Mexican-Style Ground Pork and Shell Pasta
This Mexican-style ground pork pasta is an easy one-pan dinner made with seasoned ground pork, tender shell pasta and chopped white onion. The seasoning coats the little pasta shells especially well, giving every bite plenty of savoury taco-inspired flavour. It’s simple, filling and a good way to turn ground pork into an easy family dinner.
Equipment
- Large skillet
- Large pot
- Colander
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Cutting board
- Chef’s knife
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cups
- Small mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 8 oz shell pasta small
- 1 lb ground pork
- 1 white onion chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil if needed
- ½–¾ cup reserved pasta water
- Fresh cilantro for garnish, optional
Mexican Taco-Style Seasoning
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Cook the shell pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the shell pasta according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water.
- Cook the ground pork. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground pork and cook for 5–7 minutes, breaking it into small pieces as it browns. If your pork is very lean, add a little olive oil.
- Add the onion. Stir the chopped white onion into the ground pork. Cook for another 3–4 minutes, until the onion begins to soften but still has a little texture.
- Season the pork. In a small bowl, combine the chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, pepper and cornstarch. Sprinkle the homemade Mexican taco seasoning over the pork and onion.
- Make the sauce. Add about ½ cup reserved pasta water and stir well. Simmer for 2–3 minutes. The spices, pork juices and cornstarch will create a light, flavourful sauce.
- Add the pasta. Stir the cooked shell pasta into the seasoned ground pork. Toss everything together until the shells are evenly coated. Add another splash of pasta water if the mixture seems too dry.
- Serve. Spoon the ground pork taco pasta into bowls and garnish with fresh cilantro if desired. Serve hot.
For the best Mexican ground pork pasta, save a little pasta water before draining the shells. Adding a splash when you combine the taco-seasoned ground pork and shell pasta helps the seasoning coat everything evenly and keeps this easy Mexican pasta dinner from tasting dry.
Notes
- Use shell pasta for the best texture. Small shells are ideal for this Mexican ground pork pasta because they catch the seasoned pork and onion inside, so you get more flavour in every bite.
- Cook the pasta just to al dente. The shells will continue to soften slightly when they are tossed with the hot taco-seasoned ground pork, so avoid overcooking them.
- Save some pasta water. A little reserved pasta water helps the ground pork pasta sauce cling to the shells and keeps the finished dish from becoming dry.
- Don’t drain away all the pork fat. A small amount adds flavour and helps the Mexican taco seasoning coat the ground pork and pasta more evenly.
- Cook the onion until just softened. I like the white onion to keep a little texture rather than cooking until it disappears completely. It adds a nice bite to this easy Mexican pasta dinner.
- Taste before adding more seasoning. If you are starting with leftover taco-seasoned meat, it may already have plenty of salt and spice. Add extra seasoning gradually.
- Toss everything together in the skillet. Adding the cooked shells directly to the seasoned pork lets them pick up the browned bits and pan juices. That makes a big difference in this easy ground pork pasta recipe.
- Add a splash of water when reheating. Leftover Mexican shell pasta will absorb moisture in the refrigerator, so a little water helps loosen it and brings the texture back nicely.
- This recipe is great for leftovers. Leftover Mexican-seasoned ground pork or ground beef can easily be turned into this hearty pasta dinner instead of serving the same taco meal again.
Nutrition
Serving: 1servingCalories: 562kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 27gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 82mgSodium: 377mgPotassium: 545mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 561IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 3mg
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