Cheesy Taco Salsa Spaghetti Bake – Are you looking for a scrumptious and hassle-free family meal that will have everyone at the dinner table asking for seconds? Look no further! We have a mouthwatering treat for you – Imagine flavourful taco meat sauce, tangy salsa, and al dente spaghetti baked together to perfection, topped with a generous layer of gooey melted cheese and colorful bell peppers. It’s a delightful blend of Tex-Mex flavors that will instantly become a family favourite.
The magic of this Baked Cheesy Taco Spaghetti lies in its incredible flavor fusion. When it comes to satisfying my family’s taste buds, there’s nothing quite like a variety of tacos—they simply adore the delicious combinations. With this recipe, I aimed to bring a fresh twist to the table by blending the best elements of a taco with the comfort of pasta. It’s a delightful fusion dish that promises to be a new family favourite!
Jump to:
Calories in Cheesy Taco Salsa Spaghetti Bake
Ingredients for Cheesy Taco Salsa Spaghetti Bake
Family-Friendly and Easy to Prepare
Variations on the Recipe
Sides for Taco Spaghetti Bake
More Pasta Bake Recipes
Cheesy Taco Salsa Spaghetti Bake
Calories in Cheesy Taco Salsa Spaghetti Bake
Enjoy this cheesy taco pasta bake, which serves four people and has 542 calories per serving.
If you’re looking for more recipes within the same calorie range, you’ll find an abundance of options in my dedicated collection of 500+ calorie recipes.
If you’re following a calorie-controlled diet or a healthy eating plan, it’s important to calculate your daily calorie intake using a reliable calorie calculator. Please note that the calorie counts provided are estimates and can vary based on specific ingredients and serving sizes. Personalizing your calculations is essential to meet your individual needs. By using a calorie calculator, you can make informed choices and stay on track with your dietary goals.
close up of taco spaghetti bake in white oven proof dish
Ingredients for Cheesy Taco Salsa Spaghetti Bake
To prepare this delectable Taco Spaghetti Bake, here are some notes on the ingredients used:
Ground Beef (beef mince) – Opt for 5% fat extra lean beef mince for a healthier option, but any ground meat will work just as well. Feel free to switch to turkey or chicken if you prefer.
Garlic and Onion – Essential base ingredients for enhancing the flavour of most recipes. For the best taste, use fresh ingredients.
Taco Seasoning – You can either my suggested blend of spices for taco seasoning or a ready-made taco spice mix for convenience.
Fresh Salsa – For optimal flavor, choose a mild fresh salsa from a tub. However, jarred salsa works fine too. If you enjoy spicier dishes, you can swap for a medium or hot version instead of mild
Variations on the Recipe
Here are some delicious variations you can try for the ingredients in the Taco Spaghetti Bake:
Meat Variations:
Diced Chicken: Swap the ground meat for some diced uncooked chicken and fry it in the taco spices. Chicken thigh will offer better flavor, but chicken breast is fine too.
Vegetarian Option: Substitute the meat with plant-based alternatives like crumbled tofu, cooked lentils, or black beans for a flavorful vegetarian version.
Pasta Variations:
Whole Wheat or Gluten-Free Pasta: Use whole wheat spaghetti or gluten-free pasta to make the dish healthier or suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
Lower Carb Ideas: If you are trying to reduce the carbs or calories, you could also try swapping out the pasta for some spiralized vegetables or spaghetti squash if it is available.
Spice Level:
Extra Spicy: If you love heat, add chopped fresh or pickled jalapeños or red pepper flakes to the taco meat sauce and use hot salsa for an extra kick.
Cheese Variations:
Pepper Jack Cheese: Swap the cheddar cheese with pepper jack cheese to add a spicy and zesty flavor to the dish.
Monterey Jack: Use Monterey Jack cheese for a milder and creamier cheesy topping.
Vegetable and Bean Additions:
Corn: Add sweet corn kernels to the taco meat sauce for extra texture and sweetness.
Zucchini or Spinach: Incorporate grated zucchini or chopped spinach to sneak in some extra veggies.
Beans: Half the ground meat used and instead add in some black beans to bulk out the dish.
Soured Cream Alternatives:
Coconut Milk: Use coconut milk instead of soured cream for a unique and slightly tropical flavor profile.
Low-Fat Single Cream or Half and Half: If you prefer a creamier dish, you can swap the soured cream for some single cream or half and half.
Light Cream Cheese: Light cream cheese is also a great addition instead of soured cream. However, if you opt for this, you may need to stir in a little more stock.
Yoghurt: If you prefer to use yoghurt instead, I recommend skipping the step of stirring it into the sauce to prevent curdling. Instead, serve a dollop on top of the dish once it’s dished up.
Seasoning Experimentation:
Homemade Taco Seasoning: Create your own custom taco seasoning blend using your favorite spices and adjust the flavors to your liking.
Chipotle or Smoked Paprika: Introduce a smoky element by adding chipotle powder or smoked paprika to the seasoning mix.
Remember to adjust the quantities and cooking times accordingly when making these variations to ensure a well-balanced and delicious Taco Spaghetti Bake that suits your preferences. Enjoy experimenting and creating your perfect family meal!
serving of taco spaghetti bake in white oven proof dish on turquoise and white plate with fork to left
Sides for Taco Spaghetti Bake
For a family meal centered around Taco Spaghetti Bake, you can complement the main dish with a variety of delicious sides. Here are some ideas to serve in the middle of the table:
Mixed Salad – this is my preferred choice as it’s so quick and easy to prepare and can combine any salad items you like. For my mixed salad I use crisp romaine lettuce, halved grape tomatoes, red onion slices, baby cucumber, and shredded carrot. Add it to a big bowl and place in the middle of the table with the spaghetti bake.
Mexican Corn Salad: A refreshing and colourful salad made with grilled corn kernels, finely diced bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, red onions, and chopped cilantro, dressed with a little lime juice and salt and pepper. This side adds a burst of freshness and balances the richness of the bake.
Cilantro-Lime Coleslaw: Prepare a tangy coleslaw with shredded cabbage, carrots, and a dressing made with plain fat free yoghurt, lime juice, cilantro, honey, and a dash of hot sauce. The crisp and refreshing coleslaw complements the rich and cheesy bake.
Grilled or Roasted Vegetables: Lightly grilled or roasted vegetables, such as courgette (zucchini), bell peppers, and onions, add a healthy touch to the meal and bring a burst of natural sweetness to counterbalance the spices in the bake.
Remember, the key to a balanced and filling meal is to pair the main dish with some low-calorie sides, such as vegetables, which will bulk out your plate and add extra nutritional value.
With this diverse selection of sides, your Taco Spaghetti Bake family meal is sure to be a hit, satisfying everyone’s taste buds and creating a memorable dining experience. Enjoy!
Cheesy Taco Salsa Spaghetti Bake – flavourful taco meat sauce, tangy salsa, and al dente spaghetti baked together to perfection, topped with a generous layer of gooey melted cheese and colourful bell peppers. It’s a delightful blend of Tex-Mex flavors that will instantly become a family favourite.
INGREDIENTS:
455g (1lb) of extra lean ground beef (mince)
1 onion, finely diced
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
250g (8.5oz) of uncooked spaghetti
4 tablespoons of tomato paste
1 cup (250g) of salsa (mild of medium)
1 cup (240ml) of chicken or beef stock
6 tablespoons of reduced fat soured cream
50g (1.8oz) of mozzarella, grated
50g (1.8oz) of cheddar or red leicester, grated
½ red bell pepper, finely diced
½ green bell pepper, finely diced
salt and pepper
olive oil spray
For the Taco seasoning:
1 tablespoon paprika (not smoked)
1.5 teaspoon of cumin
1.5 teaspoon mild chilli powder
½ teaspoon of oregano
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper (can add more or less depending on your preferred spice level)
INSTRUCTIONS:
Combine the taco seasoning ingredients in a small bowl
Heat a frying pan over a medium high heat, add the mince, onion and garlic and fry until mince is browned and onion is softened.
Add in the taco seasoning, tomato paste, salsa and stock, bring to a boil and then simmer for 10 mins
Cook spaghetti in boiling salted water as per package directions, reserve ⅓ cup (80ml) of pasta water, drain, spray spaghetti with olive oil spray and toss to coat.
Add the pasta to the meat mixture with the soured cream and reserved pasta water and mix to combine. Taste and season with salt and black pepper as needed.
Preheat oven to 190c, 170c fan, 375f or gas mark 5
Add spaghetti mixture to an ovenproof dish and top with cheese, add diced bell peppers
Cover tightly with foil and bake for 20 mins then remove foil and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes until cheese is melted and golden.
Serve and enjoy
Notes:
WW Points and other Slimming or Weight Loss programs: due to plans regularly changing and updating, we recommend calculating with the official tools you get as a member to those plans to ensure accuracy of values
Gluten Free Friendly – use gluten free pasta and stock
Suitable for Freezing ❄️
If you wish to share this recipe, then please do so by using the share buttons provided at top of this post.
NUTRITIONAL INFO:
Yield: 4
Serving Size: 1 SERVING
Amount Per Serving
Calories:542Total Fat:16gSaturated Fat:8gTrans Fat:0gUnsaturated Fat:7gCholesterol:56mgSodium:427mgCarbohydrates:56gFiber:5gSugar:6gProtein:41g
