Easy Leftover Taco Meat Pasta Casserole

If you were wondering what to do with leftover taco meat, then give this easy baked pasta casserole a try! It’s an easy way to make a quick meal for the entire family and a simple way to use up that leftover taco meat from Taco Tuesday!

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Total Time 40

COURSE Dinner, Easy Family Dinner Recipes, Easy Weeknight Dinner, Winter Recipes

CUISINE Mexican

SERVINGS or 6 to 8

Calories 344 kcal

Equipment

Casserole Dish

Foil

Ingredients

2½ cups Short Pasta - cooked halfway through in lightly salted water
2½ cups Leftover Taco Meat - already prepared, seasoned, cooked leftover taco meat
1 can Diced Tomatoes - 14.5 oz can
2 cups Shredded Mexican Style Cheese
⅓ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
2 tbsp Seasoned Italian Bread Crumbs
Non-Stick Cooking Spray - I used olive oil spray

Instructions

Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Assemble the casserole by adding in the half of the semi-cooked pasta as your first bottom layer.
Top off the half-cooked pasta with 2 and 1/2 cups of leftover ground taco meat.
Next, top the leftover taco meat with the can of diced tomatoes, juices and all. Spread the taco-seasoned ground beef and tomatoes around in an even layer so that they create a border that touches all around the casserole dish.
Lastly, evenly sprinkle on the Mexican style shredded cheese over the meat and tomatoes layer. Sprinkle the cheese on in an even layer so as to coat most all of the top of the casserole.
Lightly spray a sheet of aluminum foil with a bit of non-stick spray or brush with olive oil.
Tightly wrap the casserole with foil and bake in a 375 F degree oven for 30 minutes or until juices are bubbling, everything is heated through, and cheese is evenly melted.
In this last step, combine the grated parmesan cheese plus bread crumbs in a small bowl and stir together. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over casserole and turn on the broiler.
Leave in broiler for 3 to 5 minutes or until top cheese and breadcrumb layer is just golden brown. Remove immediately and serve hot.

Notes

NOTES:

1. To make half-cooked pasta, drop it in a pot of boiling water (enough to cover pasta by 1 or 2 inches) and let cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, strain, and add to casserole dish
2. When using the broiler, stay nearby as the browning of the cheese layer happens in 3 to 5 minutes. Do not leave in broiler for more than 5 minutes to avoid burning.

Nutrition

Calories: 344kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 17gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 378mgPotassium: 276mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 381IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 332mgIron: 2mg

KEYWORD baked ground beef casserole, beef pasta casserole, casserole with melted cheese, easy pasta casserole, easy taco casserole, ground beef taco meat recipes, leftover casserole, leftover taco meat pasta, leftover taco meat recipes, taco casserole recipe, taco pasta recipe