One-Pot Taco Pasta: A Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free Family Favorite
If you’re looking for a delicious meal that is quick, easy, and loved by the whole family, look no further than this Taco One-Pot Pasta! When it comes to weeknight dinners, this recipe checks all the boxes.
Packed with flavors and free from gluten, dairy, and nuts, this dish is a perfect choice for those with dietary restrictions. Plus, with options for making it Paleo or Vegan, it can cater to almost any diet preference. It’s also Keto-friendly. Get ready to add this to your rotation of easy family dinner recipes!
This One-Pan Taco Pasta is a dream come true for busy families. It comes together in under 30 minutes and uses just one pan, making cleanup a breeze. Featuring a tasty blend of seasoned ground beef, creamy coconut milk, and protein-rich pasta, this recipe is a winner for kids and adults alike.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- 1 pound ground beef: This lean protein is the base of our taco pasta. For a vegan option, swap the ground beef for plant-based ground meat. My favorite vegan “beef” crumbles are Abbot’s.
- 2 packages taco seasoning: Choose gluten-free taco seasoning to keep this dish allergy-friendly. I prefer to make my own Homemade Taco Seasoning, as it uses whole food ingredients and is budget-friendly! But, if you are buying taco seasoning, I love the Siete brand.
- 8 oz gluten-free pasta: We love using Banza pasta, made from chickpeas, which adds a boost of protein and fiber. If you’re following a Paleo diet, use a grain-free pasta like Jovial.
- 4 cups coconut milk: A fantastic dairy-free alternative that provides a rich and creamy sauce. You can use either canned or boxed coconut milk, but full-fat is best for creaminess and be sure it’s unsweetened. I prefer the consistency and easy store lid of this Thai Kitchen Coconut milk.
- 1/2 cup nutritional yeast: This cheesy-tasting seasoning is a staple in dairy-free cooking, giving the pasta a deliciously savory flavor without any cheese.
- 1 tablespoon starch: Use potato or arrowroot starch as a grain-free thickener for this sauce. I don’t recommend tapioca, as it will make the sauce “tacky.” Read more about the different Paleo flours and how to use them here!
- 1/2 bunch cilantro: Fresh and fragrant, cilantro adds a burst of color and flavor. If you are one of the people for whom cilantro tastes like soap, just leave it out.
Instructions: Making Your One-Pot Taco Pasta
- Start by heating a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and sprinkle it with one batch (homemade) or packet of Taco Seasoning. Break apart and cook until browned, about 10 minutes.
- While the ground beef is cooking, combine coconut milk, nutritional yeast, starch, and 1 tablespoon taco seasoning. Whisk together until smooth.
- Once beef is cooked, drain any remaining grease. To the same pan, add the coconut milk mixture and pasta (*see notes for optional additional add-ins!). Make sure the pasta is submerged in the liquid for even cooking.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover the skillet and let it cook for about 5 minutes. Remove cover and cook until pasta is tender and liquid is mostly absorbed, about 3-5 minutes, depending on the size of pan and the type of pasta.
- Chop the cilantro and sprinkle it over the finished dish. Love the pop of flavor cilantro adds!
- This dish pairs perfectly with a my Cilantro Salsa Slaw and some fruit.
- Store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 1 week, or the freezer for up to 3 months.
Tips and Variations
- Make it Paleo: Be sure to use a grain-free pasta like Jovial.
- Vegan Option: Use plant-based ground meat. My favorite brand is Abbot’s. Skip the first cooking step and go straight to combining the crumbles, pasta, and sauce in the pa. Ensure your taco seasoning is vegan-friendly (like my homemade seasoning), and you’re good to go! Or, skip the crumbles altogether and be sure to use chickpea pasta with the optional black bean add-in.
Why You’ll Love This Taco One-Pot Pasta
This Easy Taco One-Pot Pasta Recipe is not only quick to prepare, but it’s also incredibly versatile. Whether you’re catering to dietary needs or simply looking for a new way to enjoy tacos, this dish delivers. Here’s why you’ll fall in love with it:
- Convenient 20-Minute Meal: Perfect for busy weeknights when you need to get dinner on the table fast!
- One Pan Wonder: Less mess means more time to relax after dinner. Who doesn’t love one-pan easy dinner solutions?!
- Customizable: Easily adapt the recipe to fit vegan, Paleo, or other dietary preferences without sacrificing flavor.
- Kid-Approved: The familiar taco flavors make this pasta a hit with even the pickiest eaters.
Optional Add-Ins for Increased Nutrition + Flavor
There are a lot of add-in options for this Taco One-Pot Pasta! We love it as is, as well as with one of these optional add-ins (all are referring to a 14-15oz can):
- 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed: Great for additional protein! Add an additional 1 cup milk and 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast to keep the sauce creamy and flavorful. Add the black beans to the pot at the same time as the sauce and pasta.
- 1 can Rotel tomatoes: Awesome for a kick, if your family enjoys tomatoes. Add the whole can to the pot at the same time as the sauce and the pasta.
- 1 can corn, drained: Add an additional 1 cup milk and 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast to keep the sauce creamy and flavorful. Add the corn to the pot at the same time as the sauce and pasta.
This ground beef taco pasta recipe is the epitome of comfort food with a healthy twist. Its adaptability, ease of preparation, and crowd-pleasing taste make it a go-to option for any family dinner. Whether you’re following a gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, Paleo, Keto, or vegan diet, this recipe fits seamlessly into your meal plan.
Next time you’re wondering what to cook for dinner, give this One-Pan Taco Pasta a try. You’ll be amazed at how quickly it disappears from the table! Happy cooking!
Want More Easy 30-Minute Ground Beef Dinners?
Here are some of our other favorite quick + family-friendly dinners you’ll love!
- Salisbury Steak Meatballs(Whole30, Paleo)
- Ground Beef Stir-fry (Whole30, Paleo)
- Taco Soup (Whole30, Paleo, Stove or Instant Pot)
- Sloppy Joes (Whole30, Paleo)
One-Pot Taco Pasta
An EASY 20-minute ground-beef family dinner using only 6-ingredients!
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 packets taco seasoning divided, or use homemade (see notes)
- 8 ounces gluten-free pasta I prefer Banza chickpea pasta for added protein!
- 3.5 cups canned full-fat unsweetened coconut milk if the taco pasta gets too dry, you can add an additional 1/2 c milk
- 1/2 cup nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot or potato starch
- 1/4 bunch cilantro optional but recommended
Instructions
- Start by heating a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and sprinkle it with one batch (homemade) or packet of Taco Seasoning. Break apart and cook until browned, about 10 minutes.
- While the ground beef is cooking, combine coconut milk, nutritional yeast, starch, and 1 tablespoon taco seasoning (you won't use the rest of the package - save for another recipe). Whisk together until smooth.
- Once beef is cooked, drain any remaining grease. To the same pan, add the coconut milk mixture and pasta (*see notes for optional additional add-ins!). Make sure the pasta is submerged in the liquid for even cooking.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover the skillet and let it cook for about 5 minutes. Remove the cover and cook until the pasta is tender and the liquid is mostly absorbed, about 3-5 minutes, depending on the size of the pan and the type of pasta.
- Chop the cilantro and sprinkle it over the finished dish. Love the pop of flavor cilantro adds! Salt to taste.
- Store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 1 week, or the freezer for up to 3 months.
Notes
Make it Paleo: Be sure to use a grain-free pasta like Jovial.
Vegan Option: Use plant-based ground meat. My favorite brand is Abbot's. Skip the first cooking step and go straight to combining the crumbles, pasta, and sauce in the pa. Ensure your taco seasoning is vegan-friendly (like my homemade seasoning), and you're good to go! Or, skip the crumbles altogether and be sure to use chickpea pasta with the optional black bean add-in.
Optional Add-Ins
- 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed: Great for additional protein! Add an additional 1 cup milk and 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast to keep the sauce creamy and flavorful. Add the black beans to the pot at the same time as the sauce and pasta.
- 1 can Rotel tomatoes: Awesome for a kick, if your family enjoys tomatoes. Add the whole can to the pot at the same time as the sauce and the pasta.
- 1 can corn, drained: Add an additional 1 cup milk and 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast to keep the sauce creamy and flavorful. Add the corn to the pot at the same time as the sauce and pasta.
Nutrition
Calories: 530kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 27gFat: 38gSaturated Fat: 26gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 131mgPotassium: 545mgFiber: 6gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 31IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 59mgIron: 9mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Made this tonight and it was a total hit!!! We are big pasta fans, but this recipe was so simple to make and lots of flavor. I used Banza pasta which was great. The whole family loved it! This is definitely going into our regular meal rotation. Thanks !
Yesss, a simple one-pot dinner the whole family loves is exactly the goal! So glad the Banza pasta worked great and that this one earned a spot in your regular rotation. Thank you so much for the review!
Another amazing recipe! My husband took two bites and asked “why don’t we have this every week?!” I had to make some substitutions with what I had in the fridge and was able to do so seamlessly with things I’ve learned from Autumn’s other recipes. Delicious and flexible, not always easy in the gf/df world. Truly so, so good! Thank you!!
This made me laugh—best compliment!! 😊 I love that it was such a hit and that you’ve been able to build that confidence with swaps too—that’s the goal! Thank you for the review.
I just made this for the first time tonight. My goodness this is good! This will definitely be in the rotation.
Ahhh that makes me so happy to hear!! I’m so glad you loved it and that it’s earned a spot in your regular rotation — that’s the ultimate compliment. 💛 Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review!
Home run, as always, Autumn!
Ahh, thank you so much! That truly means a lot — I really appreciate you taking the time to leave a review and share the love! 💛
Hi! Can you confirm if the recipe calls for 3 or 4 cups of coconut milk? The description says 3 by the recipe itself says 4.
Sorry for the confusion! Both work, but I prefer the consistency of 4 and updated the recipe to say so and forgot the blog post. I changed the blog post so they all say 4 cups now. Thanks!
Thoroughly enjoyed this recipe and it reheated great which is always a big win for me since I meal prep everything for the week!!
Happy you enjoyed it! So glad to hear it held up well for meal prep—that’s always a major win in my book too. Thanks so much for trying it and for taking the time to leave a review!
If I add a full can of black beans & a can of corn do I add 2 more cups of coconut milk?
Good question and YES, if you are adding both of those, add 2 cups additional coconut milk as well as 1/4 c additional nutritional yeast. You can also add additional taco seasoning to taste, if desired. Enjoy!
One of our family favorites! Even the ones who are not GF/DF request this one often! I have to make a double bath so we have leftovers for lunch! We love this one!
That’s the best when even the non-GF/DF crew is all in—huge win! Love that it’s become such a favorite you’re doubling it for leftovers. Thank you for the review!
I’m confused about the amount of taco seasoning that needs to be used when making this recipe for 12. The directions say to add one packet and then add 1 tablespoon, but never say to add the remaining three packets.
Great catch, and sorry for the confusion! My recipe plugin scales the ingredient amounts when you size up, but it can’t update the numbers written in the instructions — so those still reflect the base batch. Be sure to 2x or 3x whatever is in the instructions to match what changes you tapped for the ingredients.
Do you find that the coconut milk gives a coconut taste or smell? I always get nervous using coconut milk in savory recipes – because I have some anti coconut people in my house.
I get it, we aren’t coconut fans either. Even with that, my boys and I love this recipe and don’t feel like you can taste it! If you prefer, you can use an equal amount of a heavy vegan cream instead. I find heavy vegan cream at Trader Joe’s, Walmart, or Target. Enjoy!
Looks delicious, but just wondering if it will taste like coconut? Would cashew cream or blended silken tofu work as a substitute? Thanks!
Totally get the coconut concern – I 0% like the taste of coconut, neither do my kids, and all of us like this dish and don’t taste the coconut! I would encourage you to give it a try. If you want a substitute, I haven’t worked with the two you listed, but have had good success with heavy vegan cream – I find it at Trader Joes, Target, and Walmart. Enjoy!
My partner’s son has gluten and lactose intolerance and is a very, very picky eater. I made this as a blind shot in the dark and it has become one of his favorite foods. Thank you so much for this recipe!
YESSS that this was a picky eater kid win, those are the BEST. Wahoo! I’m so very happy to hear that, it’s why I do what I do. Thank you for the review!
Busy weeknight with hungry kids….Autumn to the rescue with another fabulous meal! This one came together quickly and tasted SO good!! And, the cherry on top? Everyone loved it!! Thank you for another awesome recipe
Big YES that this was approachable and successful on a busy night – we all need more of those kinds of recipes! Happy to hear it was a family hit. Thank you, reviews help me so much!
We love this recipe!
We add a can of rotel and black beans- and use a total of 2.5 T of taco seasoning- more than that and it was too much in our opinion. But I use homemade seasoning (ie: I’m cheap)- so Aubs it’s more intense than store bought packets. 😂
I’m so glad you loved this one! Thanks for letting us know what modifications you made and enjoyed. I appreciate the review!
We loved this, it was easy to make and fantastic comfort food. We’ve made it twice this week. It has officially claimed a spot in our dinner rotation.
So good you made it twice in one week?! YAY! I love that it has found a place in your regular rotation. Thank you so much for the review!
This is such great comfort food! It was fairly easy to make. People are already claiming the leftovers! It’s going to become a staple in our house.
YESSS! You know it’s good when people want the *leftovers* too, love it! Glad it’s one you want on repeat. Thanks so much for the review!
I just made this tonight and it was delicious!!! This was so easy and so good. I made it with the Banza pasta and added a can of black beans for extra protein. This will definitely be added to our regular rotation. I’m so happy that with just my husband and I there will be some leftovers. Thank you so much for another fantastic and simple recipe- once again, you nailed it!!!
Woot woot that this was an easy hit for your home! Love that you found it easy and delicious. Thank you so much for the review!
This was delicious—even my picky eater went back for seconds! I added some minced garlic and tomato paste to the beef after I drained it. Super easy and super quick! Thanks for all of the creative dairy-free recipes that keep us from feeling like we’re missing out on good food. Will definitely make this again!
YAAAY for easy family dinner wins! I love that it was a hit even with your picky eater. Fantastic! Happy it’s one you want to make again. Thank you for the review!
This recipe is delicious and oh so easy to make. 5 stars for sure. Wondering if it could be done in the Instant Pot and what the cooking time would be. Thank you, Autumn.
I’m so glad you loved this easy dish! That’s a great question on the instant pot. I haven’t tried it, so I can’t give details but I will put it on my list to try and figure out. Thank you for the review!
Had everything on hand for this this week, and it was a big hit with my teenagers! And us parents😊
HOORAY that this was an easy meal your family loved! Thank you so much for the review.