Description
A quick and comforting taco-inspired pasta dish made with seasoned ground meat, creamy tomato sauce, and tender penne, perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 1 lb ground meat
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup sliced green peppers
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne pasta until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a deep skillet over medium heat.
- Add chopped onion and garlic, cook until fragrant and softened.
- Add ground meat and cook until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks.
- Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, taco seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
- Let the sauce simmer for about 10 minutes to blend the flavors.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and mix well to coat with the sauce.
- Stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy.
- Top with sliced green peppers and serve warm.
Notes
- Cook pasta just until al dente to prevent it from becoming too soft.
- Freshly shredded cheese melts better than pre-shredded.
- Adjust seasoning to taste after combining all ingredients.
- Add a splash of water when reheating to keep the sauce creamy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: taco pasta, easy pasta recipe, meal prep pasta, quick dinner, creamy pasta, ground meat pasta