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Mexican Spaghetti

A quick one-pot Mexican-inspired spaghetti with seasoned beef, tomatoes with green chiles, and melted cheddar.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 (10-oz) diced tomatoes with green chiles
  • 1 teaspoon oil
  • 1 pound lean ground beef (or ground turkey or chicken)
  • 1 small yellow onion, minced
  • 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
  • 1 (8-oz) can tomato sauce
  • 2.5 cups water + more as needed
  • 8 ounces spaghetti, broken in half
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated grated by hand
  • chopped cilantro for serving
  • sour cream for serving
  • avocado for serving
  • tomato for serving
  • green onion for serving
  • jalapeño peppers for serving
  • black olives for serving

Instructions

  • Place the diced tomatoes with green chiles in a small food processor or blender and pulse until slightly blended but still chunky; set aside.
  • Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium-high heat.
  • Add the ground meat and minced onion and sauté, breaking the meat into bite-sized pieces, until browned and cooked through; drain excess grease if needed.
  • Return the pan to the heat and stir in the taco seasoning, blended tomatoes, tomato sauce, and 2½ cups water; bring the mixture to a boil.
  • Once boiling, add the broken spaghetti, reduce heat to medium, and simmer uncovered, stirring often, until noodles are al dente, about 15–18 minutes; add additional water in 1/4-cup increments if the liquid evaporates too quickly (usually up to 3 cups total).
  • When the pasta is tender, remove the pot from heat and stir in the grated cheddar; let sit a few minutes to melt the cheese.
  • Serve hot topped with chopped cilantro and any desired toppings such as sour cream, avocado, tomato, green onion, jalapeño, or black olives.

Equipment

  • Food processor or blender
  • Large Dutch oven or stockpot
  • Wooden spoon or spatula
  • Measuring Cups and Spoons
  • Cheese grater

Notes

  • Use mild diced tomatoes with green chiles if serving to children.
  • Substitute your favorite salsa for the diced tomatoes if desired; blend before using.
  • You can swap spaghetti for elbow or rotini, adjusting cook time as needed.
  • Adjust water gradually if the pasta is cooking too quickly to prevent dryness.
  • To make homemade taco seasoning, combine chili powder, cumin, salt, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, and crushed red pepper to taste.