Description
A comforting and easy one-pot meal that combines the flavors of tacos and pasta in a slow cooker.
Ingredients
1 pound lean ground beef
salt and pepper
1 bell pepper, chopped
15 ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 cup jarred salsa, I used mild
15 ounce can corn, drained
3 tablespoons taco seasoning, I use this easy recipe
2 ½ cups water or low sodium chicken broth, I used one 14.5 ounce can chicken broth plus enough water to total 2 ½ cups
12 ounces shell pasta shapes (uncooked), whole wheat or white
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
Brown ground beef in a skillet with salt and pepper until cooked. Drain off any grease and transfer to a slow cooker.
Add bell pepper, crushed tomatoes, salsa, corn, taco seasoning, and broth or water. Stir everything together.
Cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours.
Add the pasta and cook on high for 15-30 minutes, until tender.
Stir in the cheddar cheese and serve.
Notes
When browning the ground beef, make sure to drain off any excess grease for a less greasy final dish.
To prevent the pasta from sticking, give the mixture a good stir halfway through the cooking process.
If you like a thicker sauce, you can add a tablespoon or two of cornstarch to the slow cooker during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Don’t overcook the pasta! It should be tender, but not mushy.
Feel free to adjust the amount of taco seasoning to your liking.
- Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: American