This simple Taco Mac and Cheese recipe combines two household dinner favorites – tacos and macaroni & cheese – into one tremendous quick, tremendous simple, loopy scrumptious hearty consolation meals!
This submit was initially revealed on July 5, 2017. It has since been up to date and republished on October 3, 2023 with all new textual content, up to date images, and improved recipe card that can assist you make one of the best taco mac and cheese!

Our complete household is a giant fan of taco night time in our home. You, too? Then I do know you’ll love this recipe!
Taco mac and cheese is the final word consolation meals that is an excellent meal for busy weeknight dinners. It is a fusion dish that mixes two household favorites: floor beef tacos and creamy, tacky mac and cheese.
And with just a few primary components and minimal prep time, you may have this scrumptious dish on the dinner desk in a flash!
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❤️ Why this you may love this recipe

This Mexican mac and cheese recipe is one the entire household will love. Belief me: you’ll want to make many times! We simply adore this simple recipe in my home, and I hope you’ll, too!
- Quick – This taco macaroni and cheese recipe is tremendous quick to make in just some easy steps. You’ll be able to whip it up in half-hour!
- Makes essentially the most of leftovers – The recipe makes use of leftover ground turkey or ground beef taco meat that is pre-seasoned.
- Semi from scratch – To save lots of effort and time, the recipe additionally requires ready mac and cheese, reminiscent of Important St. Bistro Signature Macaroni & Cheese. You may also use your personal do-it-yourself mac and cheese if you happen to choose.
- Scrumptious dinner – This tacky pasta has a mouthwatering mixture of creaminess from the mac & cheese, hearty richness from the leftover taco meat, and crunchiness from the crumbled tortilla chip topping.
🌮 Ingredient notes

Another excuse to like this simple peasy recipe: it makes use of easy components you’ll be able to simply discover in any grocery retailer.
- Seasoned floor beef – That is the right recipe for utilizing leftover taco meat! We love utilizing our homemade taco seasoning with lean floor beef and cooking taco meat in the Instant Pot.
- Mac and cheese – To make this recipe even sooner and easier for these busy weeknights, you should utilize packaged mac and cheese. Use your favourite storebought mac and cheese that you just discover within the refrigerated deli part and even the freezer part. Wish to use do-it-yourself mac and cheese? Strive our Creamy Dairy Free Mac and Cheese or Instant Pot Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese recipe.
- Salsa – Use homemade salsa or your favourite store-bought salsa.
- Tortilla chips – Crushed up corn tortilla chips add a pleasant crunch to each chunk!
👩🏻🍳 Recipe FAQs

Retailer leftovers in an hermetic container for as much as 3 days if you happen to used leftover taco meat, and as much as 5 days if you happen to used taco meat cooked the identical day.
I really like Important St. Bistro’s Mac and Cheese. You’ll find it within the refrigerated part subsequent to the meat division, or in your native grocery retailer’s deli part. However you may also use frozen mac and cheese packages. Simply you’ll want to prepare dinner the mac and cheese first in accordance with package deal instructions earlier than making it on this taco mac recipe.
🥗 Serving concepts

This taco mac and cheese could be served with so many alternative aspect dishes to create a tremendous meal!
Enjoying off of the Mexican/Tex-Mex flavors of this dish, you may serve it with Elote Dip as a aspect dish by itself or with tortilla chips. Or serve these Air Fryer Corn Ribs as a aspect dish.
It is also scrumptious served with a vibrant inexperienced salad, like this SW BBQ Chicken Salad.
If you would like to serve some dinner rolls with it, this recipe for Pan de Sal makes fluffy dinner rolls.
🧀 Mac and Cheese Competitors

This scrumptious taco mac and cheese recipe really bought me a spot within the Important St. Bistro Signature Mac & Cheese recipe contest! Whereas I have been a decide in lots of meals and wine competitions, this was my first time competing.
Our recipe tips included:
- We might solely use three mix-in components and two garnishes.
- All components needed to be contemporary with no synthetic colours or components.
- The dish needed to serve a minimum of 4 individuals.
- From begin to end, the recipe needed to be carried out inside half-hour max.
I had a style testing session at my home with two pals and their 4 youngsters. My style testers all actually loved the recipe! Spoons saved going again in for extra. Hooray! After giving me their preferences for the totally different variations of the recipe, I finalized my recipe and prepped for the competitors.

The competitors was a lot enjoyable! Whereas I did not win the grand prize, I used to be honored to make it to the competitors and cherished sharing this recipe with so many individuals. And now, I’m additional honored and excited to be sharing this recipe with all of you, too!
Take pleasure in!
🌮 Extra taco meat recipes
Did you make this recipe? Remember to depart a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 ranking within the recipe card, and if you happen to actually cherished it, please go away a remark additional down on the web page. Thanks!

Taco Mac & Cheese
This Taco Mac and Cheese combines two household favorites – tacos and mac & cheese – into one final consolation meals!
Servings: 4 servings
Energy: 447kcal
Directions
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Pre-heat oven to 400°F levels.
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Place tortilla chips into a big plastic zip bag and crush into crumbles. Put aside.
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In a big skillet, warmth one tablespoon olive oil over medium warmth.
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Add leftover taco meat to skillet and stir to heat up till meat is totally heated up, about 3-4 minutes.
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Grease a 9” x 13” glass baking dish or casserole dish with butter.
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Add the ready mac & cheese to the baking dish. Combine within the floor turkey and salsa till components are properly blended. Easy excessive in order that it’s flat and even.
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Evenly sprinkle a beneficiant layer of crushed tortilla chips over the mac and cheese combination.
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Bake at 400°F for 5-7 minutes, simply till the tortilla chip layer has a barely darkened golden shade.
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Whereas mac and cheese is baking, chop up any objects you want to use as garnish, reminiscent of inexperienced onions or cilantro.
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When mac and cheese is completed, take away from oven and add salt and pepper to style. Garnish with inexperienced onions, plus extra salsa, and crumbled tortilla chips as desired.
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Serve and revel in instantly.
Notes
Storage: retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 or 4 days.
Vitamin
Energy: 447kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 26g | Fats: 21g | Saturated Fats: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 4g | Monounsaturated Fats: 5g | Trans Fats: 0.2g | Ldl cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 1210mg | Potassium: 584mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 313IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 177mg | Iron: 4mg
Vitamin data is a normal estimate. Precise diet particulars could fluctuate relying on the precise meals & manufacturers you employ to make this recipe. It doesn’t take into consideration any substitutions, toppings, or optionally available components.
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