Looking for ideas for what to do with leftover taco meat from Taco Tuesday? Try my easy Taco Pasta recipe. It's an easy dinner full of bell peppers, onions, and garlic. And topped with traditional taco toppings like sour cream, cheddar cheese, and cilantro, this is one delicious meal that helps extend the yumminess of taco night!
We don't always do Taco Tuesdays in our house, but when we do, one thing can be certain: we will have a LOT of leftover taco meat.
You, too?
If you're looking for a way to use up those leftovers from taco night, this pasta dish is one of my family favorite leftover taco meat recipes. This is an easy dinner recipe the whole family will love. It's a hearty meal that's perfect for busy weeknights!
Ready to make this yummy Taco Pasta? Let's do it!
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❤️ Your new favorite leftover taco meat recipe
This easy recipe results in a vibrant, beautiful pasta dish.
- This is a great way to use up leftover taco meat. Taco pasta transforms leftover taco meat into a totally different meal that will make your tastebuds do the happy dance!
- The steps are easy to follow and it's a great recipe for evening beginning cooks.
- It's easy to customize this easy meal with different taco toppings.
- You can make this taco pasta recipe in under 30 minutes. So you'll have a delicious dinner on the table, fast!
🌮 Ingredient notes
You only need a few simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand or can easily find your local grocery stores.
- Leftover taco meat - You can use however much leftover taco meat you have. I usually have about one cup of taco meat leftover to a cup and a half.
- Pasta - You can use almost any type of pasta shape for this recipe. I love using farfalle pasta (bowtie pasta), penne pasta, elbow macaroni, rigatoni, pasta shells, or cellantani. But I've also used thin noodles before and taco spaghetti is just as delicious!
- Bell peppers - I love a mix of red bell pepper, orange bell pepper, green bell peppers, and yellow bell peppers, but you can use whatever you prefer or have on hand.
- Garlic & onions - finely minced garlic and finely diced onions add even more flavor to this dish. If you're in a pinch, you can substitute a half teaspoon of garlic powder and a half teaspoon of onion powder for the fresh garlic and onions.
Optional toppings - you can top this leftover taco meat pasta with your favorite traditional taco toppings. Try sour cream, chopped chives, chopped fresh cilantro, shredded cheddar cheese, guacamole, sliced avocado, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
🔪 Kitchen Tools & Equipment You Need
To make this Taco Pasta dish, you just need:
- Large stockpot - for cooking the pasta
- Large skillet - to cook the onions, garlic, and peppers, and to mix in the leftover taco meat and cooked pasta.
- Wooden spoon or silicone spatula - to stir the ingredients together
✅ Step-by-step instructions
Detailed instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here's a quick step-by-step guide of how to make this easy taco pasta at home.
Step 1 - First, cook the pasta in a large pot according to package instructions.
Step 2 - Then, in a large skillet, sauté up some onions, garlic, and peppers.
Step 3 - Add the leftover taco meat to the skillet. You usually don't need to add any extra seasoning because the meat is already seasoned. However, you can always add a teaspoon to a tablespoon of homemade taco seasoning if you want.
Then sauté a couple of minutes more until the peppers are soft and the pasta is cooked.
Step 4 - Finally, add the cooked pasta to the skillet and mix up all of those gorgeous ingredients together.
Optional - Top with your favorite taco toppings. Ideas: a generous dollop of sour cream, mix in some shredded cheddar cheese, and add a sprinkling of chopped cilantro.
Recipe FAQs
Using leftover ground meat helps cut down on the cooking time. You can, of course, cook ground beef, ground chicken, ground pork, or ground turkey from scratch and make this recipe.
Yes! Without the optional mix-ins and add-ons, this recipe is dairy-free.
If you want to add sour cream, this is my favorite dairy-free sour cream.
If you want to add shredded cheddar cheese, try my favorite dairy-free cheddar-style shreds.
Chopped cilantro is an optional garnish, but it adds a nice, bright, lively note to the dish. You can substitute parsley for cilantro if you prefer.
Allow the pasta dish to cool, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
What side dishes go with taco pasta?
This leftover taco meat pasta goes well with so many side dishes! Try serving it with one of these equally easy-to-make sides:
More taco meat recipes
More pasta recipes you might like
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!
Easy Taco Pasta with Leftover Taco Meat
Ingredients
- 12 ounces uncooked pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup chopped bell peppers red, orange, and or yellow; I use a mix of all three!
- ¼ cup chopped onion
- 2 finely minced garlic cloves
- Leftover taco meat - however much you have! I usually have about 1 to 1-½ cups worth.
- 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes
- Optional toppings: sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and chopped cilantro or chopped parsley
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions in a large stockpot.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat.
- Add chopped bell peppers, onions, and garlic to the pan. Sauté over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes, stirring to ensure ingredients do not stick to the pan and also ensuring the garlic does not burn.
- Once the onions look slightly translucent and soft, add the leftover taco meat and sauté for another 1-2 minutes to heat the meat.
- Add diced tomatoes to the skillet and continue stirring and sautéeing for another 2-3 minutes, until the tomatoes are heated.
- Drain the pasta, leaving approximately 3-4 tablespoons of hot pasta water in the pot, and add the pasta to the skillet.
- Stir the pasta until it is thoroughly coated with the tomato meat sauce. Add a tablespoon of the hot pasta water to the skillet as needed to help create more of a sauce.
- Once the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce, remove from heat.
- Top with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, cilantro, and/or parsley if you wish. Serve 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.
Autem says
This recipe was a huge hit! Totally adding it to our regular menu items. It was really quick and easy to make. I've tried a different taco pasta recipe before, this one is so much better. My 2 year old even loved it. Husband is currently finishing bowl 3, haha. Thank you!
lisa says
We just keep the ones we really enjoy and plus holiday seasons are coming, so it’s time to get ready. Anyways, thank you so much for sharing such an informative guide. Looking forward to more posts! <3
Kim says
This recipe is amazing!! So simple with few ingredients and modifiable if needed. Not a pepper fan so those were nixed and a little red pepper for spice. Definitely my new go to left over meal!!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
So glad you loved it, Kim!
April says
Stumbled upon this recipe when I googled “leftover taco meat recipes” - SO GLAD I FOUND IT!! It’s amazing!! My toddler even loved it! Thank you so much for giving me a new way to use leftovers!!!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
April, I am so happy to hear that you all loved it! Yay! :)
schnapps says
I'm looking at partnering it with wine or beer. What would you prefer?
Patty Scott says
Yum! Found you on Pinterest ... and saved to Yumprint! Can't wait to try this.
Nutmeg Nanny says
This looks awesome! Perfect for using up leftovers.
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Thank you! :)
Rosie from Blog To Taste says
This is such a smart way to turn leftovers into something else. I live for that kind of thing. Taco meat is one of my favorite things because there are endless ways to eat it. One of my faves is a taco omelette, complete with dairy free sour cream, olives and salsa. .
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
I hear ya: I love how many different ways there are to use up taco meat, and your taco omelette sounds delicious!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate says
What great photos with this post! Looks amazing! I love any way to use up leftovers, especially deliciously. Looks like you've got this covered! Nice!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Thank you, Patricia!
Erin says
Fun! I am all about the Mexican flavors and who doesn't like adding pasta to really anything?!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Right? I love pasta everything! :) Thanks, Erin!
Jill Silverman Hough says
Amen for sexy sour cream and feeling bad for people who taste soap when you and I taste cilantro! I can't imagine living without either! Have a great holiday weekend, Marlynn!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
I loooove cilantro! :) Thank you, Jill!
Kirsten/ComfortablyDomestic says
What a fun way to give new life to leftover taco meat!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Thanks so much, Kirsten! :)
Kirsten/ComfortablyDomestic says
What a fun idea to give new life to leftover taco meat!
Mary @ Vindulge says
Yum! That sounds comforting and delicious. We're huge Taco Tues proponents around here (my kids live for tacos). They also live for pasta, so this is definitely a great way to use up any leftovers and keep the kids happy.
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
It's two favorites in one dish! :) Thanks so much, Mary!
Marye says
This looks amazing, I love tacos! I definitely would love to try this!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Thanks, Marye! I hope you are able to try it someday!