Description
Hearty Crockpot Taco Spaghetti blends Mexican and Italian cuisine into one comforting dish. Ground beef, pasta, and zesty seasonings merge for a simple weeknight dinner that families will devour with enthusiasm.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound (0.45 kilogram) ground beef
Pasta and Seasoning:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) spaghetti, broken in half
- 1 packet taco seasoning
Sauces and Liquids:
- 1 can (10 ounces/284 grams) diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 1 can (8 ounces/227 grams) tomato sauce
- 2 cups (473 milliliters) beef broth
Cheese and Optional Toppings:
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Sour cream (optional)
- Chopped cilantro (optional)
- Diced tomatoes (optional)
- Sliced jalapenos (optional)
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium flame and thoroughly brown ground beef, discarding any accumulated fat.
- Incorporate taco seasoning into the meat, ensuring even distribution and robust flavor infusion.
- Migrate seasoned beef into crockpot, introducing diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and beef broth while gently integrating all components.
- Secure crockpot lid and simmer on low temperature for 120 minutes, allowing flavors to meld harmoniously.
- Gently submerge spaghetti into liquid mixture, guaranteeing complete coverage and preventing pasta from protruding above surface.
- Continue cooking for an additional 60-90 minutes, intermittently stirring to prevent potential sticking and ensure uniform pasta tenderness.
- During final cooking stage, cascade shredded cheddar cheese across dish’s surface, allowing five minutes for complete melting and subtle cheese integration.
- Garnish with optional embellishments such as tangy sour cream, fresh cilantro sprigs, or zesty sliced jalapenos to elevate culinary presentation.
Notes
- Ensure ground beef is thoroughly browned to enhance flavor and prevent raw meat texture.
- Drain excess fat completely to avoid greasy, heavy dish and maintain clean taste profile.
- Use low-sodium taco seasoning for better control of salt content, especially for health-conscious individuals.
- Whole wheat spaghetti works great for added nutrition and a healthier twist on this comfort meal.
- Break spaghetti noodles in half before adding to crockpot for easier stirring and more even cooking.
- For gluten-free version, substitute regular spaghetti with gluten-free pasta or spiralized zucchini noodles.
- Allow slight extra cooking time if using frozen ground beef to guarantee proper meat and pasta doneness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 460 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg