Description
Spaghetti Tacos are a fun and delicious fusion dish combining seasoned baked meatballs, classic marinara spaghetti, and soft flour tortillas. Perfect for a family meal that brings together the flavors of Italian and Mexican cuisines in a playful and satisfying way.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 large egg
- ⅓ cup Italian bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons mild taco seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 ⅔ cups Kraft grated Parmesan cheese, divided (powdery kind)
Spaghetti and Sauce
- 1 lb. thin spaghetti pasta
- 1 jar favorite marinara sauce
- ⅓ cup Kraft grated Parmesan cheese (reserved from the 1 ⅔ cups)
Assembly and Garnishes
- 8-10 medium size flour tortillas
- 3 tablespoons olive or canola oil (or more if needed)
- Fresh Parmesan cheese, for topping
- Fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 1-2 Roma tomatoes, diced
- ¼ white onion, diced
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Set your oven to 350°F to prepare for baking the meatballs.
- Make meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, egg, Italian bread crumbs, taco seasoning, ⅓ cup grated Parmesan, garlic salt, and black pepper. Mix well until all ingredients are incorporated.
- Shape meatballs: Scoop out small portions of the mixture about 1 ½ inches in diameter and roll them into balls. Place the meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake meatballs: Bake the meatballs for 20 minutes until fully cooked through. Smaller meatballs will need less cooking time, larger meatballs slightly longer. After baking, press meatballs gently with paper towels to absorb excess grease.
- Cook spaghetti: While the meatballs bake, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Break the spaghetti in half and cook according to package directions, about 1-2 minutes less than usual for al dente texture. Drain and return to the pot.
- Combine spaghetti and sauce: Add your favorite marinara sauce, the baked meatballs, and ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese to the cooked pasta. Gently mix with a large spoon to prevent breaking the meatballs. Keep warm until serving.
- Prepare tortillas and garnish: Warm the flour tortillas slightly if desired. Top the spaghetti and meatballs with fresh diced tomatoes, diced white onion, chopped cilantro, and fresh Parmesan cheese for garnish.
- Assemble tacos: Spoon the spaghetti and meatball mixture into each tortilla to create the spaghetti tacos. Serve immediately for a messy yet delicious meal.
Notes
- Cheesy, beefy, and fun to eat, do your tacos differently with this unique spaghetti tacos recipe!
- Inspired by Carol Ann, this dish is messy but absolutely worth it for its comforting flavors and playful presentation.
- Try using mild taco seasoning to keep the flavor balanced and kid-friendly.
- If preferred, substitute ground beef with ground turkey for a leaner option.
- Fresh cilantro adds a bright herbal note; omit if not preferred.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 741 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 1729 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 68 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 39 g
- Cholesterol: 94 mg
