Description
Nacho Spaghetti is a quick and flavorful fusion dish combining classic spaghetti with zesty taco-seasoned ground beef and melted cheeses. Topped with fresh veggies, tortilla chips, and optional sour cream, this 25-minute meal delivers a cheesy, spicy twist on traditional pasta that’s perfect for casual weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Spaghetti and Meat
- 8 oz spaghetti
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef (or turkey for a leaner option)
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 packet taco seasoning mix (or homemade taco seasoning)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup salsa (optional for added flavor)
Cheese and Toppings
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup sour cream (optional, for topping)
- 1/4 cup sliced jalapeños (optional, for topping)
- 1/4 cup sliced green onions
- 1/4 cup chopped tomatoes
- 1/4 cup black olives, sliced
- Tortilla chips (crushed for topping)
- Fresh cilantro (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook Spaghetti: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
- Cook the Beef: While the spaghetti cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up into crumbles. Add chopped onion and minced garlic, and cook until the onion is softened and translucent.
- Season the Beef: Stir in the taco seasoning mix and water. Let the mixture simmer for about 5 minutes or until thickened. For extra flavor, mix in salsa if using.
- Combine Spaghetti and Beef: Add the cooked spaghetti to the skillet with the beef mixture. Toss well to coat the pasta evenly with the seasoned beef sauce.
- Add Cheese: Stir in shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese, allowing them to melt into the pasta mixture. Optionally, top with additional cheese and bake in the oven briefly to melt and brown the cheese if you prefer.
- Serve: Spoon the nacho spaghetti into bowls. Top with sour cream, sliced jalapeños, green onions, chopped tomatoes, black olives, crushed tortilla chips, and garnish with fresh cilantro.
- Enjoy: Serve immediately to enjoy the cheesy, zesty, and crunchy goodness of this creative pasta dish.
Notes
- For a leaner version, substitute ground turkey for ground beef.
- Adjust the amount of jalapeños and taco seasoning to control the spice level.
- Crushing the tortilla chips just before serving keeps them crunchy.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated, but tortilla chips may lose crunch.
- Optional baking step for melted and bubbly cheese adds a nice texture contrast.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican-American Fusion
