Taco Macaroni and Cheese – Plain Chicken

Baked Taco Macaroni and Cheese Recipe – the ultimate comfort food with a Tex-Mex twist! Tender pasta, seasoned taco meat, Rotel, creamy queso sauce, and melty cheese, all topped with crunchy Doritos. Easy, cheesy, and so delicious!

Plain Chicken participates in affiliate advertising programs. We may earn a small commission when you make purchases through links on our site.

Mexican Queso Mac and Cheese Recipe

Taco Mac and Cheese is a flavor-packed comfort food that brings together the best of two worlds. The tender pasta is coated in a creamy, cheesy queso sauce that’s loaded with taco-seasoned ground meat and zesty Rotel and topped with Doritos. It’s the perfect combination of creamy, cheesy, spicy, and crunchy, making it a dish that’s not just delicious but downright irresistible. Add this to your menu ASAP It is sure to be a hit!

How to Make Taco Macaroni and Cheese

This dish is super easy to make with only a few simple ingredients. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add pasta and cook according to the package directions for al dente. Drain and set aside. 

Cook ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Drain excess grease. Add taco seasoning, water, and Rotel diced tomatoes and green chiles to the pan. Simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add a jar of salsa con queso, heavy cream, chili powder, onion powder, and garlic powder and stir well. Stir in cooked pasta and shredded sharp cheddar cheese – season with salt and black pepper to taste. 

Pour pasta mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Top the casserole with more shredded cheese. Bake in a preheated oven until bubbly. Top the baked mac and cheese with crushed Doritos and bake for an additional 5 minutes. Garnish with diced tomatoes, olives, and fresh cilantro.

Helpful Tips  Frequently Asked Questions

• Substitute ground turkey for lower calories.
• I use campanelle pasta. It is a trumpet shape. I find it at Target.
  • You can use any shape of pasta that you like – rotini, elbow macaroni, penne, bow tie.
• I use Tostitos Salsa con Queso for the cheese sauce in this recipe.
• Here is our recipe for Homemade Taco Seasoning made with chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-taco-seasoning/
• Variations/Additions:
  • onions
  • bell peppers
  • black beans
  • corn
  • diced green chiles
• You can use any cheese in this dish – Monterey jack, Colby jack, or pepper jack taste great.
  • I recommend using freshly grated cheese instead of pre-shredded cheese in this dish. Freshly grated cheese melts better than the pre-shredded cheese from the store.
• Can I make Taco Macaroni and Cheese ahead of time? Yes! You can assemble the casserole and store it covered in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake.
  • If baking straight from the refrigerator, add a few minutes to the baking time.
• Can I freeze Taco Macaroni and Cheese? Yes. Assemble the casserole and cover the pan with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Store in the freezer for up to four months.
  • Thaw overnight in the fridge and bake as directed.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

What to Serve with Baked Macaroni and Cheese

This homemade mac and cheese is a staple at our house. Taco Mac and Cheese is a rich, cheesy, and flavor-packed dish that pairs wonderfully with fresh, zesty sides to balance its hearty goodness. 

Steph