Southwest Pasta Shells with Ground Beef Skillet
This easy, family-friendly, ground beef skillet dinner is ready in 30 minutes and is comfort food at its best. Ground beef is mixed with small pasta shells, black beans, tomatoes, green chiles, green onions, taco seasoning, and topped with melted cheese and cilantro for a Southwestern-inspired dish. I melted the cheese by way of the broiler because there is nothing like the texture and flavor of baked or broiled cheese. The Southwestern skillet reminds me of One Skillet Beef Taco Pasta and Easy 30-Minute Taco Macaroni and Cheese because it uses many of the same ingredients and has a similar flavor profile. And of course, there’s that cheese. A lifesaver on busy weeknights, this beef pasta skillet is one dinner recipe that always leaves the whole family eager to dig in!
Pasta & Ground Beef Skillet Ingredients
For this Tex-Mex-inspired ground beef pasta recipe skillet, you’ll need the following basic ingredients:
Small pasta shells – Medium shells, small elbow, rotini, bowtie, etc. may be substituted. Or, use gluten-free pasta if needed Ground beef – I use 85% lean ground beef, but you can use even leaner varieties if preferred. Or, substitute ground pork, ground turkey, or ground chicken. If using ground turkey or chicken, you’ll want to add a little extra olive oil to the skillet since both proteins are very lean Onion Garlic Black beans – Feel free to substitute with pinto or kidney beans Diced tomatoes – I use no-salt tomatoes and keep all the juices Diced green chiles Green onions Taco seasoning – I imagine chili powder (i.e. chili seasoning, not ground chilis!) would work as well, noting that the Southwest flavor wouldn’t be as strong in the dish Shredded cheddar cheese – For the best results, buy a block of cheddar and grate it yourself. Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that impact its flavor and prevent it from melting Jalapeño (optional) Cilantro (optional)
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Pasta & Ground Beef Skillet
This ground beef and pasta skillet recipe with ground beef comes together in just 30 minutes! Follow these basic steps:
More Ground Beef Skillet Recipes:
My FAVORITE MEXICAN RECIPES Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! One Skillet Ground Beef Taco Pasta – An easy recipe that’s ready in 20 minutes, made in one skillet, and loaded with Mexican-inspired flavors! A family favorite that’s great for busy weeknights! Loaded Skillet Nachos with Beef — EASY, ready in 15 minutes, and LOADED with taco-seasoned ground beef, black beans, corn, cilantro, and lots of CHEESE! One-Skillet Tex Mex Mac and Cheese — An EASY recipe that’s made in ONE skillet so you don’t have to cook the pasta separately! Loaded with ground beef, peppers, tomatoes, cheese, and cilantro! 15-Minute Cowboy Beef and Rice Skillet – An EASY comfort food recipe with just 5 main ingredients made with everyday staples! Juicy beef, tender rice, and just the right amount of kick from the salsa make this an automatic FAMILY FAVORITE! Healthier 20-Minute Skillet Lasagna — A fast, EASY, healthier way to enjoy lasagna — in skillet form! Warm pasta and beef topped with tomato sauce and Parmesan is IRRESISTIBLE! Cheesy Beef Ravioli — EASY, ready in 30 minutes, and it’s pure cheesy COMFORT FOOD in every bite! Makes a big batch and it’s perfect for meal prep and planned freezer meals!
