Taco Pasta Bake with Doritos
A hearty oven-baked dish combining rotini pasta, ground beef, and taco seasoning topped with crushed Doritos for a crispy finish.
Ingredients
Pasta and Protein
- 12 oz Rotini pasta Dry
- 1 lb Ground beef Can use sausage as an alternative
- 1 tbsp Taco seasoning Or to taste
Sauces and Toppings
- 1.5 cups Salsa
- 2 cups Nacho cheese
- 3/4 cup Crushed Doritos chips Crushed as needed
- Salt To taste after adding sauces and cheese
Instructions
Preparation
- Cook the pasta in boiling water until 1-2 minutes short of the package's full cooking time, then drain. Keep a little pasta water to loosen the filling if it looks dry.
- Brown the ground meat in a skillet, breaking it into small pieces. Drain excess fat before mixing it with the sauce and other filling ingredients.
Cooking
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat, then stir in taco seasoning and salsa, cooking until everything is well combined.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, seasoned beef, and nacho cheese, stirring until evenly coated.
- Pour the mixture into a baking dish and top it off with a generous layer of crushed Doritos.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes, or until the top is golden and crispy.
- Continue baking as necessary until the center is hot and the edges are bubbling. If the topping browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil.
- Rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Tips for a better bake: Keep the pasta slightly firm before baking and reserve some cheese for the topping. Taste the cooked filling before adding more seasoning. Refrigerate leftovers promptly and reheat until hot throughout.