Taco Macaroni and Cheese (Printable Format)

Cheesy one-pot pasta loaded with taco-seasoned beef. The ultimate comfort food mashup ready in 30 minutes.

# What You'll Gather:

→ Main Ingredients

01 - 1 pound ground beef or turkey
02 - 1/2 cup diced onion (optional but adds great flavor)
03 - 1 packet taco seasoning or 2 tablespoons homemade taco spice blend
04 - 1/2 cup water
05 - 2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
06 - 2 cups milk (whole or 2% works best for creaminess)
07 - 2 tablespoons butter
08 - 2 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
09 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Optional Toppings

10 - Diced fresh tomatoes
11 - Sliced green onions
12 - Sliced jalapeños for heat
13 - Sour cream for cooling things down
14 - Fresh chopped cilantro
15 - Crushed tortilla chips for that perfect crunch

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Heat up a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the ground beef or turkey and cook until it's nicely browned. If you're using onion, toss it in now and cook until the meat is done and onions are soft. Drain off any extra fat.
02 - Stir in your taco seasoning along with half a cup of water. Let this simmer for about 2-3 minutes so the meat really soaks up all those delicious spices.
03 - Pour in the uncooked macaroni, milk, and butter. Give everything a good stir to combine, then bring the whole mixture to a gentle simmer.
04 - Cover the pan and turn the heat down to low. Let it cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring every few minutes, until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed. If it gets too thick before the pasta is done, just add a splash more milk.
05 - Remove from heat and stir in all that beautiful shredded cheese until it's completely melted and creamy. The sauce should be smooth and luscious.
06 - Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Spoon into bowls and top with whatever taco toppings make your heart happy!

# Important Tips:

01 - This is a perfect one-pot meal that's ready in under 30 minutes and uses simple pantry ingredients.
02 - For the smoothest cheese sauce, shred your own cheese rather than using pre-shredded, which can be grainy.
03 - Keep the heat gentle when simmering to prevent the milk from scalding or cooking off too fast.
04 - You can easily customize this with add-ins like corn, black beans, or bell peppers for extra nutrition.
05 - Leftovers actually taste even better the next day and reheat beautifully with a splash of milk.
06 - For a casserole version, pour everything into a baking dish, top with extra cheese, and bake at 375°F for 10-15 minutes.

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