5-Ingredient Cheesy Turkey Taco Pasta

Name: 5-Ingredient Cheesy Turkey Taco Pasta
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 lb ground turkey; 8 oz pasta (any type of pasta works!); 3 tbsp taco seasoning (); 1 cup salsa; 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese; 1 tbsp olive oil

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This simple 5-ingredient cheesy turkey taco pasta is the ultimate lazy weeknight dinner — delicious, high-protein, kid approved, and ready in just 30 minutes. It’s an easy comfort food recipe that’s perfect for when you’re craving a cozy bowl of pasta!

⏰ TIME: 30 mins | 🤑 COST: $10.72
🍝 5 INGREDIENTS

This cheesy turkey taco pasta has got to be my favorite pasta recipe of all time. And that’s saying a lot because you guys know I love my pasta!

It’s a super flavorful, healthy, high protein pasta dish that takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish. You don’t need a ton of ingredients to make this cheesy taco pasta either! Just 5 simple ingredients and boom you’re done.

It’s one of my favorite comfort food dinners that you can whip up even after a long day at work. You can even use leftover ground turkey from taco night for this dish.

It’s a lighter version of the classic taco pasta since it’s made with ground turkey instead of ground beef. Ground turkey generally contains less saturated fats than ground beef, while still being a great source of protein and iron.

If you like this recipe, be sure to check out my 5-ingredient chicken sausage and zucchini pasta – another super easy high protein pasta dinner you can whip up in less than 30 minutes! I also have a whole collection of easy 5-ingredient pasta recipes so check those out too!

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Ingredients You’ll Need

Ground turkey – I like to use 93% lean ground turkey but you can use 99% lean if you prefer. If you don’t like ground turkey, you can swap it out for ground beef or ground chicken
Short-cut pasta – I used elbow macaroni for this taco pasta recipe since that’s what I had at home, but you can use any pasta shape you prefer! I’ve made this recipe with rigatoni and spaghetti noodles before and they both turned out yummy
Mild salsa – infuses the pasta dish with tons of flavor and moisture! I used fresh mild salsa, but you can use medium or hot, depending on your spice preference. You can also use a jar of salsa, but I prefer getting the little tubs in the refrigerated section of the grocery store since they tend to be more fresh
Taco seasoning – the star of the show in this recipe! Taco seasoning is one of my favorite seasonings of all time, especially when making 5-ingredient recipes, because you get so much flavor with just one cheap ingredient
Shredded cheddar cheese – you can use either mild or sharp cheddar cheese. I love the bagged thick-cut shredded cheese from Tillamook when I’m feeling too lazy to shred fresh cheese. Even Sargento and Cabot make delish bagged cheese that melts beautifully in pasta dishes

📌 OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS: I love adding chopped red bell peppers or diced red onions for a veggie boost! To make this pasta creamy, you can add in a few tablespoons of sour cream at the end.

substitution ideas

📌 Prefer a vegetarian version of taco pasta? Swap the ground turkey for a can of black beans or crumbled tofu. You can also add a mix of different veggies to bulk up the recipe too

📌 Prefer a dairy-free version? Use dairy-free cheese instead of cheddar cheese. You can also skip the cheese if you prefer – the pasta will still taste yummy!

📌 Ground turkey – ground beef or ground chicken also taste great in this recipe

📌 Pasta – use any shape of pasta you have at home; even whole-wheat, multigrain, or chickpea pasta will work well in this recipe. You can also use cooked rice instead of pasta if you prefer

📌 Cheddar cheese – swap for pepper jack cheese to give the taco pasta a spicy twist!

📌 Salsa – mild, medium, or hot tomato salsa works the best. You can try fire-roasted salsa or green salsa for variety!

Equipment You’ll Need

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Large pot – for boiling the pasta. This large pasta pot with a built-in strainer makes cooking pasta super easy!
Large deep skillet – for cooking the turkey and making the sauce. You want to make sure your skillet is deep since you’ll add the pasta to the turkey mixture at the end! I love my T-fal saute pan for recipes like this
Wooden spoon, spatula, or meat masher – For breaking up the turkey and mixing in the ingredients. I like to use either a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, but you can also use a meat masher if you have one!

$39.99

$45.96

$12.50

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Step-by-Step Instructions for the Cheesy Taco Turkey Pasta

1. Cook the pasta

Cook your pasta according to package instructions in a large covered pot with salted water. Once your pasta is done cooking, reserve about 1/4 cup of pasta water before draining. Set the drained pasta aside for now.

2. Brown the turkey

In a large deep skillet over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Once oil is heated, add the ground turkey to the skillet. Cook for 4-5 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon, spatula, or meat masher as it cooks.

3. Add taco seasoning and salsa

When the turkey is about halfway cooked (see top left image above), add the taco seasoning, salsa, and 1 tbsp of water to the skillet. The turkey should be starting to brown and still a little pink when you add in the seasoning and salsa, so that the turkey can soak up the flavors as it finishes cooking.

Mix well with the turkey, and cook for another 4-5 minutes until turkey is cooked through.

4. Stir in the pasta

Add cooked pasta to the skillet and stir until everything is evenly coated. Simmer for 2–3 minutes to warm the pasta through. If the dish seems a little dry, add 1–2 tablespoons of reserved pasta water at a time.

5. Melt in the cheese

Turn off the heat and top the pasta with shredded cheddar cheese. Stir gently until melted and creamy.

6. Serve and enjoy!

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Notes & Suggestions

Add the taco seasoning and salsa when the turkey is cooked halfway through so that it can absorb the yummy flavors as it cooks
Want your turkey taco pasta extra creamy? Add in a tablespoon or two of sour cream!
For extra spice, use hot salsa or add chili flakes while cooking
Double the batch for meal prep—it reheats beautifully!

Storage Instructions

Meal Prep: I love eating the turkey taco pasta leftovers (if there are any!) for lunch the next day. You can also meal prep individual-sized portions and use them as easy grab-and-reheat dinners throughout the week.
Fridge: Keep leftovers in an airtight container or meal prep containers for up to 4 days in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave with a splash of water for 2-3 minutes or reheat on the stovetop over low heat.
Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 1 month. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating, or defrost in the microwave for 5 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, I think this pasta dinner makes a healthy, well-balanced lunch or dinner! It’s a high-protein dish that uses ground turkey instead of ground beef to cut down on the amount of saturated fat.

You can also use whole wheat pasta in this recipe and it would still taste delicious! Tomatoes are a good source of vitamin C and lycopene, but you can also add more veggies to this dish to boost up the nutrients.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this section is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with your own doctor or your child’s pediatrician before making any changes to your diet or your child’s diet/feeding approach. Read the full disclaimer here.

🤑 The cost estimate for this recipe is $10.72, which is about $2.68 per serving. You can keep the cost of this dish low by using store-brand ingredients. The cheese and turkey will probably be the most pricey ingredients in this dish.

Use a mild taco seasoning and mild salsa to keep it kid-friendly. Make sure the pasta noodles are cooked until they are soft and easy to mash. You can also chop the pasta into smaller pieces or mash slightly for younger toddlers.

You can, but I haven’t tested out the exact amount of water you’d need to add to the skillet to cook your noodles properly. Not adding enough water will cause the pasta to not cook thoroughly. Adding too much water can ruin the consistency and texture of the dish.

You sure can! You can skip this ingredient altogether if you want – just add a little bit more water as the turkey is cooking to keep the taco meat juicy.

You can also swap the salsa out for diced tomatoes or crushed tomatoes if you wish, although you may have to add more taco seasoning to balance out the flavor.

Need snack ideas? 🍿

The Printable Recipe Card

5-Ingredient Cheesy Turkey Taco Pasta

This simple 5-ingredient cheesy turkey taco pasta is the ultimate lazy weeknight dinner — delicious, high-protein, kid approved, and ready in just 30 minutes. It's an easy comfort food recipe that's perfect for when you're craving a cozy bowl of pasta!

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 25

Total Time 30

Course Dinner

Servings 4 servings

Equipment

Large saucepan or pot for boiling pasta
Large deep skillet

Ingredients

1 lb ground turkey
8 oz pasta any type of pasta works!
3 tbsp taco seasoning
1 cup salsa
1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Pantry staples

1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

Cook the pasta:In a large pot of salted water, boil pasta according to package directions. Reserve about ¼ cup of pasta water. Drain and set aside.
Cook the ground turkey: In a large deep skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tbsp of olive oil. Once the oil is heated, add ground turkey and cook for 4-5 minutes, breaking it up as it cooks.
Add taco seasoning and salsa: When turkey is cooked about halfway through (still pink in some parts – see picture), add the taco seasoning, salsa, and 1 tbsp water. Mix well to coat the turkey. Cook for an additional 4-5 minutes until ground turkey is cooked through.
Combine with pasta: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and stir to combine all ingredients. Simmer for 2-3 minutes. If dish seems too dry, add 1-2 tbsp of reserved pasta water.
Add cheese and melt: Turn off the heat. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top and stir until melted and creamy.
Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Add the taco seasoning and salsa when the turkey is cooked halfway through so that it can absorb the yummy flavors as it cooks

Want your turkey taco pasta extra creamy? Add in a tablespoon or two of sour cream!

For extra spice, use hot salsa or add chili flakes while cooking

Double the batch for meal prep—it reheats beautifully!

Keyword 5-Ingredient Recipe, Easy Dinners, Ground Turkey, High Protein Recipes, Pasta, Quick Recipes, Taco Pasta, Tex Mex, Under 30-Minute Meals

Did you make this recipe? Let me know how it went!

I’m always open to suggestions, comments, or feedback on tweaking my recipes. If something wasn’t clear or if you think a step could be done better, or you added your own edits to this recipe, share it in the comments below or send me a message!