Description
Hearty cheesy taco pasta delight combines Mexican and Italian cuisines in one comforting meal. Zesty spices, melted cheese, and ground beef create a quick dinner solution for families who crave bold flavors without complicated preparation.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) ground beef
- 16 oz (454 g) velveeta, cubed
- 12 fl oz (340 ml) evaporated milk
- ¼ cup (57 g) butter, cut into thin pats
- 3 cups (270 g) uncooked pasta shells
- 2 oz (57 g) taco seasoning (equivalent to 2 1-oz packets)
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Thoroughly brown ground beef in a skillet until no pink remains, then drain excess fat to maintain a lean consistency.
- Pasta Cooking: Boil pasta shells in salted water until al dente, then drain and set aside, preserving their ideal texture.
- Slow Cooker Setup: Lightly spray the slow cooker interior with cooking spray to prevent ingredient adhesion.
- Layer Foundation: Create an even base by transferring seasoned ground beef into the slow cooker, then spread cooked pasta shells uniformly across the surface.
- Flavor Infusion: Evenly sprinkle taco seasoning over the pasta and meat to distribute robust flavor throughout the mixture.
- Cheese Integration: Cube Velveeta cheese and butter into uniform pieces, then scatter across the top of the pasta and meat to ensure smooth melting.
- Liquid Binding: Gently pour evaporated milk over the ingredients, facilitating a creamy sauce that will bind all components together.
- Slow Cooking Process: Cover the slow cooker and set to low heat, allowing ingredients to meld and cheese to melt gradually for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.
- Serving Preparation: Once cheese has completely melted and ingredients are thoroughly combined, the dish is ready to be served piping hot.
Notes
- Meat Preparation Tip: Brown ground beef completely to eliminate any pink, guaranteeing food safety and enhancing overall flavor profile.
- Pasta Cooking Strategy: Salt boiling water generously and cook shells just until al dente to maintain perfect texture and prevent mushiness.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Cut Velveeta into uniform cubes for consistent melting, ensuring smooth sauce without lumpy patches.
- Slow Cooker Wisdom: Stir periodically during cooking to prevent ingredient settling and promote even heat distribution, creating a harmonious blend of flavors.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 508
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 1025 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 41 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 91 mg