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Delicious Cheesy Mexican Taco Casserole Recipe with Large Shell Pasta – a Family Favorite!

By: Author Miranda

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If you love tacos, you are going to love this cheesy Mexican Taco Casserole recipe!

For me, tacos are LIFE!  I’m a huge fan of Mexican food and could seriously eat tacos every single day.  When my husband asks me to run out for a lunch date, he already knows where I want to go every time.  There’s a little restaurant in a local gas station that offers a variety of Mexican food including tacos.  I just can’t get enough. 

So any time I find a new recipe that is a spin on tacos, I’m game for trying.  Recently, I made this Cheesy Mexican Taco Casserole Recipe w/Large Shell Pasta and it was delicious!  It got rave reviews from the family and is now in our meal rotation.  But the best part is that it’s fairly easy to make too.

Cheesy Mexican Taco Casserole Recipe w/Large Shell Pasta

If you’re in the mood for a Mexican casserole that feeds a crowd and won’t take too long to make, this is a great choice!  

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds ground beef, seasoned
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons taco seasoning
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 1-2 cups salsa
  • 1 can diced tomatoes with green chili peppers
  • 1 box of large shell pasta
  • 6 ounces of block sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Italian seasoning
  • garlic salt

Cheesy Mexican Taco Casserole Recipe w_Large Shell Pasta

Instructions-

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Brown the ground beef and season with onion salt, garlic salt, seasoning salt, and pepper.
  3. Add taco seasoning and stir.
  4. Then add diced tomatoes with green chili peppers.  
  5. Stir in block of cream cheese until fully combined.
  6. Add 6 ounces sharp cheddar cheese to meat mixture.  Stir.
  7. Cook large shell pasta according to box.  Drain but do NOT rinse.
  8. Pour salsa into bottom of 9×13 cake pan.
  9. Add cooked shell pasta.
  10. Spoon meat mixture over the top and spread evenly.
  11. Sprinkle with shredded sharp cheddar and mozzarella cheese.
  12. Top with a light sprinkle of Italian seasoning and garlic salt.
  13. Bake for 30 minutes or till cheese is bubbly and casserole is heated through.
  14. Serve immediately.

Cheesy Mexican Taco Casserole Recipe w_Large Shell Pasta

Printable Recipe: Cheesy Mexican Taco Casserole Recipe w/Large Shell Pasta

Yield: 6-8

Cheesy Mexican Taco Casserole Recipe w/Large Shell Pasta

Cheesy Mexican Taco Casserole Recipe w/Large Shell Pasta

This easy to make casserole features your favorite Mexican flavors in a delicious new way!

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds ground beef, seasoned
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons taco seasoning
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 1-2 cups salsa
  • 1 can diced tomatoes with green chili peppers
  • 1 box of large shell pasta
  • 6 ounces of block sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Italian seasoning
  • garlic salt

Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    2. Brown the ground beef and season with onion salt, garlic salt, seasoning salt, and pepper.
    3. Add taco seasoning and stir.
    4. Then add diced tomatoes with green chili peppers.  
    5. Stir in block of cream cheese until fully combined.
    6. Add 6 ounces sharp cheddar cheese to meat mixture.  Stir.
    7. Cook large shell pasta according to box.  Drain but do NOT rinse.
    8. Pour salsa into bottom of 9×13 cake pan.
    9. Add cooked shell pasta.
    10. Spoon meat mixture over the top and spread evenly.
    11. Sprinkle with shredded sharp cheddar and mozzarella cheese.
    12. Top with a light sprinkle of parsley and garlic salt.
    13. Bake for 30 minutes or till cheese is bubbly and casserole is heated through.
    14. Serve immediately.

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

7

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 796Total Fat: 56gSaturated Fat: 28gTrans Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 212mgSodium: 1417mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 3gSugar: 6gProtein: 56g

These nutritional facts are offered only as an estimate and could vary slightly.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

© Janessa

Photos: Step By Step

I know many people are visual learners.  So for those of you who love to see action steps, I wanted to be sure to include some photos.  First, you brown and season the ground beef.  (Did you know that ground beef is a very versatile ingredient that you can use in a variety of recipes, including these Beef Carnita Bowls.)

ground beef - Cheesy Mexican Taco Casserole Recipe w/Large Shell Pasta

Once the ground beef is fully cooked, it’s time to add in the taco seasoning and diced tomatoes with green chilis.

ground beef w/tomatoes - Cheesy Mexican Taco Casserole Recipe w_Large Shell Pasta

Stirring in the cream cheese is easy as the block melts quickly into the hot ingredients.

beef and cream cheese - Cheesy Mexican Taco Casserole Recipe w_Large Shell Pasta

For the block sharp cheddar cheese, I slice up a little for easier melting.

cheddar cheese- Cheesy Mexican Taco Casserole Recipe w_Large Shell Pasta

All of the ingredients together create a deliciously cheesy meat mixture.  

meat - Cheesy Mexican Taco Casserole Recipe w_Large Shell Pasta

Spread the salsa onto the bottom of the 9×13 casserole dish.  Top with cooked shell pasta.

pasta - Cheesy Mexican Taco Casserole Recipe w_Large Shell Pasta

Top the pasta with hot meat mixture.

Cheesy Mexican Taco Casserole Recipe w_Large Shell Pasta

Finally, sprinkle on the shredded cheese, garlic salt, and Italian seasoning.  Then bake.

Cheesy Mexican Taco Casserole Recipe w_Large Shell Pasta

Serve immediately and enjoy!

Cheesy Mexican Taco Casserole Recipe w/Large Shell Pasta

What’s your family’s current favorite meal?

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