Here’s a slow-cooker taco mac and cheese recipe that’s kid-friendly! It’s made with ground beef, taco seasoning, al dente pasta, cream cheese, and more. This creamy and cheesy slow-cooker taco pasta is perfect for taco night.
This taco macaroni is a dish you can make any night of the week for the whole family to enjoy. Toss in the slow cooker and let it handle the cooking while you continue your day. Come home to a delicious meal!
This dish was inspired by my slow cooker taco and potato casserole for another easy recipe. Or try out these air fryer tacos for another taco-inspired recipe. Or try these dessert tacos for a treat at the end of a meal.
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Ingredients
This is a quick overview of the ingredients that you will need to make this recipe. You can find the full list in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- uncooked pasta
- ground beef
- taco seasoning
- shredded cheese
- canned tomatoes with green chiles (Rotel)
- cream cheese
- sour cream
- Velveeta cheese
- whole milk
- salt and black pepper
Instructions
This is a quick overview of the instructions to make this recipe. You can find the full steps in the recipe card.
Follow the directions on the back of the box and cook your pasta as directed. You want to cook until it is al dente.
Next, in a large skillet on the stovetop, you will want to cook our ground beef until it is no longer pink. Drain off any excess grease. Stir in the taco seasoning and mix well.
Grease your slow cooker with a nonstick cooking spray. Pour in the macaroni shells, ground beef, cheese, tomato mixture, cream cheese, milk, Velveeta, sour cream, and seasonings. Mix well.
Cover the slow cooker and cook as you are directed.
Once done, stir, and serve up this cheesy pasta.
Hint: Do not cook the pasta fully, or it will overcook and become mushy. I found that al dente pasta took around 6 minutes to cook.
Variations
Here are some ways to change up the flavor of this slow cooker taco pasta if you want to try some different variations.
- Meat – You can replace beef with ground turkey, ground chicken, or even ground pork. Or you can go meatless if you prefer.
- Veggies – Drain some black beans and mix in frozen or drained canned corn. This adds even more flavor to this complete meal.
- Spicy—For an added kick of spice, add red pepper flakes or even your favorite taco sauce.
- Salsa – Instead of a can of Rotel, you can swap it with salsa. It will compliment the seasoned ground beef and pasta nicely.
- Toppings – Crush up some tortilla chips to sprinkle on top for a nice crunch. Add your favorite taco toppings. Green onions, sour cream, avocado,
See this Mexican crumb cake for an easy dessert to go along with dinner.
Equipment
For this recipe, you will need a slow cooker, a large pot for the pasta, and a skillet for cooking your lean ground beef. You will also need a wooden spoon to stir the elbow macaroni mixture well.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. This is a great way to enjoy the leftovers. Reheat in the microwave or a skillet on the stovetop.
Due to the ingredients, the pasta shells and cheese mixture won’t thaw well if frozen.
Wendy’s Test Kitchen Tips
Make sure to grease your Crock Pot or use a slow cooker liner before adding ingredients for this slow cooker mac and cheese. This prevents sticking.
Before adding the ground beef to the slow cooker, ensure it is fully cooked and seasoned well with the taco seasoning.
If you prefer, you can use homemade taco seasoning for your favorite taco flavors. Or you can use a store-bought packet; the choice is yours.
You can wait to add the cream cheese to the slow cooker until the last 30 minutes of cooking. Then stir well to ensure it is creamy and well mixed before serving this family-favorite easy dinner.
FAQs
Do not overcook the pasta. Cook it until it is al dente. Cooking it until it is fully done will cause it to have a mushy texture.
Diced tomatoes, green onions, salsa, jalapenos, shredded cheese, and more. Feel free to pick and choose any or all of your favorite taco toppers. If you like spice, consider hot sauce as a topper.
You can skip the meat and use vegetables like lentils, quinoa, black beans, or something else.
Related
Looking for other slow cooker recipes like this? Try these:
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating! Thank you.
Slow Cooker Taco Mac and Cheese
Equipment
- large skillet
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 16 ounces elbow macaroni uncooked
- 1 ½ pounds ground chuck
- 4 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 2 ½ cups fiesta blend cheese divided
- 10 ounces tomatoes with green chiles drained
- 8 ounces cream cheese cubed
- 16 ounces velveeta cheese cubed
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 cups whole milk
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare a slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
- Cook the elbow macaroni according to package directions until al dente, boiling for about 6 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a medium skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, crumbling as it cooks.
- Drain the ground beef well. Stir the taco seasoning into the ground beef.
- In the slow cooker, add the cooked macaroni, seasoned ground beef, 2 cups fiesta blend cheese, tomatoes with green chiles, cream cheese, velveeta, sour cream, milk, salt, and black pepper.
- Stir to evenly distribute the ingredients.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 3 hours, stirring every hour.
- Prior to serving, top with the remaining cheese. Re-cover until the cheese melts and serve.
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