Best Taco Mac and Cheese Casserole Recipe + Video

5 stars from 1 review

Taco Mac and Cheese has seasoned ground beef and gooey cheese sauce over tender pasta. Make this Mexican-inspired recipe for taco night!

Servings:

Prep Time20

Cook Time25

Total Time45

16 ounces macaroni noodles
1 pound ground beef
ounce taco seasoning
10 ounce can of Rotel drained well
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups half and half
4 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese divided
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided
Taco Toppings such as tortilla strips diced tomatoes, diced avocado, sour cream, chopped cilantro, sliced jalapenos

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. Cook the noodles per the directions on the back of the box and drain well, set aside.
In a heavy bottom skillet over medium-high heat brown the ground beef. Drain any excess fat or water off of the beef and add the taco seasoning and Rotel, stir it in well, cook an additional 2 minutes, and set aside.
In a heavy bottom skillet over medium-low heat, add the butter and melt. Add the garlic powder, onion powder, and flour to the pan and whisk to mix into the butter. Cook for two minutes, stirring occasionally.
Slowly add the half and half to the pan whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Bring to a simmer to thicken. Take off the heat and add 3 cups of the Monterey Jack cheese and 1 cup of the sharp cheddar cheese, whisk to combine and melt the cheese into the sauce.
Mix the cheese sauce with the noodles and the ground beef mixture, pour everything into the baking dish. Smooth out the top so it cooks evenly.
Add the remaining cheeses on top of the casserole. Bake 15-20 minutes until golden brown and bubbly. Serve with your favorite taco toppings!