One-Pot Taco Pasta
Taco night and pasta night in one pot, which is really the whole pitch. Ground beef browns in the same pot the rotini cooked in, then diced tomatoes and a packet of Stonemill taco seasoning turn it into a sauce, and shredded cheddar melts over the top. At about $8.47 for four servings it lands around $2.12 a plate, and every ingredient is a Kirkwood, Priano, or Happy Farms staple from the same Aldi aisle. It is built for nights when the schedule has already fallen apart — 25 minutes, no oven, no chopping board heroics. Picky eaters can add their own cheese and taco sauce at the table. Leftovers reheat in a covered pan with a splash of water.
25 min
4
$8.47
$2.12
Ingredients
Estimated Aldi prices for the amount this dinner uses, based on regular shelf prices and the current weekly ad.
Steps
- 1Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rotini to al dente, about 9 minutes; drain and set aside.
- 2In the same pot, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it up, until no pink remains, 6–7 minutes; drain any excess fat.
- 3Stir in the taco seasoning and the diced tomatoes (with their juices); simmer 3 minutes.
- 4Add the cooked pasta back to the pot and toss to coat in the sauce.
- 5Sprinkle the cheddar over the top, cover, and let sit 2 minutes until melted.
- 6Stir through, taste, and adjust seasoning. Serve hot.
Tips & swaps
- Ground turkey or a drained can of black beans both work in place of the beef.
- Any short pasta holds the sauce: penne, fusilli, or macaroni in the same quantity.
- A spoonful of sour cream or a squeeze of lime stirred in off the heat makes it creamier.
- Frozen corn or a handful of spinach can go in when the tomatoes go in.
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Stuffed Bell Peppers
Halved peppers stuffed with ground beef, rice, and tomato — topped with melted cheese.
Put One-Pot Taco Pasta into your week
Add it to a plan built around this week's Aldi deals, or browse all 50 cheap dinner ideas and pick the rest of the week yourself.
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