This Lightened Up Taco Mac is to die for! A classic comfort food meets taco night! I’m pretty confident this will be your weekly meal plan!

Makes 6 servings

What ingredients do I need to make this Lightened Up Taco Mac?

• Pasta- any short pasta will work for this.
• Lean ground beef or ground beef or turkey – I use 96% lean ground beef
• Reduced-fat evaporated milk– I like to use evaporated milk in this recipe since it contains more protein than skim or almond milk milk, but has less fat than heavy cream-which gives this easy taco mac nice creamy sauce. You could use skim or unseated almond milk as a substitute.
• Garlic powder
• Salt
• Cornstarch
• Light cheddar cheese -I use Velveeta Shreds or Trader Joe’s light 3 cheese blend
• Taco seasoning
• Taco sauce -I use taco bell original mild sauce which you can find at most grocery stores

How do you figure what 8 oz. of pasta is?

I like to measure out my dry pasta and cheese using a food scale. You can find this scale HERE on Amazon.

How do I make this Lightened Up Taco Mac?

Cook the pasta according to the package directions. 

Drain the cooked pasta and set aside.

Spray a skillet with nonstick cooking spray and cook ground beef or turkey over medium heat until meat is cooked thoroughly. Drain the excessive fat, if needed.

Mix in taco seasoning and a dash of water.

And mix until taco seasoning is well combined with the meat.

In a saucepan, mix together, evaporated milk (set aside 1/4 cup), garlic powder, and salt. Stir until well combined.

Bring the milk mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.

Whisk together the cornstarch and remaining ¼ cup evaporated milk, then pour into the cornstarch mixture into the sauce.

Whisk constantly while the sauce simmers and thickens, for about 2-3 minutes.

Take the sauce off the heat and gradually whisk in the taco sauce and cheddar cheese and stir until melted and smooth.

Pour sauce into the bowl with meat and pasta.

Continue stirring until everything has been incorporated. 

Let the taco mac sit for 5 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to thicken.

Garnish with your favorite taco toppings!

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. dry pasta like shells, penne, or macaroni
• 12 oz. lean ground beef or ground turkey ( I use 96% lean ground beef)
• 12 oz. can reduced-fat evaporated milk or skim milk, divided
• pinch garlic powder
• dash salt
• 1 Tbsp cornstarch
• 5 oz. light cheddar cheese -I use Velveeta Shreds or Trader Joe’s light 3 cheese blend
• 1 Tbsp taco seasoning
• 2 Tbsp taco sauce ( I use taco bell original mild sauce which you can find at most grocery stores)

Directions:

1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions.  Drain the cooked pasta and set aside.
2. Spray a skillet with nonstick cooking spray and cook ground beef or turkey over medium heat until meat is cooked thoroughly. Mix in taco seasoning and a dash of water. And mix until taco seasoning is well combined with the meat. Pour cooked meat into a bowl with the cooked pasta.
3. In a saucepan, mix together, evaporated milk (set aside 1/4 cup), garlic powder, and salt. Stir until well combined.
4. Bring the milk mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
5. Whisk together the cornstarch and remaining ¼ cup evaporated milk, then pour into the cornstarch mixture into the sauce.
6. Whisk constantly while the sauce simmers and thickens, for about 2-3 minutes.
7. Take the sauce off the heat and gradually whisk in the taco sauce and cheddar cheese and stir until melted and smooth.
8. Pour sauce into the pasta and meat bowl. Continue stirring until everything has been incorporated.  Let the taco mac sit for 5 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to thicken.
9. Garnish with your favorite taco toppings, and serve warm. Enjoy!

Makes 6 (1 and 1/4 cup ) servings

• 7 WW Points™ per serving if using protein plus pasta
• 8 WW Points per serving if using regular dry pasta shells

How do I track this recipe in the WW app?

Click the link below to go to the recipe builder. You’ll first need to sign into your WW account and then the recipe builder will upload. The recipe builder is the most accurate way to create, obtain, and track the Personal Points on your individualized plan. 

*The recipe builder link only works for WW members located in the United States. If you are located outside of the United States, you’ll need to access the WW app manually to create the recipe in the recipe builder. 

Recipe pictures updated January 2023