Cheesy Taco Pasta
by Amber Gray //
October 24, 2017 
This Cheesy Taco Pasta is ready in just 20 minutes for either an easy weeknight dinner or quick lunchbox idea for the whole week. The pasta could be served warm in a lunchbox thermos or cold. Tip: keep avocado separate in the lunchbox if serving warm and add before eating!
Nutrition Tip: Just one serving of lean beef provides protein, iron, and zinc, 3 nutrients that are often lacking in the diet of children and teens.
How do you #PowerYourLunchbox? Show us your healthy lunchboxes on Instagram using #PowerYourLunchbox.
Looking for more lunchbox ideas? We’ve got you covered with 70+ ideas including make-ahead ideas, non-sandwich lunches, ideas for repurposing leftovers, and vegetarian, nut-free and gluten-free recipes.
Or check out all of our back-to-school content on our blog. A few of our most popular posts include:
- The Ultimate Guide to Packing Healthy Lunchboxes
- After-School Snacks that Won’t Ruin Dinner
- The Best Lunchboxes for Kids
- 20 Lunchbox-Packing Tips & Hacks from Parents
Cheesy Taco Pasta
This Cheesy Taco Pasta is ready in just 20 minutes for either an easy weeknight dinner or quick lunchbox idea for the whole week. The pasta could be served warm in a lunchbox thermos or cold. Tip: keep avocado separate in the lunchbox if serving warm and add before eating!
Ingredients
- 3 cups medium pasta shells
- 1/4 cup chipotle Ranch dressing
- 3/4 pound lean ground beef
- 2 teaspoon low-sodium taco seasoning
- 1/2 cup Pero Family Farms® mini sweet pepper rings
- 1 avocado, chopped
- 1 cup quartered grape tomatoes
- 1 cup Monterrey-Jack cheese cubes
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Mix drained pasta and dressing in large bowl.
- Heat skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook 5-7 minutes, or until cooked through. Drain and mix with taco seasoning.
- Add ground beef, peppers, avocado, tomatoes and cheese and green onions to pasta. Mix well.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6Amount Per Serving: Calories: 362Total Fat: 10gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 254mgCarbohydrates: 43gFiber: 4gSugar: 2gProtein: 23g
