Beef Enchilada Pasta

The whole family will love this easy, cheesy, beef enchilada pasta recipe.

Macaroni, seasoned ground beef, cheese, tomatoes, and enchilada sauce combine for a quick and easy pasta dinner packed with all the flavors of enchiladas.

Pasta dinners are always a hit in our house. From classic spaghetti and meatballs to mac and cheese, we love it all.

But when I am craving something bold and full of flavor I bust out my taco pasta bake recipe or this cheesy beef enchilada pasta recipe.

Made on the stovetop in a skillet, this beef enchilada pasta recipe is easy to make and can be on the table in under 30 minutes. For another quick and easy skillet dinner try our Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese.

What’s not to love about that?

Ingredients

You will need…

• ground beef – one pound lean ground beef
• onion – one onion diced
• garlic – 4 cloves, minced
• pasta – elbow macaroni, cavatappi, rotini, or ziti would all work well for this recipe
• red enchilada sauce – 28 ounce can
• crushed tomatoes – one 28 ounce can
• seasonings – cumin and chili powder
• queso fresco – a soft and light cheese popular in Mexican cuisine
• shredded cheese – Monterey jack, cheddar jack, or a Mexican-style cheese blend

Note: We don’t add additional salt and pepper to this recipe as the enchilada sauce and tomatoes add some sodium and the chili powder adds heat.

Step-by-step instructions

Step one: In a large pot, prepare the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside. Do not rinse.

Step two: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, stirring constantly (about 3 minutes). Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring occasionally.

Step three: Add the ground beef, cumin, and chili powder. Cook until the ground beef is browned and cooked through (about 4-5 minutes), crumbling the beef as it cooks.

Step four: Add the crushed tomatoes, enchilada sauce, and queso fresco to the cooked ground beef. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through.

Step five: Add in the pasta, stir to coat with the meat sauce, and top with shredded cheese.

Step six: Remove from heat and serve with your favorite enchilada-inspired toppings.

We used cilantro, but I am sharing plenty more topping ideas below.

Topping suggestions

• cilantro
• sour cream
• green onions
• avocados
• tomatoes
• olives

More Mexican-inspired recipes

• Sheet pan shrimp fajitas
• Taco pasta bake
• One-pot taco spaghetti
• Slow cooker salsa chicken – only 3 ingredients!
• Mexican crinkle cookies with a kick
• Crockpot Frito Pie

Beef Enchilada Pasta

Macaroni, seasoned ground beef, cheese, tomatoes, and enchilada sauce combine for a quick and easy pasta dinner packed with all the flavors of enchiladas.

4.60 from 32 votes

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Course: Main Dishes

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 610kcal

Author: Jaclyn Shimmel

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Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1 Tablespoon butter
• 1 onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
• 1 28 oz can red enchilada sauce
• 8 ounces queso fresco
• 2 cups cheese, shredded
• 1 pound uncooked pasta

Instructions

• In a large pot, prepare the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside. Do not rinse.
• In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, stirring constantly (about 3 minutes). Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring occasionally.
• Add the ground beef, cumin, and chili powder. Cook until the ground beef is browned and cooked through (about 4-5 minutes), crumbling the beef as it cooks.
• Add the crushed tomatoes, enchilada sauce, and queso fresco to the cooked ground beef. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
• Add in the pasta, stir to coat with the meat sauce, and top with shredded cheese.
• Remove from heat and serve with your favorite enchilada-inspired toppings such as cilantro, sour cream, black olives, and/or green onions.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 610kcal

The nutritional information provided is automatically calculated by a third party and intended to serve as an estimate only. The accuracy of nutritional information is not guaranteed.

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