Slow Cooker Taco Pasta 

This Slow Cooker Taco Pasta from Kristine’s Kitchen is a comforting, family-friendly one-pot meal made with minimal prep—about 10 minutes. Featuring lean ground beef (or turkey), savory taco seasoning, veggies, pasta shells, and melted cheddar cheese, it simmers all day in the slow cooker for easy dinner wins. With its cheesy, taco-inspired flavor and hands-off cooking, it's perfect for busy weekdays, meal prep, or feeding a crowd. The pasta absorbs all the sauce right in the crockpot—no pre-boiling required. Updated in April–May 2025, this recipe remains a top favorite. 

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef (or ground turkey)
  
  

• Salt and pepper, to taste
  
  

• 1 bell pepper, chopped
  
  

• 15 oz can crushed tomatoes
  
  

• 1 cup jarred salsa (mild or medium)
  
  

• 15 oz can corn, drained
  
  

• 3 Tbsp taco seasoning
  
  

• 2½ cups water or low‑sodium chicken broth
  
  

• 12 oz shell pasta (uncooked)
  
  

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  
  

Directions

1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium‑high heat; season with salt and pepper. Drain excess grease if needed. Transfer the meat to the slow cooker.
   
   

2. Add chopped bell pepper, crushed tomatoes, salsa, corn, taco seasoning, and broth or water. Stir to combine.
   
   

3. Cook on low for 5–6 hours or high for 2–3 hours. At this point, the mixture will be quite liquid. Don't worry—that liquid absorbs when the pasta is added.
   
   

4. Stir in uncooked pasta, pressing it into the liquid so it's mostly submerged. Cook on high for 15–30 minutes, until pasta is tender. Timing will vary by slow cooker.
   
   

5. Stir in shredded cheddar until melted and combined.
   
   

6. Serve hot, garnished with sour cream, chopped cilantro, and sliced avocado if desired.
   
   

Nutrients (Per Serving, yields 8 servings)

• Calories: ~364 kcal
  
  

• Protein: ~24 g
  
  

• Fat: ~9 g (saturated ~4 g)
  
  

• Carbohydrates: ~47 g
  
  

• Fiber: ~3 g
  
  

• Sugar: ~6 g
  
  

• Cholesterol: ~49 mg
  
  

• Sodium: ~579 mg
  
  

• Potassium: ~635 mg
  
  

• Vitamin A: ~966 IU
  
  

• Vitamin C: ~26 mg
  
  

• Calcium: ~143 mg
  
  

• Iron: ~3 mg