It’s easy to get stuck in a rut making the same handful of Groundhog Day dinners but this taco spaghetti recipe breaks the proverbial mold to spice up your suppers! This isn’t one of those spaghetti recipes with a little something extra. Actually, I don’t even think it’s Italian, but it’s so delicious who cares?!
Forget those boring pasta recipes that do little to hold your interest. This taco spaghetti recipe is full of vibrant robust flavors that combine two of my all-time favorite dishes. Even most kiddos agree that taco spaghetti is a tantalizing force to be reckoned with!
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What I Love About Taco Spaghetti Recipe
I love that this taco spaghetti recipe is a divinely inspired mouth-watering work of art. Its super simple to throw together and you don’t need any crazy kitchen gadgets to get the job done. Here are even more great things to love about it.
- Full of wholesome ingredients
- It’s a casserole
- Fast easy meal prep
- Awe-inspiring flavors
- No crazy kitchen gadgets required
Spaghetti Casserole Recipe Notes
When you need something fast and out of the ordinary, it’s taco spaghetti to the rescue! This spaghetti casserole is layer upon layer of yummy goodness, and it doesn’t even require any special skills. Here’s what you need to know!
Ingredient Notes
Ground Beef – I like to use 80/20 for this recipe but use whatever you’re used to. You could even use ground turkey to save some calories. Break up your beef as you brown it just as you would for tacos. It typically takes around 8-10 minutes for ground beef to reach the USDA recommended a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
Spaghetti Noodles – You’ll want to cook your pasta al dente so it doesn’t come out of the oven mushy. For a super bangin’ flavor boost to your taco spaghetti recipe, salt your pasta water. Between 1-2 tablespoons per gallon of water may seem heavy-handed but it’s just right.
Taco Sauce – Use a taco sauce you really like. If it’s not your favorite straight out of the jar, you won’t be crazy about it in your casserole either!
Shredded Cheese – By all means, if time is of the essence and you need to grab a pre-shredded bag of the convenience of the grocery store shelf, then go for it! But, we’re only talking 2 cups.
If you can find the time to shred the cheese yourself, it melts better and tastes sooo much creamier. You will notice the difference!
Baked Spaghetti Storing Tips
This baked spaghetti casserole stores best in an airtight container with a secured lid – if there’s any left! The yummy flavor combination surprises people and they tend to overeat when I put this out.
Also, this taco spaghetti recipe doesn’t store well in a bag. The casserole disappears and you’re left with a taco noodle mess.
Can You Freeze This?
Technically, yes and no. Noodles are crazy finicky in the freezer often thawing into a mushy mess and sour cream doesn’t do well in the frozen abyss either.
I often make the taco meat sauce with the corn and freeze that so it’s ready to go. When I’m ready to throw my casserole together all I have to do is boil the spaghetti and stir the soup mixture together.
Make Ahead Tips
This scrumptious taco spaghetti recipe is awesome for meal prep. I often whip up a few batches of the taco meat sauce and divvy it up into casserole sized portions. Then I just label it and toss it in the freezer. Since the frozen meat sauce stays good for up to 3 months, I can thaw them one at a time as I’m ready to make a casserole.
How Long Can You Keep This In The Fridge?
Your taco spaghetti recipe will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 4 days if it’s stored properly. You’ll want to let it cool completely before putting it in the fridge.
My casserole dish has a fitted lid for storage so depending on how much I have left I sometimes leave it in there. I still like to add saran wrap under the fitted lid to ensure an airtight fit.
Spaghetti Recipe Variations
Just like traditional spaghetti, this taco spaghetti has a ton of different variations. Tweaking this recipe to suit your personal taste is just part of making it your own. Here are just a few suggestions of some of the most common changes.
Can I Make This In An Instant Pot Instead?
Using an instant pot means you can make this taco spaghetti recipe in a fraction of the time. If you find yourself without the taco-inspired ingredients, you can just make instant pot spaghetti. It’s still a fabulous meal that only takes a few minutes.
Got meatballs? Throw together instant pot spaghetti and meatballs instead!
Can I Use Chicken Instead?
Sure! Making taco spaghetti with ground chicken will save some calories and fat. Chicken is often more cost-effective than beef, too. Making chicken spaghetti casserole with this taco spaghetti recipe is super simple, just swap out the ground beef for ground chicken.
Chicken spaghetti is actually quite popular these days and cheesy chicken spaghetti is even better but this taco spaghetti recipe takes the cake in my book!
What Other Ingredients Can I Add To This Spaghetti?
Tweaking this taco spaghetti recipe is up to you! If you want something with a little more kick, you can try making chicken spaghetti with Rotel. Taco spaghetti isn’t spicy, but it is full of intense flavor that will wake up your taste buds!
It’ll make your traditional spaghetti and meatballs recipe look like child’s play. Now if you’re looking for something a little more old fashioned with a creamier consistency, try baked spaghetti with cream cheese.
Can I Make This In A Crockpot?
Crock pot spaghetti is more of a traditional spaghetti recipe that’s great when you need to set it and forget it! This taco spaghetti recipe is full of decadent robust flavors that can be ready in under an hour when you need to feed a hungry crowd! It’s also a casserole – which should be a food group in my opinion.
Taco Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 8 ounces spaghetti
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef, 80/20
- 1 package taco seasoning
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 (15-ounce) can corn drained
- 1 (8-ounce) jar taco sauce
- 1 (10.75-ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1 (8-ounce) container sour cream
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 cup tortilla chips crushed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9X13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Cook pasta in well-salted water according to package instructions. Drain the pasta and spread out into an even layer in prepared baking pan.
- Brown and crumble the beef in a large skillet over medium heat, until there is no longer any pink. Drain and discard any excess fat. Stir in taco seasoning and water and simmer until sauce has thickened. Stir in corn and taco sauce and cook about 5 minutes or until heated through; set aside.
- In a small mixing bowl, stir together soup, sour cream, and 1 cup of cheese. Spread soup mixture over pasta then spread beef mixture over sour cream mixture. Sprinkle with remaining tortilla chips and remaining 1 cup of cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven until casserole is heated through the center and cheese is melted about 30 minutes.
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More Spaghetti Recipes
There are so many wonderful ways to make spaghetti when you’re ready to get down to business! America loves spaghetti and we have taken it and made it our own in so many scrumptious flavors.
This taco spaghetti just happens to be one of the best, but you can never have too many different spaghetti dishes. Here are a few others you may want to save for a rainy day.
- Italian Spaghetti – A classic treat that’ll make grandma proud!
- Spaghetti Pie – Who doesn’t love pie?!
- Mexican Spaghetti – A little South of the border savory with my spaghetti, please.
- Million Dollar Spaghetti – And yes! It tastes like a million bucks!
- Chicken Spaghetti Bake – Wholesome spaghetti deliciousness that comes together fast!
Conclusion
I’ve got to say that I am proud of this taco spaghetti recipe. To say that it’s a new twist on an old classic is an understatement! I love that it’s so easy to make and it only requires everyday wholesome ingredients.
It’s a simple casserole full of bold flavors that blend seamlessly and practically beg to be eaten. If making spaghetti is a work of art in the kitchen then taco spaghetti is a full-flavored decadent masterpiece!
Can this be made and refrigerated the day before and baked the next night?
Hi, Marilyn. Yes, you can. Just refrigerate the sauce and pasta separately, combine when you’re about to bake it. Hope this helps!
Very good recipe. I didnt have any tortilla chips so I used fritos and it was really good. I also mixed the pasta with the sour cream mixture before putting in pan just so the noodles would have some moisture. This is the 3td time I’ve made it. Its great!
Thanks, Connie! So happy to hear you like it! 😀
Is taco sauce just a jar of salsa?
No it’s not. There is another product that should be in your supermarket in the Mexican food sections. It generally comes in a jar and is labeled “taco sauce”. I just added a link to the ingredient list.
Made this one yesterday…sooo good!
Thank you, Christina! So happy you enjoyed it!