Taco Spaghetti Casserole

Name: Taco Spaghetti Casserole
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 8 ounces spaghetti ((half a box)); 1 pound ground beef; 2 cloves garlic (minced); 1 (1 ounce package) taco seasoning; ¾ cup water; 1 (15 ounce can) corn (drained); 1 (8 ounce jar) taco sauce; 1 (10.75 ounce can) condensed cream of chicken soup; 1 (8 ounce container) sour cream; 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese; 1/2 cup tortilla chips (crushed)

45 minutes

corn garlic

Posted:6/8/22

Updated:12/12/22

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This family-friendly Taco Spaghetti Casserole combines all the delicious flavors of spaghetti and tacos! This recipe is a fun way to serve up something new and tasty, plus it’s easy to make! Serve this recipe up for taco night, and surprise the whole fam!

spoon lifting up cheesy taco spaghetti casserole out of baking dish.

Why You’ll Love Taco Spaghetti Casserole

If you’re a fan of spaghetti, this is the perfect dish for you. Traditional spaghetti can become a bit boring and mundane, but this predictable recipe transforms into something amazing in this taco spaghetti dish! Who would have thought a Mexican-flavored pasta dish could be so good! You’ll love the pockets of melty cheese, tasty taco meat, and crunchy tortilla chip topping. This creative taco spaghetti recipe is one of my family’s favorite dishes and an easy weeknight dinner!

How do you make taco bake?

Simple Mexican spaghetti casserole that tastes like Mexican hamburger helper, what’s not to love?! This recipe is so easy to throw together for a family dinner just gather together the following ingredients:

spaghetti (half a box)
ground beef (you can sub ground turkey or ground chicken if you prefer)
minced garlic
taco seasoning
water
canned corn
taco sauce
condensed cream of chicken soup
sour cream
shredded cheese
crushed tortilla chips

ingredients needed for taco spaghetti casserole.

Instructions

Once you have all your ingredients, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 11×8 baking dish with nonstick spray.

Break spaghetti in half and cook in a large pot according to package instructions. Make sure the pasta is fully drained and place it in the baking dish.

While the pasta cooks, add ground beef and minced garlic into a large skillet and cook until browned. Then drain the extra fat from the skillet.

Add taco seasoning, water, corn, and taco sauce to the skillet, and bring to a low boil, cooking until thickened. This will take about 10 minutes.

ingredients thickening up in skillet with spoon stirring it.

Next, in a medium-sized bowl, combine cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and 1 cup of shredded cheese.

chicken sop, sour cream and shredded cheese mixed in bowl.

Then, pour the cheese mixture on top of the spaghetti mixture.

sour cream mixture added to spaghetti in baking dish.

For the next layer, spread the ground beef mixture on top of your sour cream mixture. Make sure to spread it around until the sour cream mixture is evenly covered.

ground beef mixture added to spaghetti in baking dish.

Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup shredded cheese on top. And add the crushed tortilla chips.

shredded cheese on top of casserole, uncooked, in baking dish.

Now you’re ready to toss it in the oven! Bake in the oven for 30 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.

baked taco spaghetti casserole right out of the oven.

Serve with a dollop of sour cream, extra tortilla tips on top for an added crunch, and even some hot sauce if that’s your thing!

Recipe Help

What else can I add in?

The recipe is delicious as is. But here are additional add-ins you might like!

Along with the ground beef and garlic, add a small chopped onion or green pepper to add some extra color and flavor. You can also add a can of drained black beans into the ground beef mixture when you add the corn.
Instead of taco sauce, add a 16-ounce jar of salsa.

Note: To keep it kid-friendly, use a mild taco sauce or salsa.

On the other hand, if you want to up the heat level of this dish, consider adding fresh jalapenos. You can serve them on the side so that those who prefer a little extra kick can enjoy that, but the rest of the dish won’t be too spicy for everyone else.

If you like your cheesy taco spaghetti casserole extra cheesy, feel free to add more cheese!

spoon in baking dish with cheesy noodles and casserole on it.

What to Serve with Taco Spaghetti Bake?

Taco Spaghetti bake has everything, but if you want to add a side dish, this pasta recipe pairs well with our Fried Corn and Onion recipe. Or you can serve it with a simple vegetable like roasted broccoli or any simple salads.

How to Store Taco Spaghetti Bake?

This recipe makes a big pan of food. You’ll likely have leftovers! You have two options to store leftovers: leave the casserole in the dish and cover with tin foil or plastic wrap. Or keep the spaghetti bake in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

We love enjoying this meal the next day for lunch or dinner. It’s just as good and makes for an easy meal. Plus, this simple taco spaghetti bake is a great recipe for meal prep! Toss together this casserole and store it in the fridge to enjoy lunch all week long.

This easy recipe is definitely becoming a staple in my house. It’s such a great weeknight meal that doesn’t take much time to make and tastes like heaven. Enjoy!