This easy Taco Mac and Cheese recipe combines two family dinner favorites—tacos and macaroni and cheese—into one super fast, super easy, crazy delicious hearty comfort food!
This post was originally published on July 5, 2017. It has since been updated and republished on October 8, 2024 with all new text, updated photos, and improved recipe card to help you make the best taco mac and cheese!
Our entire family is a big fan of taco night in our house. You, too? Then, I know you will love this recipe!
Taco mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food and a great meal for busy weeknights. It's a fusion dish that combines two family favorites: ground beef tacos and creamy, cheesy mac and cheese.
With a few basic ingredients and minimal prep time, you can have this delicious dish on the dinner table in no time!
This is a family favorite! I love it because there are so many substitutes I can use (like ground turkey instead of ground beef). It’s basically a meat mixture, cheese sauce, and pasta. So simple, and so delicious!
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
This Mexican mac and cheese recipe is one the whole family will love. Trust me: you will want to make again and again! We just adore this easy recipe in my house, and I hope you will, too!
- Fast - This taco macaroni and cheese recipe is super fast to make in just a few simple steps. You can whip it up in 30 minutes!
- Makes the most of leftovers - The recipe uses leftover ground turkey or ground beef taco meat that's pre-seasoned.
- Semi from scratch - To save time and effort, the recipe also calls for prepared mac and cheese, such as Main St. Bistro Signature Macaroni & Cheese. You can also use your own homemade mac and cheese if you prefer.
- Delicious dinner - This cheesy pasta has a mouthwatering mix of creaminess from the mac and cheese, hearty richness from the leftover taco meat, and crunchiness from the crumbled tortilla chip topping.
- Variations - Make it your own. Use your favorite type of ground meat and add some shredded cheddar cheese or pepper jack on top.
🌮 Ingredient notes
Another reason to love this easy peasy recipe: it uses simple ingredients you can easily find in any grocery store.
- Seasoned ground beef - This is the perfect recipe for using leftover taco meat! We love using our homemade taco seasoning with lean ground beef and cooking taco meat in the Instant Pot.
- Mac and cheese - To make this recipe even faster and simpler for those busy weeknights, you can use packaged mac and cheese. Use your favorite store-bought mac and cheese that you find in the refrigerated deli section or even the freezer section. Want to use homemade mac and cheese? Try our Creamy Dairy Free Mac and Cheese or Instant Pot Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese recipe.
- Salsa - Use homemade salsa or your favorite store-bought salsa.
- Tortilla chips - Crushed up corn tortilla chips add a delightful crunch to every bite!
✅ Step-by-step instructions
Detailed instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. But here's a quick step-by-step guide to show you how to make this easy taco mac and cheese recipe.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Crush the tortilla chips and set aside.
- Reheat the leftover taco meat either in a large skillet or in the microwave.
- Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with butter.
- Make the packaged mac and cheese according to package instructions. Add the precooked mac and cheese into the baking dish.
- Add the salsa and taco meat and stir to combine.
- Top with a layer of the crushed tortilla chips.
- Bake at 400°F for 5 to 7 minutes, just until the tops of the chips are slightly golden brown.
- Serve with your favorite taco toppings like sour cream, green chiles, black beans, chives or green onions, cilantro, and more salsa, taco meat, and chips.
👩🏻🍳 Recipe FAQs
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days if you used leftover taco meat, and up to 5 days if you used taco meat cooked the same day.
I love Main St. Bistro's Mac and Cheese. You can find it in the refrigerated section next to the meat department, or in your local grocery store's deli section. But you can also use frozen mac and cheese packages. Just be sure to cook the mac and cheese first according to package directions before making it in this taco mac recipe.
That's awesome! You can make our dairy-free mac and cheese recipe (it's a reader favorite!), our butternut squash mac and cheese recipe, or your own favorite homemade macaroni and cheese recipe. Simply add it to the baking dish after making it and follow the directions in the recipe card.
Try this easy recipe with rotini or shell pasta. Then, top it with a homemade cheese sauce made from whole milk, garlic, and your favorite type of cheese.
Add some fresh diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, or some guacamole on top.
🥗 Serving ideas
This taco mac and cheese can be served with so many different side dishes to create an amazing meal!
Playing off of the Mexican/Tex-Mex flavors of this dish, you could serve it with Elote Dip as a side dish on its own or with tortilla chips. Or serve these Air Fryer Corn Ribs as a side dish.
It's also delicious served with a bright green salad, like this SW BBQ Chicken Salad.
If you'd like to serve some dinner rolls with it, this recipe for Pan de Sal makes fluffy dinner rolls.
🧀 Mac and cheese competition
This delicious taco mac and cheese recipe actually got me a spot in the Main St. Bistro Signature Mac & Cheese recipe contest! While I've been a judge in many food and wine competitions, this was my first time competing.
Our recipe guidelines included:
- We could only use three mix-in ingredients and two garnishes.
- All ingredients had to be fresh with no artificial colors or additives.
- The dish had to serve at least four people.
- From start to finish, the recipe had to be done within 30 minutes max.
I had a taste testing session at my house with two friends and their four kids. My taste testers all really enjoyed the recipe! Spoons kept going back in for more. Hooray! After giving me their preferences for the different versions of the recipe, I finalized my recipe and prepped for the competition.
The competition was so much fun! While I didn't win the grand prize, I was honored to make it to the competition and loved sharing this recipe with so many people. And now, I am extra honored and excited to be sharing this recipe with all of you, too!
Enjoy!
🌮 More taco recipes
Here are some more delicious dinner recipes that you can make with taco meat.
Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
Taco Mac & Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 cup tortilla chips
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ½ pound leftover taco meat
- 12 ounces prepared mac and cheese homemade or store-bought
- 1 cup salsa
- kosher salt and pepper to taste
- Optional Garnish: top with additional salsa, taco meat crumbles, sliced green onions
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 400°F degrees.
- Place tortilla chips into a large plastic zip bag and crush into crumbles. Set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat one tablespoon olive oil over medium heat.
- Add leftover taco meat to skillet and stir to warm up until meat is thoroughly heated up, about 3-4 minutes.
- Grease a 9” x 13” glass baking dish or casserole dish with butter.
- Add the prepared mac & cheese to the baking dish. Mix in the ground turkey and salsa until ingredients are well blended. Smooth over the top so that it is flat and even.
- Evenly sprinkle a generous layer of crushed tortilla chips over the mac and cheese mixture.
- Bake at 400°F for 5-7 minutes, just until the tortilla chip layer has a slightly darkened golden color.
- While mac and cheese is baking, chop up any items you wish to use as garnish, such as green onions or cilantro.
- When mac and cheese is done, remove from oven and add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with green onions, plus additional salsa, and crumbled tortilla chips as desired.
- Serve and enjoy immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.
Sheila says
Since my 3 favorite food are combined, I can say that this recipe is a sure winner.
I totally agree that this is the ultimate comfort food. Sharing this with friends.