Description
This Overnight Taco Pasta is a comforting and flavorful casserole combining seasoned ground beef, creamy cheese sauce, diced tomatoes with green chiles, and elbow macaroni. Prepared the night before and baked to cheesy perfection, it’s an easy, hearty meal perfect for family dinners or meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Seasoning
- 1 ½ lb lean ground beef
- 1 (1-oz) package taco seasoning
- ½ cup water
Sauce
- 1 (10.5-oz) can unsalted cream of chicken soup
- 1 ¼ cup milk
- 1 ¼ cup chicken broth
- 1 (10-oz) can diced tomatoes and green chiles, drained
- 8 oz Velveeta cheese, shredded or diced
Pasta and Cheese
- 8 oz elbow macaroni, uncooked
- 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
Instructions
- Brown the beef: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until no longer pink, stirring occasionally. Drain any excess fat to keep the dish lean.
- Add seasoning: Stir in the taco seasoning and ½ cup of water with the cooked beef. Continue cooking and stirring until the water is absorbed and the beef is fully coated with the seasoning.
- Prepare creamy sauce: In a separate saucepan, combine the cream of chicken soup, milk, chicken broth, drained diced tomatoes and green chiles, and Velveeta cheese. Stir constantly until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy.
- Mix beef and sauce: Transfer the seasoned beef to a large bowl and add the creamy sauce. Stir to combine thoroughly.
- Add pasta: Stir the uncooked elbow macaroni into the beef and sauce mixture until all pasta is evenly coated.
- Refrigerate overnight: Pour the entire mixture into a prepared baking pan. Cover tightly with foil and refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to meld and the pasta to soften slightly.
- Preheat oven and prepare cheese topping: The next day, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the foil and sprinkle the shredded Mexican cheese blend evenly over the top of the casserole.
- Bake the casserole: Bake uncovered for 1 hour, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and the pasta is cooked through.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve hot. Enjoy your flavorful and cheesy Overnight Taco Pasta!
Notes
- Using lean ground beef reduces excess fat for a healthier dish.
- You can substitute Velveeta cheese with processed cheese for a similar creamy texture.
- Make sure the baking dish is covered tightly during refrigeration to prevent drying out.
- If preferred, add chopped onions or bell peppers when browning the beef for extra flavor and nutrition.
- This casserole can be refrigerated for up to 2 days before baking or frozen before baking for up to 1 month.
- For a spicier kick, use a hotter variety of diced green chiles or add chili powder to the seasoning.
