Description
Easy Slow Cooker Taco Pasta is a hearty and flavorful one-pot meal combining seasoned ground beef, crushed tomatoes, salsa, corn, and taco seasoning with tender shell pasta, all cooked slowly for maximum flavor and convenience. This effortless recipe is perfect for busy days and can be customized with extra vegetables or made vegetarian.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
Liquids and Sauces
- 15 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup jarred salsa, mild
- 2 ½ cups water or low sodium chicken broth (one 14.5 ounce can chicken broth plus water to total 2 ½ cups)
Other Ingredients
- 15 ounce can corn, drained
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 12 ounces shell pasta shapes, uncooked (whole wheat or white)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook while crumbling and stirring often until browned. Drain excess grease and transfer beef to the slow cooker.
- Add ingredients to slow cooker: Add chopped bell pepper, crushed tomatoes, salsa, drained corn, taco seasoning, and the water or chicken broth. Stir everything together.
- Slow cook the mixture: Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours. There will be extra liquid which will be absorbed later when pasta is added.
- Add and cook pasta: Stir in the shell pasta, pressing it down into the liquid. Cook on high for 30 minutes or until pasta is tender. Cooking times can vary with slow cooker models.
- Finish and serve: Stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted. Serve with optional toppings like sour cream, chopped fresh cilantro, and extra cheddar cheese.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days or freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.
- For a lighter dish, substitute ground turkey for ground beef.
- Add more veggies like sautéed onions, fresh spinach stirred in with the pasta, or finely chopped carrots added with the tomatoes.
- Add rinsed and drained black beans or pinto beans for extra protein and texture.
- To make vegetarian, replace the beef with two cans of beans.
- Cooking times for pasta vary by slow cooker so check tenderness to avoid overcooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
