Go Back

Crockpot Taco Pasta

A cozy and cheesy one-pot pasta dish made in a slow cooker, combining seasoned ground beef, tomatoes, and cream cheese with small pasta for a family-friendly meal.
Print it Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 600
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20) gives good flavor; leaner is fine
  • 1/2 small onion diced or 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp minced garlic or 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 Tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 packet taco seasoning optional, in place of chili powder and cumin
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 4 oz cream cheese room temperature and cut into small chunks
  • 14 oz canned diced tomatoes undrained
  • 1 small can diced green chiles (4 oz)
  • 2 cups beef broth low-sodium if preferred
  • 8 oz uncooked smaller pasta (rotini, small shells, or mini penne work well)
Garnishes
  • diced avocado
  • shredded cheddar
  • sliced black olives
  • sour cream
  • chopped cilantro
  • lime wedges

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break it up as it cooks.
  2. When the beef is halfway browned, add diced onion and minced garlic. Continue cooking until beef is fully browned and onions are softened.
  3. Season with chili powder and cumin or stir in the taco seasoning packet. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Transfer the seasoned beef mixture to the slow cooker.
Cooking
  1. Add canned diced tomatoes (with juices), green chiles, cream cheese chunks, and beef broth to the slow cooker. Stir gently to combine.
  2. Cook on low for 4–5 hours or on high for 2–3 hours until the cream cheese melts into the sauce.
Pasta Preparation
  1. About 30 minutes before serving, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta to just shy of al dente. Drain the pasta.
  2. Stir the drained pasta into the crockpot so it soaks up the sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
Serving
  1. Serve immediately with your choice of garnishes: avocado, shredded cheddar, black olives, and a dollop of sour cream.

Notes

For a vegetarian version, replace the beef with a can of seasoned black beans and use vegetable broth. If your cream cheese is cold, cut into small pieces to melt faster in the slow cooker.