• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Life Jolie logo
  • Thanksgiving Recipes
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
    • Work with me!
    • Video Production
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Thanksgiving Recipes
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
    • Work with me!
    • Video Production
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    The Life Jolie » Main/Entree » One Pot Chicken Taco Penne Pasta

    One Pot Chicken Taco Penne Pasta

    Published: May 20, 2019 · Modified: Aug 31, 2022 by Jessy Freimann · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    One Pot Chicken Taco Penne Pasta is the 30 minute meal of your dreams! Cheesy, creamy and full of great flavor, this easy Taco Pasta adds a great variation for Taco Tuesday.

    One Pot Chicken Taco Penne Pasta is the 30 minute meal of your dreams! Cheesy, creamy and full of great flavor, this easy Taco Pasta adds a great variation for Taco Tuesday.

    A bowl of taco penne pasta.

    Chicken Taco Penne Pasta

    This post contains Affiliate Links. Please see the disclaimer here.

    Check out some of my other one pot pasta recipes:

    • Italian Florentine Chicken Pasta
    • One Pot Philly Steak Pasta
    • One Pot Supreme Pizza Pasta

    One of the most popular recipes on this site is my 20 Minute Taco Pasta. And with good reason! It has all the delicious flavor of your favorite Taco Tuesday fare in half the time! So it seem only right to make a chicken pasta variation of that awesome recipe!

    Now for this variation, I've used regular pasta as opposed the Barilla Pronto Pasta. So it takes slightly longer than the other recipe, but this comes together right around 30 minutes, so it's still pretty quick and easy. Trust me when I say, this is a great option for those nights when you're craving a tasty pasta but with a fun twist!

    A serving spoon full of taco pasta.

    Tips for making Taco Chicken Pasta

    • Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces, not more than an inch in size and try to keep them all the same size for even cooking.
    • In the beginning after the chicken has begun browning, you'll add more ingredients. At this point, the chicken will not be fully cooked or even totally browned. This is ok, it will cook more as it goes and end up nice and tender.
    • When you cook the pasta, you'll be doing so at a slightly higher temperature than normal. Don't get nervous, thats exactly how it should be.
    • Use a non-stick pan. It helps prevent sticking.
    • You'll also want to stir it periodically while it's covered- I usually do it around three times during that time.

    An overhead image of a pan of cheesy taco pasta

    Do I have to use penne pasta?

    No, you can use any other similar size pasta, just keep an eye on it as it may take a little longer or a little less time to cook depending on the shape.

    What is the best cut of meat for Chicken Pasta?

    I used boneless skinless chicken breasts for this recipe to lighten it up slightly. You can also use 6 small boneless skinless chicken thighs is you'd rather have dark meat.

    Can you freeze Taco Penne Pasta?

    I'm not a big fan of freezing pasta as I think it adversely affects the texture but if you want to, make sure it's well wrapped and it will last up to 3 months.

    How long does Taco Pasta last?

    This will last 3-4 days covered in the refrigerator.

    How do I reheat Taco Pasta?

    If you're reheating a large amount, do it in a non-stick skillet over medium heat on the stove and be sure to stir frequently. For individual portions, I use the microwave.

    A close up of a bowl of chicken pasta

    What are the ingredients for Taco Chicken Penne Pasta?

    • Cooking spray
    • Chicken breasts
    • Dried minced onions
    • Garlic powder
    • Kosher salt
    • Ground black pepper
    • Canned diced tomato
    • Tomato sauce
    • Black beans
    • Frozen corn
    • Canned diced green chiles
    • Taco seasoning
    • Chicken broth
    • Water
    • Penne pasta
    • Cheddar cheese
    • Scallions
    • Tortilla chips

    How to make Chicken Taco Penne Pasta

    1. Begin browning the chicken in the pan.
    2. When it's partially browned but not fully cooked, add additional wet and dry ingredients and bring to a boil.
    3. Add pasta and cover.
    4. Stir a few times as it cooks.
    5. Once the pasta is cooked, stir in some cheddar cheese and put the rest on the top.
    6. Remove from heat and keep covered for a couple minutes to melt the cheese on top.
    7. Top with chopped scallions and crumbled tortilla chips and serve.

    An image of the side of a taco skillet.

    What do I serve with Cheesy Taco Pasta?

    A few great recipes to round out and complete this meal would be:

    • Mexican Bean Salad
    • Cajun Black Bean and Corn Salad
    • Guacamole

    Helpful tools:

    1. Chef's knife
    2. Cutting board
    3. Large saute pan
    4. Wooden spoon
    5. Measuring cups
    6. Measuring spoons
    One Pot Chicken Taco Penne Pasta is the 30 minute meal of your dreams! Cheesy, creamy and full of great flavor, this easy Taco Pasta adds a great variation for Taco Tuesday.

    One Pot Chicken Taco Penne Pasta

    Jessy Freimann
    One Pot Chicken Taco Penne Pasta is the 30 minute meal of your dreams! Cheesy, creamy and full of great flavor, this easy Taco Pasta adds a great variation for Taco Tuesday.
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 6 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • Cooking spray
    • 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch chunks
    • ¼ cup dried minced onions
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • Kosher salt, to taste
    • Ground black pepper, to taste
    • 1 28 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
    • 1 4.5 ounce can chopped green chiles, undrained (I used mild but you can always use spicy if you want a kick!)
    • 1 8 ounce can tomato sauce
    • 1 14.5 ounce can chicken broth
    • 1 14.5 ounce can black beans, undrained
    • ¼ cup water
    • 1 packet taco seasoning
    • 1 cup frozen corn
    • 1 pound penne pasta
    • 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded and divided
    • Scallions, chopped (for garnish)
    • Tortilla chips, crumbled (for garnish)

    Instructions
     

    • Heat a large saute pan over medium high heat and grease with cooking spray.
    • Add chicken and saute stirring often until it's beginning to brown, around 2 minutes (it won't be fully browned yet). While it's browning add dried minced onions, garlic powder and salt and pepper to taste.
    • Add diced tomatoes, diced green chiles, tomato sauce, chicken broth, taco seasoning, undrained black beans and frozen corn. Mix well and bring to this to a boil, around 5-7 minutes.
    • Once it's boiling, add the pasta, cover and reduce the heat to medium.
    • Cook for 5 minutes and then remove the cover and stir.
    • Cover the pan and cook for another 5 minutes and then remove the cover and stir again.
    • Cover the pan and cook for another 5 minutes and then remove the cover and stir in ½ cup of shredded cheddar.
    • Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top of the pasta. Cover and remove from heat.
    • Let the cheese melt for a couple minutes then uncover. Sprinkle with scallions and crumbled tortilla chips and serve immediately.
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    If you tried this recipe please comment and rate it 🙂 I love hearing your feedback and answering your questions! And if you make this please tag me on Instagram with @thelifejolie so I can share it <3

    You can find a full index of my recipes here.

    Don’t forget to follow The Life Jolie on Pinterest for more recipe inspiration!

    Or if Pinterest isn’t your style, bookmark this post!

    Let’s keep the conversation going- join my Facebook group! 

    « Chicken Minestrone (Slow Cooker + Instant Pot)
    American Flag Fruit Pizza »
    • Share
    • Flipboard
    • Tweet

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Jessy in a kitchen holding a white casserole pan and smiling.
    Hi, I'm Jessy!

    Welcome to The Life Jolie! I share simple, delicious recipes and ingredient prep tips to make your weeknight cooking a breeze!

    More about me →

    Fall Recipes

    • A spoon holding a scoop of potato ham soup.
      Creamy Ham and Potato Soup
    • A bowl of chicken and egg noodles soup with sliced bread and another bowl behind it.
      Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup
    • A square image of the Toll House Cookie Recipe
      Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Say goodbye to dry and tough pork chops: these Smothered Crock Pot Pork Chops are the ultimate fall-apart tender comfort food. With just 4 ingredients, this easy dinner will be your new go-to dump dinner!
      Fall Apart Slow Cooker Pork Chops
    • An overhead image of sliced turkey on a platter surrounded by fresh herbs in the middle of a Thanksgiving table.
      Roasted Spatchcock Glazed Turkey with Bourbon
    • Side angle image close up of Brie Phyllo Cup on a sheet pan
      Baked Brie Phyllo Cups

    Popular Recipes

    • A square image of how to melt chocolate chips in the microwave showing the chocolate once it's melted.
      How to Melt Chocolate Chips in the Kitchen
    • Italian Stuffed Zucchini Boats are the healthy weeknight meal you'll want to make again and again. This is a seriously easy recipe that's full of delicious flavor without all the guilt!
      Italian Stuffed Zucchini Boats
    • Shrimp Macaroni Salad
      Very Best Shrimp Macaroni Salad Recipe
    • A square image of a white pot pouring cheese sauce over a bowl of broccoli with a blue towel behind it.
      Cheese Sauce for Broccoli Recipe
    • Do you love the Cheesecake Factory's Thai Lettuce Wraps! Well then why not make them at home? They're easy to make and totally delicious!
      Reader Request: Copycat Cheesecake Factory Thai Lettuce Wraps
    • A square image of Greek Yogurt Roasted Chicken Thighs.
      Greek Yogurt Roasted Chicken Thighs Recipe

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy + Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Video Production

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright 2014-2021 - Jolie Ventures, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy.