Taco Pasta Casserole - The Girl Who Ate Everything (2024)

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63 comments on “Taco Pasta Casserole”

1. Melissa — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 @ 19:04:06 EDT Reply

   I’ve made this twice, once as written and the second time with some added onion, bell pepper, corn, and subbed ground turkey for beef. It was a huge hit with the husband and kids both times! No one even suspected that I used a different meat. I think I’ll try adding in a can of seasoned black beans next time. And when it comes to pasta in recipes, I like to go off weight instead of volume since the shapes vary so much. 8 oz of dry pasta was roughly 3 cups, and ensures that I can get 2 batches out of the 1 lb box.

   • Christy Denney — Wed, 28 Jul 2021 @ 02:12:18 EDT Reply

     So glad you liked it.

2. Kimberly — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 @ 21:03:46 EDT Reply

   I made this tonight with whole wheat pasta, I mixed in riced broccoli for my toddler and a side salad for my husband and I and everyone LOVED it!!! Thank you for an easy and delicious recipe!

   • Christy Denney — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 @ 02:57:45 EDT Reply

     You’re welcome!

3. Rebecca Brown — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 @ 19:41:05 EDT Reply

   I made this for the first time today. It was great! I pretty much followed the recipe, with a couple of changes. I chopped and sautéed an onion and I added a can of corn because we love corn. I mixed all of that into the tomato-meat sauce before I combined that with the rest of the ingredients. I left out the Parmesan cheese because everything else was Mexican flavors. I didn’t want to add Italian. I didn’t have any green onions. I noticed the date on the original post for this recipe, March 25, 2020. It was at the very beginning of the pandemic. It’s great comfort food and makes a lot of it. I highly recommend this recipe.

   • Christy Denney — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 @ 01:41:39 EDT Reply

     Thank you!

4. Rachael — Sat, 16 May 2020 @ 17:35:57 EDT Reply

   Great recipe! I used penne pasta and ground turkey instead and added pico de Gallo on it after! So easy and filling!

   • Christy Denney — Tue, 19 May 2020 @ 01:34:49 EDT Reply

     Yum! So happy you made it!

5. Candace PierreLouis — Wed, 06 May 2020 @ 13:16:33 EDT Reply

   I haven’t made this yet but I will be tonight! I have so much left over taco meat but no taco shells or tortillas. Unlike so many other recipes I have looked at, I have everything this recipe calls for on hand. I am going to omit the sour cream, but only because I am the only one who likes it. Thank you so much for this recipe! I really didn’t know what to make for supper and sure don’t want any leftovers going to waste!

   • Christy Denney — Tue, 19 May 2020 @ 01:58:04 EDT Reply

     Awesome. Hope it goes well.

6. Helen — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 @ 21:31:38 EDT Reply

   If i need to use a larger type of pasta, like bow ties, do I need to adjust the cooking time?

   • Christy Denney — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 @ 22:48:26 EDT Reply

     Nope. Bow-ties aren’t that much bigger. Cook time should be the same.

7. Paige Flamm — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 @ 13:21:45 EDT Reply

   This looks amazing! We need to make this for dinner ASAP!

   Paige
   http://thehappyflammily.com

   • Christy Denney — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 @ 00:03:30 EDT Reply

     Thank you Paige!

8. barb — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 @ 10:07:11 EDT Reply

   I very much appreciate the nutrition information included in recipes.

   • Christy Denney — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 @ 00:11:09 EDT Reply

     Thanks Barb. I use MyFitnessPal to calculate the info and it really varies depending on the brands you use. I would try that.

9. Lisa — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 @ 18:37:58 EST Reply

   Delicious. Granddaughters loved it

   • Christy Denney — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 @ 23:12:52 EST Reply

     See Also

     Chicken Parmesan Casserole

     So happy to hear that.

     • Melissa D. — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 @ 20:54:09 EDT Reply

       Yet ANOTHER dinner from your site that my family loves. Thank you so much for everything you have on here. My kids are creatures of habit. They ask for the same things all the time (spaghetti, tacos, burgers…ect.) I am so pleased they really liked this! Thank you!

       • Christy Denney — Tue, 05 May 2020 @ 01:51:56 EDT Reply

         Awesome!! Thank you!

10. Brandea — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 @ 22:16:26 EDT Reply

    A new family favorite! Thank you! Only thing I change is instead of tomato sauce I use a jar of mild chunky salsa and add some crisped flour tortilla strips when it comes out of the oven. Perfection!

    • Christy Denney — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 @ 21:23:44 EST Reply

      I like the addition of salsa. Great idea!

11. Elizabeth — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 @ 21:48:39 EDT Reply

    We found this recipe when I was pregnant with my youngest and looking for meals that we could cook to freeze. My family LOVES this recipe and we usually cook it at least every three weeks or so! When I cook dinners for others, this is my go to. Just last month I made it and partitioned half for a dinner and froze half for my friend who just had her own baby!
    We call it “Juany Martinez” instead of Johnny Marzetti, giving a nod to the Hispanic flavors of this family favorite. Just made it this weekend for my 11 year old’s birthday dinner!
    Thanks so much for all your recipes, and especially this one!!

    • Christy Denney — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 @ 00:29:38 EDT Reply

      Haha. I love it! Juany Martinez – Awesome!!

12. Kaylyn Bee — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 @ 21:51:19 EDT Reply

    Can I make this the night before and leave it in the fridge and cook the next night?

    • Christy Denney — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 @ 21:54:11 EDT Reply

      The only thing I worry about is the noodles soaking up the sauce and getting soggy.

13. Christine — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 @ 11:39:13 EDT Reply

    I’m going to try adding black beans tonight!

    • Christy Denney — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 @ 23:14:04 EDT Reply

      Great addition!

14. Leslie — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 @ 18:29:32 EST Reply

    Hi, I just wanted to leave a comment seeing as this has become a regular menu item for us since you first posted it. My husband loves it and so do my kids! No alterations, just perfect the way it is!!

    • Christy Denney — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 @ 22:31:56 EST Reply

      Thank you!!!

15. Alex — Sun, 02 Oct 2016 @ 13:52:46 EDT Reply

    Hi how many calories per serving is this recipe? Thanks!!

    • Christy Denney — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 @ 23:41:29 EDT Reply

      I updated the recipe to include nutritional information below. Hope this helps.

16. Danielle Gingrich — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 @ 19:22:37 EST Reply

    Very easy and delicious! The green onion was a nice touch! I served it over shredded iceberg lettuce. Thank you for the recipe!

    • Christy Denney — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 @ 22:46:52 EST Reply

      You are so welcome!

17. Lara — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 @ 20:53:29 EST Reply

    Made this tonight, swapping turkey for the beef, and using Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. I also used your homemade taco seasoning recipe. SO delicious and easy. Thanks!!!

    • Christy Denney — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 @ 21:43:39 EST Reply

      You’re welcome!

18. Sheree Fuchs — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 @ 17:34:03 EST Reply

    I made this tonight using pasta sauce. For the cheese, I used 1/2 cup of taco cheese, 1/2 of cheddar and 1/2 od mozzarella cheese. I used a little less sour cream as it’s all I had in the house. and instead of parmesan cheese on top of it all, I used mozzarella, because again, it was what I had on hand. After baking it, let it sit about 10 minutes and served with cheesy garlic bread. A salad would have gone with this well, but fresh out at the time I made this, as it was spur of the moment, right before suppertime! Was delicious and will surely make it again! Fast and easy too! Thank you for sharing it! 🙂

    • Christy Denney — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 @ 22:07:11 EST Reply

      You’re welcome!

19. Sarah — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 @ 10:50:20 EDT Reply

    We love this recipe!! Have made it 3 times since I found it (which says a lot for me considering I usually go 6 months without repeating menus). My kids love it. Thank you!

    • Christy Denney — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 @ 16:28:58 EDT Reply

      I love hearing that. And now I want to make it.

    • Gloria — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 @ 17:32:46 EDT Reply

      I was looking up recipes for leftover taco meat that I have leftover from last nights burritos Gonna try this. I used taco seasoning mix to make the beef last night so I just skip that part. Does that sound correct. I too cannot cook Not sure about substitutes. Any thoughts from anyone would be appreciated. I will let ya know the family reviews after they eat. Cross fingers.

      • Christy Denney — Sat, 31 Jul 2021 @ 01:27:35 EDT Reply

        That should work gloria!

20. Jeff — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 @ 22:44:02 EDT Reply

    I’m not a fan of sour cream or green onions, how about throwing some corn chip crumbs into the recipe and topping it with salsa.

    • Christy Denney — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 @ 23:13:41 EDT Reply

      Yum. Sounds good.

      • Shaunta — Tue, 16 May 2017 @ 16:42:43 EDT Reply

        Do I use the entire container of the 8 oz sour cream?

        • Christy Denney — Tue, 23 May 2017 @ 23:50:22 EDT Reply

          Yes!

21. Lisa — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 @ 00:42:24 EST Reply

    This recipe turned out perfect

22. Lisa — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 @ 00:37:05 EST Reply

    I made this recipe today and it came out perfect. Thank you for a simple yet delicious meal. I will definitely be making this dish again.

    • Christy {The Girl Who Ate Everything} — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 @ 00:12:49 EST Reply

      Thank you lisa!!!

23. Faith — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 @ 22:07:18 EST Reply

    Made this tonight, super yummy and so easy!!

24. Kristine Tolman — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 @ 07:07:12 EST Reply

    This looks great. I’m an American living in Cairo and I get homesick for certain flavors. Trying this tonight.

    • Kristine Tolman — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 @ 08:38:28 EST Reply

      No sour cream in Cairo so I used labaneh cheese (a little thicker than sour cream) and added some olives, just because I put olives in everything. Delicious! I took a few bites before freezing.

      • Karen F. — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 @ 14:22:44 EST Reply

        I am anxious to make this but confused with the amount of tomato sauce. Is it 15oz. can of sauce or 1 5oz. can? Thanks…

        • Christy {The Girl Who Ate Everything} — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 @ 23:09:57 EST Reply

          It’s one 15 ounce can. You can also sub spaghetti sauce instead if you like.

          • tht1grl — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 @ 14:17:46 EST

            I use salsa instead of tomato sauce…. yummm!

          • kimmycoonchos — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 @ 17:05:11 EDT

            Excellent idea!

      • Christy {The Girl Who Ate Everything} — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 @ 23:10:44 EST Reply

        Thanks for making this all the way in Cairo!

25. Anne F. — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 @ 22:16:19 EST Reply

    I made this tonight and it was a big hit! The family was skeptical about pasta and taco flavors together, but they quickly changed their tune after one bite. Thanks for a great recipe – and it made enough for lunch leftovers!

    • Christy {The Girl Who Ate Everything} — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 @ 23:21:31 EST Reply

      Yay! Love hearing that!

26. [emailprotected] — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 @ 19:32:42 EST Reply

    Yummmm! What a perfect meal for January!

27. Pt Stephens — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 @ 16:25:56 EST Reply

    Is that 3 cups of macaroni before cooking or 3 cups after cooking? I am anxious to try this—my grandkids would love it I’m sure.

    • Christy {The Girl Who Ate Everything} — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 @ 16:45:26 EST Reply

      It’s 3 cups cooked macaroni – so after cooking. I just boiled 3 cups to be sure. It’s probably around 2 cups uncooked.

    • debbie — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 @ 17:16:54 EDT Reply

      Before cooking

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