Taco Pasta

As I've mentioned once or twice before, my boys will eat just about anything on a tortilla. Tacos are a constant favorite that we generally have once a week. My kids at the daycare however, are not tortilla fans. They unroll the taco or burrito and dump everything out of it, wherever it may land. They are though, pasta eaters. I can mix just about anything with noodles and they'll eat to their hearts content, not realizing it may be something they wouldn't otherwise eat. So, being as we had tacos for dinner and I'm a fan of using leftovers, I needed a way to use the taco meat that my girls would want to eat. Below is the recipe for taco pasta. You can of course add any of your favorite toppings. I kept it simple because my kids, at home and at daycare, prefer it simple.


1 lb ground beef
1 packet taco seasoning
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup taco sauce or salsa
1 small tomato, diced
2 cups penne (or whatever you favorite pasta is)
Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Brown ground beef in a medium skillet. Drain. Return meat to pan and add water and taco seasoning. Continue to cook, stirring to mix seasoning thoroughly. In a medium sauce pan boil water for pasta. Cook pasta to your preferred softness. Drain. Dish pasta into bowls. Mix Taco sauce/salsa and diced tomato into seasoned meat. Scoop spoonfuls of meat mixture on top of pasta. Top with shredded cheese and any other topping you'd like. Enjoy!


I've found this to be an easier and less messy way to enjoy tacos. I hope you all try this and let me know what you think.