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This Simple Cheesy Taco Bake makes a perfect meatless meal! This taco pasta bake requires minimal prep, pantry ingredients and tastes just like a taco!

Easy Meatless Taco Pasta
If you are looking for an EASY, frugal meal, this Meatless Pasta Bake is the recipe for you!
It is a simple meal made with basic pantry ingredients that picky eaters are sure to love.
This meal is as simple as tossing cooked pasta with tomato sauce, salsa, and spices with sour cream and cheese.
While meatless, it still has a Mexican flair that is reminiscent of tacos--and who doesn't love tacos?
So whether you are looking for a quick dinner from your pantry staples, a meatless meal, a family-pleasing meal, or the perfect meal for a busy weeknight--this Easy, Cheesy Taco Bake is for you!
How to Make Baked Taco Pasta
- Prepare noodles according to package directions.
- elbow noodles, or rotini work best for this recipe.
- Mix cooked noodles with salsa, taco seasoning, tomato sauce, and sour cream together.
- Pro Tip: Blend salsa up if you have picky eaters that do not like to find chunks in their meals!
- Pour taco noodle mixture into a 2-quart casserole dish.
- Top with cheese.
- Bake until creamy and bubbly.

A Few Notes
- Use mild salsa to keep this taco bake kid-friendly.
- Blend salsa up if you have picky eaters that do not like to find chunks in their meals!
- Feel free to add in taco meat or beans to bulk this meal up. Or prepare this one-pot Taco Pasta with taco meat instead.
- Prepare this dish in advance up to baking. Cover and then bake as directed. You may need an additional 10 minutes longer for cook time, as pasta is cold.
More Meatless Meals
- Easy Baked Rotini
- Vegetarian Lentil Chili
- Easy Lentil Tacos with Avocado Cream
- Tuscan Pasta with White Beans and Tomatoes
Easy Creamy Meatless Taco Pasta Bake

Ingredients
- 16 ounces elbow noodles
- 1 cup chunky prepared salsa
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons Homemade Taco Seasoning, or store-bought taco seasoning
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉ (175℃).
- Boil pasta for 2 minutes less than package states in a large pot of heavily salted water.
- Mix together the spices with the salsa, tomato sauce, and sour cream with the cooked pasta. Pour into 2 quart casserole dish and top with cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until cheese is melted and browned.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.













I’ve been making this for years at this point and have to thank you for sharing such a tasty and easy recipe.
My husband and I have used this recipe when money is tight but we still want something yummy. When we have the ingredients and the budget allows it we sometimes add beans, chopped spinach, or corn. Or we’ll add it all and it’s just delish.
Try this recipe as is and you won’t regret it. I’ve had a few friends who needed the recipe once they tried it.
I love hearing that this was a meal you enjoyed when money was tight! And thank you for sharing this recipe with others!
Hi, there! Would love to make this, but i’m not a fan of sour cream. Does that flavor come through on the final product?
Hi Christa, the sour cream just adds some creaminess to this bake. Feel free to use softened cream cheese instead or omit--but the dish will not be as creamy.
This was fantastic! It can be difficult to find recipes that my vegetarian daughter who doesn't particularly like vegetables enjoys, but this was perfect. It is hard to beat a simple recipe that is also a crowd-pleaser. I am so pleased to have found this recipe!
I am so glad that this simple recipe pleased your family Kim! Thanks for sharing!