Embark on a culinary escapade with a dish that harmoniously blends the comforting richness of macaroni and cheese with the vibrant flavors of Mexican cuisine. This delectable creation, known as Taco Mac and Cheese, captivates taste buds with its creamy texture, savory blend of spices, and an array of colorful toppings. As you delve into the recipes provided in this article, you'll discover variations that cater to diverse preferences and dietary restrictions. From the classic Taco Mac and Cheese, featuring ground beef, taco seasoning, and a melty cheese sauce, to its vegetarian counterpart, which swaps beef for hearty black beans and corn, these recipes offer a delightful symphony of flavors. Embrace the versatility of this dish by exploring additional recipe variations, including a creamy vegan version made with dairy-free alternatives and a spicy rendition that packs a fiery punch with the addition of jalapeños and cayenne pepper. Whether you prefer mild or bold flavors, the recipes in this article will guide you towards creating a Taco Mac and Cheese that tantalizes your palate and leaves you craving more.
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
EASY TACO MAC AND CHEESE
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
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
TACO MAC 'N' CHEESE
Provided by James Briscione
Categories main-dish
Time 35m
Yield 8 to 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
- Place a large saute pan over high heat, add the ground beef and taco seasoning, reserving 1 tablespoon of the mix for the Perfect Cheese Sauce. Mix thoroughly. Cook, stirring often using a wooden spoon or spatula to break the meat into small crumbles. Continue cooking until the meat releases its liquid, and then cook further until all the liquid has evaporated and the meat begins to brown, about 10 minutes.
- Combine the Perfect Cheese Sauce and cooked pasta in a large bowl. Pour in the cooked meat and stir to combine. Pour into a 9- by 13-inch baking dish. Level the pasta with the back of a spoon or spatula. Scatter the grated Cheddar over the pasta. Bake until browned and bubbling, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove and let cool 5 minutes.
- Immediately before serving, scatter the sour cream, lettuce and fresh tomato over the mac 'n' cheese.
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepot over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring often, until a thick paste forms and turns golden brown. Stir in the taco seasoning and cook 30 seconds more.
- Gradually whisk in the milk, adding 1 cup at a time. Allow the mixture to come to a simmer before adding the next. It will be extremely thick at first and will thin with each addition. When all the milk is added bring the sauce to a simmer and cook 5 more minutes. Whisk in the cream cheese.
- Remove the sauce from the heat. Add the Cheddar and Parmesan and whisk until smooth. The sauce keeps refrigerated for up to 2 weeks or frozen for 6 months. If using from cold, carefully bring the sauce back to a boil before serving.
NACHO MAC 'N' CHEESE
Creamy and comforting, this family-friendly meal from our Test Kitchen is a great way to ease into the week. And since most of the ingredients are mixed in one dish, cleanup is a breeze! -Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Greendale, Wisconsin
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 25m
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Cook gemelli according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, cook beef and red peppers over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. , Stir in the butter, flour, taco seasoning and pepper until blended. Gradually stir in milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat. Stir in cheese and corn until cheese is melted. , Drain gemelli; add to beef mixture and stir to coat. Sprinkle with tortilla chips.
Nutrition Facts :
ONE-PAN TACO MACARONI AND CHEESE RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: olive oil, ground beef, small white onion, garlic, taco seasoning, small macaroni, water, beef stock, shredded white cheddar, tomato, green onion
Provided by Iris Tian
Categories Dinner
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a 4-quart chicken fryer, heat approximately 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat and cook the onions until they begin to soften.
- Add garlic and stir for 30 seconds.
- Add the ground beef and 1 tablespoon of taco seasoning. Using your spatula, break up the ground beef and stir until cooked. Drain the excess liquid from the pan.
- Add water, beef stock, pasta, tomatoes, and 1 tablespoon of taco seasoning back to the pan. Stir to combine.
- Cook over low heat for 15 minutes, stirring twice to keep the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Increase heat to medium after 15 minutes, and stir pasta until most of the liquid is gone.
- Turn off heat and add the shredded cheese. Stir until cheese is completely melted.
- Top with green onions.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1023 calories, Carbohydrate 81 grams, Fat 49 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 52 grams, Sugar 13 grams
VELVEETA® TACO MAC & CHEESE
With just 20 minutes of prep time and five ingredients, this cheesy, taco-inspired mac and cheese is sure to become a new family favorite.
Provided by My Food and Family
Categories Home
Time 20m
Yield 6 servings, about 1 cup each
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Brown meat in large skillet on medium-high heat; drain. Return meat to skillet.
- Stir in water, salsa and chili powder. Bring to boil. Stir in macaroni; cover. Simmer on medium-low heat 8 to 10 min. or until most the water is absorbed.
- Add VELVEETA; cook 3 to 5 min. or until completely melted, stirring frequently.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 240, Fat 6 g, SaturatedFat 3.5 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 20 mg, Sodium 630 mg, Carbohydrate 33 g, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 4 g, Protein 10 g
MAC AND CHEESE TACO BAKE
Try something a little different for dinner today when you make our Mac and Cheese Taco Bake. Here's classic mac and cheese combined with all of a taco's best fixins' in one easy baked dish. Mac and Cheese Taco Bake is a creamy, cheesy casserole perfect for comfort food.
Provided by My Food and Family
Categories Home
Time 40m
Yield 6 servings, 1 cup each
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Heat oven to 400°F.
- Prepare Dinner as directed on package. While Macaroni is cooking, brown meat in skillet; drain. Stir in seasoning mix and water. Bring to boil; simmer on medium-low heat 10 min., stirring occasionally.
- Stir sour cream into prepared Dinner. Spoon half the Dinner mixture into 8-inch square baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; top with layers of meat mixture, 1 cup shredded cheese and remaining Dinner mixture. Cover.
- Bake 15 min.; top with salsa and remaining shredded cheese. Bake, uncovered, 5 min. or until cheese is melted.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 460, Fat 18 g, SaturatedFat 9 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 90 mg, Sodium 1160 mg, Carbohydrate 0 g, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 0 g, Protein 31 g
Tips:
- Use high-quality macaroni and cheese. This is the foundation of the dish, so make sure you use a brand that you trust and enjoy the taste of.
- Add some protein. Ground beef, chicken, or sausage are all great options for adding protein and flavor to your taco mac and cheese. You can also add beans or lentils for a vegetarian or vegan option.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different spices. Taco seasoning is a great place to start, but you can also add other spices like chili powder, cumin, or paprika to taste.
- Make it cheesy. Use a combination of different cheeses to create a rich and flavorful sauce. Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and pepper Jack are all good choices.
- Top it off with your favorite garnishes. Shredded lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and guacamole are all classic taco toppings that will add flavor and texture to your dish.
Conclusion:
Taco mac and cheese is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight dinner or a potluck. It is a great way to use up leftover macaroni and cheese, and it is sure to be a hit with your family and friends. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy meal, give this taco mac and cheese recipe a try.
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