This Simple Cheesy Taco Bake makes a perfect meatless meal! This taco pasta bake requires minimal prep, pantry ingredients and tastes just like a taco!
Easy Meatless Taco Pasta
If you are looking for an EASY, frugal meal, this Meatless Pasta Bake is the recipe for you!
It is a simple meal made with basic pantry ingredients that picky eaters are sure to love.
This meal is as simple as tossing cooked pasta with tomato sauce, salsa, and spices with sour cream and cheese.
While meatless, it still has a Mexican flair that is reminiscent of tacos--and who doesn't love tacos?
So whether you are looking for a quick dinner from your pantry staples, a meatless meal, a family-pleasing meal, or the perfect meal for a busy weeknight--this Easy, Cheesy Taco Bake is for you!
How to Make Baked Taco Pasta
- Prepare noodles according to package directions.
- elbow noodles, or rotini work best for this recipe.
- Mix cooked noodles with salsa, taco seasoning, tomato sauce, and sour cream together.
- Pro Tip: Blend salsa up if you have picky eaters that do not like to find chunks in their meals!
- Pour taco noodle mixture into a 2-quart casserole dish.
- Top with cheese.
- Bake until creamy and bubbly.
A Few Notes
- Use mild salsa to keep this taco bake kid-friendly.
- Blend salsa up if you have picky eaters that do not like to find chunks in their meals!
- Feel free to add in taco meat or beans to bulk this meal up. Or prepare this one-pot Taco Pasta with taco meat instead.
- Prepare this dish in advance up to baking. Cover and then bake as directed. You may need an additional 10 minutes longer for cook time, as pasta is cold.
More Meatless Meals
- Easy Baked Rotini
- Vegetarian Lentil Chili
- Easy Lentil Tacos with Avocado Cream
- Tuscan Pasta with White Beans and Tomatoes
Easy Creamy Meatless Taco Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 1 box 16 ounces whole wheat elbow pasta
- 1 cup salsa or rotel tomatoes
- 1 16 ounce can tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Boil pasta for 2 minutes less than package states.
- Mix together the spices with the salsa, tomato sauce, and sour cream with the cooked pasta. Pour into 2 quart casserole dish and top with cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until cheese is melted and browned.
Nutrition
Jennifer
I’ve been making this for years at this point and have to thank you for sharing such a tasty and easy recipe.
My husband and I have used this recipe when money is tight but we still want something yummy. When we have the ingredients and the budget allows it we sometimes add beans, chopped spinach, or corn. Or we’ll add it all and it’s just delish.
Try this recipe as is and you won’t regret it. I’ve had a few friends who needed the recipe once they tried it.
Kristen Chidsey
I love hearing that this was a meal you enjoyed when money was tight! And thank you for sharing this recipe with others!
Christa
Hi, there! Would love to make this, but i’m not a fan of sour cream. Does that flavor come through on the final product?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Christa, the sour cream just adds some creaminess to this bake. Feel free to use softened cream cheese instead or omit--but the dish will not be as creamy.
Kim Q.
This was fantastic! It can be difficult to find recipes that my vegetarian daughter who doesn't particularly like vegetables enjoys, but this was perfect. It is hard to beat a simple recipe that is also a crowd-pleaser. I am so pleased to have found this recipe!
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad that this simple recipe pleased your family Kim! Thanks for sharing!
Caitlin
This is great! I added In a can of black beans and it tired out really yummy! Tips definitely made more than 6 servings though! I have enough for a small army so we will be eating leftovers for the rest of the week. Can I assume this doesn't freeze well after its been baked because of the noodles?
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you enjoyed Caitlin! You can actually freeze after baking, but just keep in mind you may need to loosen up the sauce once defrosted.
Tabitha
My kids have asked for leftover two days in a row! Even wanting dinner early so they can eat it. Lol. I crumble up some tortilla chips with it
Kristen Chidsey
Oh I love hearing how much your kids love this Tabitha! And great idea to add texture.
Nicole
I showed this to my husband who's a big taco fan. Since it seems so easy to bake, he promise to do one for me soon!
Kristen Chidsey
YEA!!!! Nothing beats your spouse making you dinner. Enjoy!
Christina @ Juggling Real Food and Real Life
Hi Kristen! This recipe looks delicious. I've already printed it out and I'm going to make it for my family this week. Obviously, I could make this with any shape pasta, but I was wondering if you have a certain brand of whole wheat elbow that you use? I actually have a hard time finding the elbow and it really drives me crazy. Thanks a bunch! I so appreciate you sharing this with our Let's Get Real readers. They are going to love this one.
Kristen Chidsey
I always can find whole wheat pasta at Walmart believe it or not.
Alida
This is my kind of weeknight meal - easy, tasty, and versatile. Love it!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks!
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass
Dear Kristen , I am baked out too. This looks perfect for a dinner this week. The cheese means it's a meal everyone in my house will love!
Kristen Chidsey
Totally easy and cheesy, Allie. Perfect for your family!
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables
This sounds delicious!! I love mexican food 🙂 YAY For meatless recipes!
Kristen Chidsey
Yay for meatless and mexican!