Taco Macaroni and Cheese

Creamy, cheesy, one pot taco macaroni and cheese comes together in only 30 minutes bubbling with seasoned ground beef, fire roasted tomatoes, noodles, and plenty of cheese for good measure!

Looking for more ground beef ideas? See our collection of 90 best ground beef recipes here.

Why this recipe works

This taco macaroni and cheese recipe brings together the best of both worlds. Elbow macaroni tossed with taco-seasoned ground beef in a creamy, cheesy, zesty sauce adds to the never-ending list of ways to spice up mac and cheese! Plus, it’s all made with 7 ingredients, one skillet, and only 30 minutes of time, making it a great way to stretch a pound of ground beef.

Mac and cheese isn’t exclusively a side dish, though. I think it’s fair to assume that quite a few of us have shoveled an entire bowl of crockpot mac and cheese down in one sitting for dinner. It’s just that good. Incorprating ground beef, fire roasted tomatoes, and sour cream simply adds to its existing curb appeal while giving it a little extra hearty oomph, and a whole new flavor profile of course. In steps this easy taco mac, let’s get started already.

Looking for more quick weeknight dinners? Head over to my 30 ground beef dinners ready in 30 minutes roundup where you’ll find this taco macand cheese along with 29 more quick weeknight recipes.

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

NOODLES – You can substitute the elbow macaroni noodles with your favorite pasta shape. Shells or cavatappi are never a bad idea.

MEAT – I prefer to use lean ground beef, but it’s up to you. Feel free to substitute with ground turkey, ground chicken, or a half and half combination of ground beef and ground sausage. You can also use precooked shredded chicken, just add it in around 10 minutes before the recipe is done to heat it up.

SEASONING – Don’t skip the taco seasoning, it’s what makes this dish come full circle. If you have a favorite homemade taco seasoning mix, you can use it here.

CHEESE AND SOUR CREAM – Either shredded cheddar or Mexican cheese blend both work well in this recipe. The sour cream is what makes the sauce creamy and decadent.

TOMATOES – If you can’t find fire-roasted tomatoes, you can substitute with a can of regular diced tomatoes or Rotel.

TOPPINGS – We top ours with sour cream, green onions, and chopped tomatoes but sliced jalapeno or crushed chips such as Doritos or tortilla chips are also fantastic!

How to Make Taco Macaroni and Cheese

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

1. Brown the ground beef in a large deep sided skillet over medium heat. Drain off most of the fat, leaving just a little in the skillet.
2. Add tomatoes, broth, sour cream, and taco seasoning and bring to a boil, then reduce to low and add in the noodles.
3. Cover and simmer on low for about 20 minutes, or until the noodles are cooked. Give it a stir a couple times to ensure they do not stick.
4. Shut the heat off, top with cheese, and cover to melt over the warm cooktop.
5. Optionally serve taco mac topped with sour cream, fresh diced tomatoes, and chopped green onion.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

Store leftovers in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

To reheat, melt a little butter in a skillet over medium-low heat to prevent sticking. Then, add in the taco mac and pour in a little milk or cream. Once bubbling, you can remove from heat and serve. Or, you can reheat it in the microwave, adding a splash of milk or cream to loosen. Cook on high for around a minute and a half.

Yes, of course. Simply sub out the regular elbow noodles with a gluten-free version and cook until the pasta is tender.

Serving Suggestions

Serve your taco mac and cheese heaped in a bowl with the toppings of your choice. Fresh or pickled jalapenos, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, chopped onion, or crushed tortilla chips are great toppers.

Enjoy on its own or with a dinner salad on the side for Taco Tuesday or any day of the week!

More Related Recipes

• Taco Pizza
• Taco Casserole
• Taco Spaghetti
• Panera Mac and Cheese
• Chicken Taco Casserole

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