine.
Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Bake, covered, 20 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, 3-5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Can you freeze Taco Spaghetti?

Cool unbaked casserole; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cover and freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake casserole, covered, 55-60 minutes or until heated through and a thermometer inserted in center reads 165°.

Taco Spaghetti Tips

What can you use instead of taco seasoning?

Instead of using an envelope of store-bought taco seasoning, whip up our homemade taco seasoning mix! It makes a big batch, and stays fresh in your pantry for 1 year.

How else can you cook taco spaghetti?

You can also cook taco spaghetti on the stovetop. Instead of transferring the mixture to a 13x9-in. baking dish, heat it through in a Dutch oven. When it's hot, remove it from the heat, sprinkle with the Mexican cheese blend and cover until it's melted.

What can you serve with taco spaghetti?

Servings of this Tex-Mex inspired casserole can be topped with salsa and guacamole. It becomes a complete meal when paired with a green side salad recipe, such as salad with basil vinaigrette, lemon artichoke romaine salad or honey pecan kiwi salad.

—Julie Schnittka, Taste of Home Senior Editor

Nutrition Facts

1 serving: 439 calories, 16g fat (7g saturated fat), 60mg cholesterol, 927mg sodium, 47g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 4g fiber), 24g protein.