🥄 Homestyle recipes, tested & loved
🥘Recipes by Nani
Dinner

One Pan Taco Mac

A cozy and simple one pan meal featuring ground beef, pasta, and melty cheese.

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 American· August 21, 2026
One Pan Taco Mac
recipesbynani.com
Prep
5 minutes
Cook
20 minutes
Total
25 minutes
Serves
4

When the week gets busy, I always turn to this One Pan Taco Mac. It is one of those comforting dishes that brings everyone to the table with a smile, plus it saves me so much time on cleanup since everything cooks in just one skillet.

My biggest tip for this recipe is to keep a close eye on the liquid while the pasta simmers. If it looks like it is drying out too quickly, just add a tiny splash of water or broth to keep the sauce nice and creamy until the noodles are perfectly tender.

🧺 Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 2 cups macaroni pasta
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 cup red enchilada sauce
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • Optional toppings like sour cream, cilantro, or diced tomatoes

👩‍🍳Instructions

  1. 1

    Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat until it is cooked through, then drain any excess fat.

  2. 2

    Stir in the taco seasoning to coat the meat evenly.

  3. 3

    Pour in the uncooked macaroni, beef broth, and enchilada sauce.

  4. 4

    Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then turn the heat down to low and cover the pan.

  5. 5

    Simmer for about 10 to 12 minutes or until the pasta is soft and most of the liquid has been absorbed.

  6. 6

    Remove the lid, stir in the shredded cheese, and let it sit for a minute until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

💡 Tips

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. To reheat, add a small splash of water to the pan to loosen up the sauce before warming it back up on the stove.

Made this recipe? Let us know how it went.

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