Taco Mac and Cheese

August 29, 2018 10 Comments

Mac and cheese truly is the ultimate comfort food and one of my personal favorites. When it combines with flavors from one of my other favorite foods, tacos, it becomes a match made in culinary heaven! This recipe was really simple to make and I had it on the table in 30 minutes too.

The whole secret to this dish was the flavorful beef. Marc and I have been avoiding meat lately and primarily sticking to poultry and fish. I made an exception this time though since the memories of growing up on ground beef tacos are so strong in my mind. I used lots of taco seasoning, tomato paste, a little beer and some lime juice to really wake up everything.
After I cooked my beef mixture, I started on the white sauce. The beef left a base layer of flavor that was fantastic!! It thickened and became so luscious.
Once the sauce finished, I just had to stir in my cheese, flavorful cooked beef and cooked pasta! It really was simple. Call me weird but I love stove top mac and cheese best. So I didn’t bother baking it.

Oh my goodness, this taco mac and cheese was so hearty and satisfying. It really is quick, simple and perfect for the coming colder months. Hope you all love it too! xoxo

Taco Mac and Cheese
Taco Mac and Cheese
5 from 2 votes
Taco Mac and Cheese
Print
Taco Mac and Cheese
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 

This taco mac and cheese is pure comfort food with flavorful beef, tender shell pasta and a luscious, cheesy white sauce!

Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Mac and Cheese, Taco Mac and Cheese
Servings: 6
Calories: 670 kcal
Author: Jeanie and Lulu's Kitchen
Ingredients
  • 1 dash olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 whole onion diced small
  • 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon beer the rest goes to the chef
  • 1 whole lime juiced
  • 6 tablespoons butter
  • 6 tablespoons flour
  • 3 cups milk
  • 1 pound medium shells pasta
  • 8 ounces shredded Mexican cheese blend
Instructions

  1. First, get a large pot of water on the stove to boil for the pasta. Salt it liberally. While it comes to a boil, get out a large skillet with deep sides and heat the oil in it over medium high heat. Add the beef, onion, taco seasoning, salt, tomato paste, beer and lime juice. Stir it all together while you brown the beef and break it up. Let it all simmer together to let the liquid cook off and get it to develop flavor for about 6-8 minutes. Remove it to a plate and add the butter to the pan. Let it start to melt and then whisk the flour in. Let the flour and butter cook together and thicken for a couple of minutes until it is a thick paste. Slowly pour in the milk while you keep whisking until it is a smooth white sauce. Let it simmer and thicken for about 10 minutes, whisking it often.

  2. While the sauce cooks, the water should be boiling. Cook the pasta until tender for about 8 minutes, then drain it. When the sauce is done, whisk in the cheese until it is a smooth cheese sauce. Then stir the beef back in and the pasta, tossing it all together thoroughly. Serve it immediately and enjoy!! It also makes fantastic leftovers! Enjoy!!

Nutrition Facts
Taco Mac and Cheese
Amount Per Serving (1 bowl)
Calories 670 Calories from Fat 450
% Daily Value*
Fat 50g77%
Saturated Fat 109g681%
Cholesterol 124mg41%
Sodium 919mg40%
Potassium 370mg11%
Carbohydrates 79.7g27%
Fiber 10.1g42%
Sugar 7.8g9%
Protein 33.1g66%
Calcium 330mg33%
Iron 1.3mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Taco Mac and Cheese
Taco Mac and Cheese

10 thoughts on “Taco Mac and Cheese”

  5. This looks delicious! What an amazing idea, I have to try this out! Such a fun combo of flavors!

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5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)