Why You’ll Love This Taco Spaghetti Recipe

Tired of the same old dinner routine? This Taco Spaghetti recipe is your answer! It’s a fantastic way to spice up both your taco nights and your spaghetti dinners. This simple recipe comes together quickly, making it a perfect weeknight meal. You get a delectable, from-scratch taco-inspired sauce tossed with spaghetti noodles, and then you pile on your favorite taco toppings. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!

How to Store Leftovers

Allow your Taco Spaghetti to cool completely before storing. Then, transfer it to airtight containers or zip-top bags. Refrigerate for up to 3 to 5 days. This makes a great make-ahead meal for busy weeknights!

Can You Freeze Taco Spaghetti?

Yes, absolutely! Let the Taco Spaghetti cool completely before transferring it to an airtight, freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. To use, simply thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat using one of the methods below.

How to Reheat Leftovers

Here’s how to bring your leftover Taco Spaghetti back to life:

• OVEN: Bake in a 350°F (175°C) oven in a foil-covered baking dish for about 20 minutes, or until heated through. You might want to add a splash of water to prevent it from drying out.
• STOVETOP: Heat the pasta and sauce in a saucepan over medium-low heat until heated through. Add a splash of water if needed to keep it moist.
• MICROWAVE: In a microwave-safe dish, place a single serving of the pasta with a splash of water. Microwave on 50% power for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, or until heated through.

Taco Spaghetti Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this delicious Taco Spaghetti:

• 1 pound lean ground beef (80/20 or better)
• 1 medium onion (yellow, white, or sweet), finely chopped
• 1 packet taco seasoning (or use homemade taco seasoning)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes (or tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, or Ro-Tel)
• ¼ cup chopped cilantro
• 1 (12-ounce) package spaghetti noodles
• Taco toppings of your choice (shredded cheese, sour cream, guacamole, black olives, diced tomatoes, etc.)

How to Make Taco Spaghetti

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Total time: 40 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

1. Bring water to a boil. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. Brown and crumble ground beef with onion. In a large skillet with deep sides, brown and crumble the ground beef with the chopped onion over medium heat until no pink remains. Drain any excess grease.
3. Prepare the sauce. Stir in the taco seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Add the crushed tomatoes and cilantro, and stir until well combined. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Cook and drain the noodles. While the sauce is simmering, cook the spaghetti noodles in the boiling salted water until al dente, according to the package directions. Drain the noodles.
5. Add the noodles to the sauce. Add the drained noodles directly to the skillet with the sauce and stir until everything is well combined.
6. Serve immediately. Serve hot, garnished with your favorite taco toppings.

Recipe Notes & Tips for Success

• Use tongs: I find it easiest to use tongs to combine the cooked noodles into the sauce.
• Flavorful sauce: This sauce is very flavorful, many prefer it to regular spaghetti sauce!
• Thick sauce option: The sauce is thick. If you prefer a thinner sauce, add some of the pasta’s cooking water (about ¼ to ½ cup) while adding the noodles.
• Tomato alternatives: Tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, or a can of Ro-Tel tomatoes can all be used in place of crushed tomatoes.
• Make it a casserole: To make this into a baked casserole, combine the noodles and sauce in a greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Top with cheese and bake in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Other Recipes You Might Enjoy

• Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce
• Cheesy Baked Spaghetti
• Instant Pot Spaghetti
• Taco Soup
• Homemade Enchilada Sauce