Description
Comfort meets Mexican-inspired cuisine in this crockpot taco spaghetti, blending hearty pasta with zesty southwestern flavors. Cheese-covered noodles and seasoned ground beef create a quick, satisfying meal you’ll crave all week long.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 lb lean ground beef
Seasonings:
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Pasta and Base:
- 1/2 pound (0.5 lb) spaghetti pasta
- 15 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup salsa
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
Vegetables:
- 1 medium red or green bell pepper, diced
- 15 ounces canned corn, drained
Cheese:
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Garnish:
- Fresh minced cilantro
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it into crumbles and seasoning with salt and pepper. Drain excess fat thoroughly.
- Transfer the cooked beef to the crockpot, creating an even base layer.
- Pour in crushed tomatoes, salsa, drained corn, taco seasoning, and chicken broth. Mix ingredients carefully to ensure uniform distribution.
- Cover and cook on high temperature for 3-4 hours, allowing flavors to meld and develop.
- Segment spaghetti into smaller pieces and gently submerge into the liquid mixture. Press pasta down to ensure complete coverage.
- Continue cooking for 15-20 minutes, stirring periodically until pasta reaches an al dente consistency.
- Distribute shredded cheddar cheese across the top of the dish, creating an even layer.
- Allow cheese to melt completely, approximately 5 minutes, then incorporate it into the mixture by stirring gently.
- Finish the dish with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro for added brightness and serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Test pasta cooking time carefully to prevent mushiness, as slow cookers can vary in heat intensity.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for lighter protein alternatives.
- Use gluten-free spaghetti to make the dish celiac and gluten-sensitive friendly.
- Consider reducing liquid slightly if using fresh salsa to control overall dish moisture levels.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg