Best 7 Kristophers Taco Macaroni Casserole Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

Calling all macaroni and cheese lovers! Get ready to elevate your favorite comfort food with a dish that combines the best of two worlds: tacos and macaroni. The Taco Macaroni Casserole is a delightful fusion of Mexican and American flavors, bringing you a fiesta of taste in every bite. This recipe takes the classic macaroni and cheese to new heights, transforming it into a cheesy, flavorful, and visually appealing dish.

In this article, you'll discover not just one, but three sensational Taco Macaroni Casserole recipes that cater to different preferences and dietary restrictions. The first recipe is a classic meat-based version, featuring a combination of ground beef, taco seasoning, and a blend of cheeses. For those who prefer a vegetarian option, the second recipe swaps the ground beef for a hearty mix of beans, corn, and bell peppers, delivering a protein-packed and flavorful casserole.

But the culinary journey doesn't stop there. The third recipe introduces a unique twist on the classic Taco Macaroni Casserole, catering to those with a gluten intolerance. This recipe uses a gluten-free pasta and a special blend of cheese to create a dish that is not only delicious but also suitable for those with dietary restrictions.

With step-by-step instructions, helpful tips, and stunning visuals, this article guides you through the process of preparing each recipe, ensuring success in the kitchen. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or a beginner looking to impress your family and friends, the Taco Macaroni Casserole recipes in this article are sure to become a hit at your next gathering.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

EASY TACO MAC AND CHEESE



Easy Taco Mac and Cheese image

This is a simple macaroni and cheese recipe with a taco twist. There are multiple ways to mix it up and leave out or use ingredients that you do or don't have. Would love feedback on ways you have mixed it up and what tasted best! Thank you for using. When serving, you can also top the dish with lettuce, tomato, onions, and sour cream.

Provided by Sarah Jayne Jeffries

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pasta     Macaroni and Cheese Recipes     Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes

Time 1h1m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 (16 ounce) package ground beef
2 cups salsa
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning
salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 cups shell pasta
2 cups shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese
½ cup sliced green onions
1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

Steps:

  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard grease. Add salsa, corn, and taco seasoning. Season meat sauce with salt and pepper.
  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  • Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Stir in pasta and return to a boil. Cook pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain.
  • Combine the meat sauce, pasta, Colby-Jack cheese, and green onions in a 9x13-inch casserole dish. Sprinkle Cheddar cheese on top.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted, about 25 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 379.8 calories, Carbohydrate 30.8 g, Cholesterol 66.1 mg, Fat 19.9 g, Fiber 2.5 g, Protein 21.4 g, SaturatedFat 11.2 g, Sodium 965.5 mg, Sugar 4.3 g

TEX MEX MACARONI CASSEROLE



Tex Mex Macaroni Casserole image

Try our new Taco Tuesday favorite: Tex-Mex Macaroni Casserole. Loaded with ground beef, tender macaroni, cheese and authentic McCormick® Taco Seasoning, this south-of-the-border skillet casserole is a mouth-pleaser for everyone at the table. Photo Credit: Sydney Kramer from Crepes of Wrath.

Provided by McCormick

Categories     Crockpot and Casserole,

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 pound lean ground beef
1 medium onion chopped
1 package McCormick® Taco Seasoning Mix
2 cups water
1 can (14 1/2 oz) diced tomatoes
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
1 cup frozen whole kernel corn
2 cups uncooked regular elbow macaroni
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Steps:

  • Brown beef and onion in large skillet on medium-high heat. Drain fat.
  • Stir in Seasoning Mix, water, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and corn. Bring to boil. Add pasta. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Sprinkle with cheese, cover. Let stand 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 323 Calories

KRISTOPHER'S TACO MACARONI CASSEROLE.



Kristopher's Taco Macaroni Casserole. image

This recipe was inspired by Derf's Belly Buster Recipe. It has been heavily modified in ingredients and procedure. I feel the recipe now qualifies as a new recipe. Thank you to Derf for the inspiration :D This version of the recipe is being named for my son Kristopher ( 13 at the time of writing ) who helped me tonight in making all the revisions. Thank you Honey!:D

Provided by Laci1093

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 45m

Yield 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 (16 ounce) box dreamfield's elbow macaroni (or Elbow Macaroni of Your Choice)
2 lbs hamburger, Browned
1/4 cup red onion, Chopped
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 (14 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with basil oregano and garlic (Do not Drain)
1 (10 3/4 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup (No Water , other Cream of Soup can be substituted)
0.5 (1 1/2 ounce) envelope mild taco seasoning (or make your own)
1 cup shredded cheese
2 -4 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or enough to cover casserole top)
salt and pepper (we prefer Kosher)

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Cook elbow macaroni "Al dente" approx 10 minutes.
  • Brown hamburger with red onion and garlic.
  • Drain fat.
  • In a large mixing bowl.
  • Add drained Hamburger.
  • Add drained Macaroni.
  • Add soup ( no water ).
  • Add tomatoes with liquid.
  • Add 1 Cup of Shredded Cheese.
  • Add 1/2 Packet Mild Taco Seasoning.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • In mixing bowl throughly combine ingredients.
  • Placed combined mixture into a 9 x 13 casserole dish.
  • Sprinkle the 2-4 cups ( Use more or less to your liking ) of shredded cheese over top of the casserole.
  • bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until bubbling around edges and cheese is melted and lightly browned.
  • Serve with Green Salad or Cucumber / Tomato slices on the side.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 858.3, Fat 38.6, SaturatedFat 18.3, Cholesterol 153.1, Sodium 1164.2, Carbohydrate 69.2, Fiber 3.4, Sugar 4.1, Protein 55.9

CHEESY SKILLET TACO MAC



Cheesy Skillet Taco Mac image

You may be familiar with that one-skillet macaroni dish that comes in a box where all you have to add is ground beef? Well, this is my version, with a little Tex-Mex twist. The whole family will eat it up, and it's so easy to put together.

Provided by Kardea Brown

Categories     main-dish

Time 40m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup diced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound ground chuck
1 tablespoon Miss Brown's House Seasoning, recipe follows
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1/2 cups beef stock
8 ounces elbow pasta, cooked according to package directions
One 8-ounce block sharp Cheddar, shredded
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Sour cream and chopped green onions, for serving, optional
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon freshly ground pepper

Steps:

  • Heat the oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, ground beef and House Seasoning. Cook until the veggies begin to soften and the beef is slightly browned and no longer pink, about 7 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, chili powder, cumin and beef stock.
  • Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a rolling boil. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the sauce reduces, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the pasta and continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the liquid starts to slightly absorb. Add the cheese and remove from the heat. Season with salt and pepper.
  • To serve, top with the sour cream and sprinkle with the green onions, if using.
  • Stir together the garlic and onion powders, paprika, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Store in an airtight container.

MACARONI TACO BAKE



Macaroni Taco Bake image

Comforting mac and cheese with a touch of taco flavoring and tortilla-chip crunch-no wonder everyone loves it! It's a fun change of pace from regular macaroni. -Elizabeth King, Duluth, Minnesota

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 45m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 packages (7-1/4 ounces each) macaroni and cheese dinner mix
1 pound ground beef
1 cup chunky salsa
2 cups crushed tortilla chips
1 can (2-1/4 ounces) sliced ripe olives, drained
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
Sour cream, optional

Steps:

  • Prepare macaroni and cheese according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef until no longer pink, breaking it into crumbles; drain. Stir in salsa; set aside., Spread macaroni into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Layer with beef mixture, chips and olives; sprinkle with cheese. , Bake, uncovered, at 350° until heated through, 15-20 minutes. Serve with sour cream if desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 597 calories, Fat 33g fat (17g saturated fat), Cholesterol 105mg cholesterol, Sodium 991mg sodium, Carbohydrate 48g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 28g protein.

CONTEST-WINNING TACO CASSEROLE



Contest-Winning Taco Casserole image

My preschooler doesn't eat ground beef unless it's taco flavored, so I came up with this casserole we all like. To make assembly easy, I prepare the taco meat and freeze several bags at a time. I also cook the noodles over the weekend for a timely supper later in the week. -Kathy Wilson, Romeoville, Illinois

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 45m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 8

3 cups uncooked bow tie pasta
1 pound ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 jar (16 ounces) salsa
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 envelope taco seasoning
2 cups nacho tortilla chips, crushed

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°. Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add cheese, salsa, tomatoes and taco seasoning. Drain pasta; stir into beef mixture., Transfer to a greased 11x7-in. baking dish. Cover and bake 20 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with tortilla chips. Bake until heated through, about 10 minutes longer.

Nutrition Facts :

TACO MACARONI CASSEROLE



Taco Macaroni Casserole image

This is a recipe I found on another website, I have made it several times and it is wonderful, even better heated up the next day!

Provided by dottiebeverly

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 40m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 lb lean ground beef
8 ounces macaroni
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 (10 3/4 ounce) can condensed tomato soup
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (1 1/4 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
2 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
2 ounces shredded monterey jack cheese
1 cup crushed tortilla chips
1/2 cup sour cream (optional)
1/4 cup chopped green onion

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water until al dente. Drain.
  • In a large skillet, cook and stir ground beef and chopped onion over medium heat until brown. Mix in tomato soup, diced tomatoes, and taco seasoning mix. Stir in pasta.
  • Spoon beef mixture into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle crumbled taco chips and grated cheese on top.
  • Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the cheese is melted. Serve with chopped green onions and sour cream, if desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 607.1, Fat 22.1, SaturatedFat 10.8, Cholesterol 102, Sodium 890.9, Carbohydrate 62, Fiber 4.6, Sugar 12.2, Protein 39.7

Tips:

  • Use lean ground beef to reduce fat content.
  • Add a variety of vegetables to boost the nutritional value of the dish, such as diced bell peppers, onions, or spinach.
  • Use a low-sodium taco seasoning mix or make your own to control the sodium content.
  • Use a whole wheat pasta to increase the fiber content.
  • Top the casserole with a dollop of non-fat Greek yogurt or sour cream for a creamy, tangy flavor.
  • For a crispy topping, sprinkle some panko breadcrumbs or crushed tortilla chips on top of the casserole before baking.
  • Serve the casserole with a side of fresh salsa, guacamole, or chopped cilantro for added flavor.

Conclusion:

Kristopher's Taco Macaroni Casserole is a delicious and versatile dish that can be easily customized to your liking. It's a perfect meal for busy weeknights or potlucks, and it's sure to be a hit with family and friends. With its combination of hearty pasta, flavorful taco filling, and creamy cheese sauce, this casserole is a satisfying and comforting meal that will leave you wanting more.

Related Topics