Creamy Taco Pasta Recipe
This Creamy Taco Pasta combines the bold flavors of taco seasoning with tender ground turkey and al dente pasta for a comforting and satisfying meal. The dish features a rich tomato and cream cheese sauce and is finished with fresh taco-inspired toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, green onion, cheese, and sour cream, perfect for an easy weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 cup white onion, diced
- 16 ounces uncooked pasta (rigatoni, ziti, or penne)
- 28 ounces tomato sauce
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning (1 packet)
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- Salt to taste
Toppings
- Shredded iceberg lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- Diced green onion
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Green chiles
- Cilantro
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: In a large pot, bring water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Brown the ground turkey: While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground turkey and cook for about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it begins to brown.
- Sauté onions with turkey: Add the diced white onion to the skillet. Continue to cook and stir until the turkey is no longer pink and the onions are translucent, about 4-5 minutes.
- Add sauce and seasoning: Pour in the tomato sauce and sprinkle in the taco seasoning. Stir well to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer for 10 minutes to let flavors meld.
- Melt cream cheese into sauce: Add the cream cheese to the skillet and stir continuously until it has completely melted and incorporated into the sauce, creating a creamy texture.
- Toss pasta with sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and thoroughly toss it with the creamy taco sauce until well coated. Remove from heat.
- Serve with toppings: Portion the creamy taco pasta onto plates and top with shredded iceberg lettuce, diced tomatoes, green onions, shredded cheddar cheese, green chiles, cilantro, and a dollop of sour cream as desired.
Notes
- Use any type of tubular pasta like rigatoni, ziti, or penne for the best results.
- Ground turkey keeps this dish leaner, but you can substitute ground beef if preferred.
- Adjust the amount of taco seasoning to suit your spice preference.
- If cream cheese is too thick, soften it slightly before adding for easier melting.
- Fresh toppings add a nice contrast in texture—feel free to add or omit based on availability.
- Leftovers reheat well and can be stored refrigerated for up to 3 days.
Keywords: creamy taco pasta, ground turkey pasta, taco pasta recipe, easy dinner, taco seasoning pasta
Find it online: https://kitchenwithkai.com/creamy-taco-pasta-recipe/
