Description
A hearty and comforting dish featuring pasta, ground beef, and flavorful taco ingredients, cooked to perfection in a slow cooker.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 bell pepper chopped
- 15 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 15 ounce can corn drained
- 1 cup mild salsa
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 2 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth or water
- 12 ounces shell pasta uncooked
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Sour cream optional, for topping
- Fresh chopped cilantro optional, for topping
- Extra shredded cheddar cheese optional, for topping
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, season lightly with salt and black pepper, and cook until browned, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks. Drain any excess grease.
- Transfer the cooked beef to the slow cooker.
- Add the chopped bell pepper, crushed tomatoes, salsa, drained corn, taco seasoning, and chicken broth (or water). Stir everything together until well combined.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours. The mixture will appear fairly liquid at this stage, which is expected.
- Stir in the uncooked shell pasta, making sure it is fully submerged in the cooking liquid.
- Switch the slow cooker to HIGH (if it isn’t already) and cook for an additional 15-30 minutes, or until the pasta is tender. Cooking time may vary depending on your slow cooker.
- Once the pasta is cooked, stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted and evenly incorporated.
- Serve warm with your favorite toppings such as sour cream, chopped cilantro, or an extra sprinkle of cheddar cheese.
Notes
- This dish can be customized with your choice of protein or vegetarian options.
- Feel free to adjust the level of spice by using hot salsa or additional taco seasoning.
- Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5-6 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 70mg