Creamy Taco Spaghetti
One of my most viral recipes ever is my Million Dollar Spaghetti, and for good reason — it’s one of the most delicious renditions of baked spaghetti you’ll ever have. But here’s the thing: although I tried that trend and loved it, back when my kids were little, I used to make something called creamy taco spaghetti. I’ve never really seen anyone else do it quite like this. Sure, people make taco spaghetti, but I’ve never seen them make a creamy, cheesy, baked taco spaghetti like I used to for my boys when they were in elementary school. So I decided to recreate that nostalgic recipe — and it turned out so dang good. It actually tastes a bit like the TikTok-famous Million Dollar Spaghetti, but smokier, zestier, and more like a taco. Here's more recipes with tacos in it if you want it!
Ingredients
- 1 lb spaghetti cooked al dente (reserve 1 cup pasta water)
- 1 to 1½ lbs ground beef or turkey
- ¼ red onion finely diced (or small white or yellow onion)
- 1 heaping tbsp minced garlic with red chili pepper or regular minced garlic
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 packet taco seasoning plus extra for sprinkling on top
- 1 10 oz can Rotel, undrained
- 1 15 oz can corn, drained
- 1 28 oz can tomato sauce (or a jar of marinara)
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 8 oz block cream cheese, softened
- 8 oz Colby Jack cheese freshly shredded (for topping)
- 4 oz cheddar cheese freshly shredded (for topping)
- Sliced green onions for garnish
- Optional: chopped cilantro sliced jalapeños, tortilla chips for serving
Instructions
1️⃣ Cook pasta:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti until al dente. Scoop out 1 cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.
2️⃣ Make taco meat base:
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil.
- Add ground beef, diced onion, and minced garlic with chili pepper. Cook, breaking up meat, until browned, onions are soft, and meat is no longer pink.
3️⃣ Build the sauce:
- Add taco seasoning, Rotel (with juices), drained corn, and tomato sauce.
- Pour in about ½ cup reserved pasta water. Stir well and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat and let it simmer for a few minutes.
4️⃣ Make it creamy:
- Lower heat to medium-low. Stir in cream cheese until fully melted and smooth.
- Pour in heavy cream and stir until combined. Let it bubble gently for a couple more minutes.
5️⃣ Assemble in the baking dish:
- Add a ladle of sauce to the bottom of a greased 9x13 baking dish.
- Place drained spaghetti in the dish. Pour remaining sauce over top and toss everything together until evenly coated.
6️⃣ Top & bake:
- Sprinkle freshly shredded Colby Jack and cheddar cheeses all over the top.
- Add a pinch of extra taco seasoning right over the cheese, then scatter sliced green onions.
- Bake at 350°F for 25-30 min, until hot and bubbly. Broil for 2-3 min at the end for a golden cheesy crust.
7️⃣ Garnish & serve:
- Top with more green onions, cilantro, or jalapeños if you like.
- Serve hot with tortilla chips on the side for scooping — they’re perfect for catching all that creamy, cheesy goodness!
Video
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