By Laurel Perry
Updated Feb 28, 2025
With a full house, there’s bound to be disagreements on what to eat for dinner. A recent one at my house has been the never-ending debate about whether to have pasta or tacos. I love tacos, but my kids always want pasta. This taco spaghetti is the perfect compromise– a rich taco-inspired bolognese sauce over spaghetti noodles satisfies everyone equally!
This fusion of ground beef tacos and spaghetti is a weeknight meal that’ll satisfy everyone. It’s hearty, cheesy, and so delicious!
Tips for Success
- Use low, even heat when adding the Velveeta and cheddar cheeses. If the heat is too high, the cheeses will turn grainy.
- Since the spaghetti will continue to cook slightly when mixed with the sauce, draining it while it’s still a little firm ensures it doesn’t turn mushy.
- The pasta will absorb some of the sauce, so I like to keep extra broth or tomato sauce on hand to adjust the consistency. If the sauce gets too thick, a small splash of broth will loosen it up without diluting the flavor.
- Make it a one-pot meal by breaking the spaghetti in half and letting it cook directly in the sauce.
- This is a great dish for disguising veggies. I like to add chopped mushrooms, bell peppers, or zucchini. My kids never notice! You can also add some fresh corn or canned black beans to jazz things up.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 12 ounces dry spaghetti (¾ box). I like classic spaghetti for this recipe, but any long pasta shape will work.
- ▢ 2 teaspoons olive oil
- ▢ 1½ pounds lean ground beef 90-93% lean ground beef. You can use fattier beef, but you’ll need to drain off the grease after cooking.
- ▢ ½ yellow onion diced
- ▢ 4 cloves garlic minced
- ▢ 1 ounce taco seasoning (about 2 tablespoons)
- ▢ 10 ounces diced tomatoes and green chilies (1 can). I used Rotel .
- ▢ 1½ cups low-sodium beef broth
- ▢ 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- ▢ 4 ounces Velveeta cheese cut into 1-inch cubes
- ▢ 1½ cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese
- ▢ Chopped fresh cilantro optional, for garnish
Video
Instructions
- Boil the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and set aside. 12 ounces dry spaghetti
- While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add in the ground beef, yellow onion, and garlic. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until the beef is cooked through and the onion is translucent. 2 teaspoons olive oil, 1½ pounds lean ground beef, ½ yellow onion, 4 cloves garlic
- Add in the taco seasoning and stir until fragrant. 1 ounce taco seasoning
- Stir in the diced tomatoes, beef broth, tomato paste, and Velveeta cheese. Cook and stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is warmed through. 10 ounces diced tomatoes and green chilies, 1½ cups low-sodium beef broth, 3 tablespoons tomato paste, 4 ounces Velveeta cheese
- Toss in the spaghetti and cheddar cheese. Toss until the cheese is melted. Garnish with cilantro and serve. 1½ cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese, Chopped fresh cilantro
Becky’s Tips
- Colby jack cheese is another great choice, but consider shredding it yourself. It will melt much easier.
- For a less milder dish, use plain diced tomatoes or your favorite salsa .
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Taco Spaghetti Step by Step
Cook the Beef: Boil 12 ounces of spaghetti according to the package directions. Drain and set aside. While the pasta cooks heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add in 1½ pounds of lean ground beef, ½ of a diced yellow onion, and 4 minced cloves of garlic. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until the beef is cooked through and the onion is translucent.
Season the Beef: Add 1 ounce (1 packet) of taco seasoning and stir until fragrant.
Make the Sauce: Stir in 10 ounces (1 can) of diced tomatoes, 1½ cups of beef broth, 3 tablespoons of tomato paste, and 4 ounces of cubed Velveeta cheese. Cook and stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is warmed through.
Toss and Serve: Toss in the spaghetti and 1½ cups of shredded cheddar cheese. Toss until the cheese is melted. Garnish with cilantro and serve.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover taco spaghetti in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring frequently, until warmed through.
I do not recommend freezing this pasta, as the texture will degrade once thawed.
Serving Suggestions
This delicious taco spaghetti is great with a side of Texas toast garlic bread or a garden salad . I like to spoon leftovers into hard taco shells to make spaghetti tacos– so fun!
More spaghetti recipes to try
Cincinnati Chili
Instant Pot Spaghetti
Baked Spaghetti
Chicken Spaghetti
Taco Spaghetti Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 ounces dry spaghetti (¾ box). I like classic spaghetti for this recipe, but any long pasta shape will work.
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1½ pounds lean ground beef 90-93% lean ground beef. You can use fattier beef, but you’ll need to drain off the grease after cooking.
- ½ yellow onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 ounce taco seasoning (about 2 tablespoons)
- 10 ounces diced tomatoes and green chilies (1 can). I used Rotel .
- 1½ cups low-sodium beef broth
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 4 ounces Velveeta cheese cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1½ cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese
- Chopped fresh cilantro optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Boil the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and set aside. 12 ounces dry spaghetti
- While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add in the ground beef, yellow onion, and garlic. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until the beef is cooked through and the onion is translucent. 2 teaspoons olive oil, 1½ pounds lean ground beef, ½ yellow onion, 4 cloves garlic
- Add in the taco seasoning and stir until fragrant. 1 ounce taco seasoning
- Stir in the diced tomatoes, beef broth, tomato paste, and Velveeta cheese. Cook and stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is warmed through. 10 ounces diced tomatoes and green chilies, 1½ cups low-sodium beef broth, 3 tablespoons tomato paste, 4 ounces Velveeta cheese
- Toss in the spaghetti and cheddar cheese. Toss until the cheese is melted. Garnish with cilantro and serve. 1½ cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese, Chopped fresh cilantro
Video
Notes
- Colby jack cheese is another great choice, but consider shredding it yourself. It will melt much easier.
- For a less milder dish, use plain diced tomatoes or your favorite salsa .
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
