Tasty Tortilla-Topped Pasta Bake recipe from Pinch of Nom

Whether it's a weekday dinner or you're cooking for a crowd, consider this quick and easy pasta bake recipe from the Pinch of Nom Family Meal Planner your new go-to.

Pasta bake meets tacos! This easy pasta bake recipe is a total crowd-pleaser. Taco-seasoned beef, pasta and a cheesy tortilla topping, all baked in the oven and on the table in under 40 minutes. It’s quick, easy and always a winner. You can add your own toppings or even leave out the tortilla chips altogether if you fancy a simple pasta dish.

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IngredientsMethod
  • Total time

    40 mins

  • Prep time

    15 mins

  • Amount

    Serves 4

  • Ingredients
    • FOR THE TACO SEASONING:
    • ¼ tsp chilli powder
    • ¼ tsp dried oregano
    • ¼ tsp onion granules
    • ¼ tsp garlic granules
    • ¼ tsp smoked paprika
    • ¼ tsp ground cumin
    • FOR THE MEAT SAUCE:
    • low-calorie cooking spray
    • 1 large onion: peeled and diced
    • 3 garlic cloves: peeled and minced
    • 250g 5%-fat minced beef
    • 1 beef stock cube: crumbled
    • 2 tbsp Henderson's relish or Worcestershire sauce
    • 1½ tsp taco seasoning (above)
    • 1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes
    • 1 x 400g tin mixed beans in tomato sauce
    • 250g dried pasta shells or other pasta shapes
    • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
    • FOR THE TOPPINGS:
    • 40g reduced-fat Cheddar: finely grated
    • 30g lightly salted tortilla chips: very finely crushed
    • 70g sliced jalapeños in brine: drained
    • to serve FOR THE CHEESE SAUCE:
    • 125g low-fat spreadable cheese
    • ¼ tsp smoked paprika
  1. First, combine the taco seasoning ingredients in a bowl.
  2. To make the meat sauce for the pasta, spray a frying pan with low-calorie cooking spray and place over a medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook gently for 5 minutes until they begin to soften.
  3. Add the minced beef, crumbled stock cube and Henderson's relish to the pan and stir. Cook for another 5 minutes, breaking up the mince with a wooden spoon, until the beef is browned.
  4. Add the taco seasoning, chopped tomatoes and beans, season with salt and pepper and stir well. Reduce the heat a little and simmer while you cook the pasta.
  5. Preheat the oven to 220ºC (fan 200ºC/gas mark 7).
  6. Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions (about 10–12 minutes).
  7. When the pasta is cooked, drain it well and mix it with the meat sauce. Spoon the mixture evenly among four individual roasting dishes. We like to do this so everyone in the family can customise their toppings, but it will work fine as one large pasta bake too!
  8. Sprinkle the cheese and tortilla chip crumbs evenly over the top and bake in the oven for 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and golden.
  9. While the cheese is melting, mix the cheese sauce ingredients together with 3 tablespoons of water until smooth. If it seems too thick add a small splash of water at a time until you reach your preferred consistency.
  10. When the bake is ready, drizzle over the cheese sauce, top with the sliced jalapeños and serve!

Per serving: 566 kCal / 71G carbs

TIP: If you want to opt for different toppings, the calories for the pasta and beef sauce without any cheese or toppings is 441 kcal per serving.



This delicious recipe appears in the Pinch of Nom Family Meal Planner:

Pinch of Nom Family Meal Planner

by Kate Allinson

Book cover for Pinch of Nom Family Meal Planner

Make planning family meals easy with the help of this three-month companion from the million-copy bestselling authors of Pinch of Nom. With twenty-six exclusive Pinch of Nom recipes, this planner gives you everything you need to cook delicious family favourites, plan out your weekly meals and reach your personal goals.

This vibrant planner helps to keep you on top of your meals for the week with space to record the food you've added to the freezer each day, places to note down ingredients that need using up, and batch-cook advice to streamline your daily routine. With a handy ring-bound format, as well as gorgeous Nom stickers and tear-out pages for shopping lists, this helpful book can organize your week and keep you on track of your goals.