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What do you get when you combine two of the ultimate comfort foods? This easy taco mac & cheese dish! It’s a perfect kid-friendly lunch or dinner that the adults will love too.
I love comfort foods that have a ton of flavor. This dish combines the best of both. Savory, spicy taco meat that is mixed into a cheesy, creamy macaroni and cheese screams homey, nurturing, and comforting.
This ultimate comfort food freezes well and you can use leftover taco meat if you have some on hand. It’s also a great way to use up those last bits of pasta that you have in the pantry. You may need to cook the pasta separately if they are vastly differing sizes.
The Urban Dictionary defines comfort food as “Food that gives emotional comfort to the one eating it, these tend to be favorite foods of childhood, or linked to a person, place or time with which the food has a positive association.”
For me, those foods include bowls of pasta, mashed potatoes, anything cheesy, and everything sweet. My mom was an incredible baker. That probably has something to do with it.
Think about the meals we make and share with our families. It’s fascinating to think about what will become our children’s comfort food when they are adults.
Looking for a few more comfort food ideas? Here are a few:
This is the ultimate comfort food. Who wouldn’t love creamy mac and cheese combined with savory, spicy beef taco meat? This is a dish your family will ask for over and over.
For the taco meat:
For the macaroni and cheese:
Fill a large pot with salted water. Use enough salt so that the water tastes like the ocean. Bring to a full rolling boil.
Stir in the macaroni and cook until al dente, about 7 minutes.
Meanwhile, add the ground beef to a skillet placed over medium heat.
Saute the ground meat, using your spoon to break up the meat into small pieces. Cook until no pink remains. Drain off any fat.
Stir in the taco seasoning and water. Mix till well combined. Reduce the heat to low and allow to simmer until the liquid has evaporated. Set aside.
In another large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and mustard powder. Cook, stirring often, for 1-2 minutes.
Use a whisk to incorporate the milk into the flour mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, for 3-5 minutes until the sauce starts to thicken. Remove the pot from the heat and whisk in both kinds of cheese until fully melted.
Drain the pasta and add back to the pot.
Spoon the cheese sauce and the taco meat into the pasta pot. Use a large spoon or spatula to mix the sauce and meat into the pasta.
Taste and adjust for salt and pepper.
Serve hot.