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Remember when you were little and counted down the days until your birthday - looking forward to the cake and the gifts - your friends at school showing you a little extra attention because you brought a treat for everyone that day? Yep, I remember those days. How is it that the magic of birthdays kind of gets lost oh. . .at about age 30? LOL
I shouldn't be so down and out! Today is my birthday and life IS good! I have a wonderful husband, two healthy and fabulous children, a prosperous career and the support of family and friends all around me. What the heck do I have to complain about?! Nothing, besides the fact that my piece of birthday cake will need to be smaller if I want to maintain my weight. 🙂 It all comes down to the food, doesn't it?
That's why today I'm sharing some comfort food because I can! Forget the calories for a minute and just enjoy! This Taco Spaghetti is hearty, satisfying and makes a ton!
This dish actually reminds me of my mom's famous hot dish she makes. Do people still use the term hot dish? The definition is a whole lot of goodness in one pan: meat, pasta and veggies. An all-in-one meal! This Taco Spaghetti definitely meets all of the criteria!
I used a can of Ro-Tel to give the spaghetti a little kick. I could tell it was there. My husband (lover of all things spicy) didn't seem to blink an eye or drop a bead of sweat. So, I guess I can't classify this as a "spicy" dish but it has a little extra "something" that makes it quite addicting and something a little bit different than your traditional spaghetti and meat sauce.
The mushrooms I added are totally optional in this dish but I added them because they reminded me of home. My mom always put canned mushrooms in her hot dish and even as a child, I loved them.
So, today as I celebrate another year of sophistication. That's what it is, right? I'll be enjoying leftovers of this wonderful dish. Did I mention this spaghetti tastes even better the NEXT day? It does. It's like chili. Unbelievable. Grab a fork and dig in.
If you're nice, I may even share some of my birthday cake. . .that I may or may not be getting this evening. Honey. . .if you're reading this. . .this is your cue to get me some cake. Hint. Hint. I'm not picky, but marble with vanilla butter cream frosting would be great. Ice cream. . .optional. I suppose I would eat it if you forced me. 🙂
Taco Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 1 pound 95% lean ground beef
- ½ cup onion (chopped)
- 10 ounces long spaghetti (broken in half, cooked)
- 10 ounce Ro*Tel diced tomatoes & green chiles (undrained)
- 8 ounces canned mushrooms (stems and pieces, undrained)
- 8 ounces roasted garlic tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 pkg mild taco seasoning mix
- 1 tablespoon garlic pepper
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 2 cups water
- Sour cream and Parmesan cheese for garnish
Instructions
- Cook beef in large skillet with onions and minced garlic until no longer pink, about 7-8 minutes.
- Add taco seasoning, water, Ro*Tel, tomato sauce and mushrooms until well mixed.
- Add the cooked spaghetti to the skillet and mix together with other ingredients.
- Season with the salt and garlic pepper.
- Let cook for about 10 minutes before serving, stirring occasionally.
- Garnish with sour cream and Parmesan cheese if you'd like.
Notes
- Proper Meat Browning: When cooking the ground beef with onions and minced garlic, make sure to break the beef into smaller pieces as it cooks to ensure even browning. This step helps develop rich flavor and texture in the dish.
- Flavor Enhancement: To enhance the flavor profile of the dish, consider adding additional seasonings or ingredients according to your taste preferences. For example, you can include diced bell peppers, black beans, or corn for added texture and flavor. Adjust the amount of taco seasoning, salt, and garlic pepper to suit your preferred level of spiciness and seasoning intensity.
- Pasta Cooking Technique: To prevent the spaghetti from becoming mushy or overcooked, cook it according to the package instructions until al dente, usually about 8–10 minutes. Be sure to drain the cooked spaghetti well before adding it to the skillet with the other ingredients. This helps maintain the desired texture of the pasta and prevents the dish from becoming too watery.
Alecia
Thank you for linking up to Tickle My Tastebuds Tuesday last week. As one of the co-hosts, I will be featuring your recipe on Tickle My Tastebuds Tuesday this week on my site, Detours in Life. Congrats! Please stop by and grab a feature button when you get a chance.
Sara
That's great news, Alecia! Thank you so very much! I look forward to stopping by the party today!
Leslie
I love anything taco or spaghetti related! I've pinned this for the time being, thanks for sharing! Happy Wednesday!
Michelle from Weekend Craft
Such a good idea! Thanks for stopping by Creative Spark Link Party! Hope you stop by to link up today http://bit.ly/1CkmzzM
Shannon {Cozy Country Living}
This looks like a great dinner idea! I think my family would love it! Thanks so much for sharing it at the Project Parade! Hope to see you again this week:)
Sara
Our family loves it, Shanon. Thanks for stopping by!
Marsha
This looks so good! I think we'll be having this tomorrow night for our supper.
Karly
This is my kind of dinner! Thanks for linking up with What's Cookin' Wedesday!
Heather @ My Overflowing Cup
Thank you SO much for this recipe! I'm always wanting to feed my family spaghetti as it is so frugal, but my hubby doesn't care much for the traditional red sauce. I think he would like this so much better. Brilliant! Thanks for sharing. I'm pinning it now and trying it very soon.
Annie @ Annie's Noms
What a fab dish! I love simple pasta dishes for weeknight dinner and this looks like a winner! Thanks so much for linking up to The Pretty Pintastic Party! 🙂
Christie
I love chili mac, but I haven't thought of taco spaghetti. YUM!
Thank you for linking up with #FoodieFridays this week!
Christie
http://akitchenhoor.blogspot.com/
Marlene Schlegel
Sara, it does look a lot like my hot dish but with a little more kick. Will have to try it your way!
Sara
Hope you do try it, and of course your hot dish is still THE BEST!