This Chicken Taco Pasta dish takes less than 30 minutes to make and is packed full of flavors that the whole family will love!
This is a sponsored post, written by me on behalf of Dreamfields Pasta. Â Opinions, as always, are all my own! Â Thank you for supporting the brands that support Fox and Briar! For more information, see my disclosure policy.
October is the month of changing leaves and pumpkin spice everything, but did you also know that it is National Pasta Month?  Dreamfields Pasta is taking it a step further and dubbing it #HealthyPastaMonth!  For the entire month of October they will be celebrating with 31 days of recipes, prizes and other goodies – in fact, I am going to be giving away a case of FREE pasta (scroll to the bottom of this post to enter)! I’m also contributing with this Chicken Taco Pasta, an easy  and fun way to spice up dinner.
Pasta is such an easy option for dinner, and I like that Dreamfields is a little healthier with  5 grams of fiber and 7 grams of  protein per 1 cup of cooked pasta.  Plus it tastes just as great as regular pasta.  I did something a little different with this Chicken Taco Pasta dish.  Chicken, peppers, salsa, pepper jack cheese, taco seasoning, corn and beans – not things you will normally find in a pasta dish!  Giving the dish a little Southwest flair transforms a boring weeknight dinner.  I made my own taco seasoning, both because I think it tastes better and it also reduces sodium.  And to really cut down on the prep time for this, I took a little shortcut and bought a rotisserie chicken!  Of course, you can prepare your own chicken and it is a great way to use leftovers if  you made chicken earlier in the week (such as my simple roasted chicken).  I liked the spice that the pepper jack cheese gave the dish, but if you don’t want it to be spicy you can also use regular Monterey Jack cheese.
Want to win a case of Dreamfields Pasta to try for yourself?  It’s easy!  All you need to do is click over to the Dreamfields Healthy Pasta Month website, then come back here and leave a comment telling me what the recipe of the day is.  Plus there are 8 more “bonus” entries you can do if you really want to increase your chances! You have until October 31st to enter, and at the end of the month a winner will be randomly selected to win a FREE case of Dreamfields pasta!  And be sure to keep checking the Dreamfields #HealthyPastaMonth calendar for new recipes and surprises! **GIVEAWAY CLOSED**
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Chicken Taco Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 box Dreamfields Pasta 13.25 ounces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion diced (about 2 cups or 12 ounces)
- 1 red bell pepper diced (1 cup)
- 1 green bell pepper diced (1 cup)
- 4 cloves of garlic pressed or finely minced
- 1 cup corn frozen or canned is fine
- 1 cup black beans drained (canned is fine)
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning store bought or homemade*
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast diced (about 12 ounces**)
- 1 cup restaurant style salsa
- 6 ounces pepper jack cheese*** shredded ( about 1 and 1/2 cups, can use reduced fat or regular)
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- chopped fresh cilantro for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions, until al dente. Drain pasta but reserve about 1/4 cup of pasta water. Return drained pasta to pot and set aside.
- While pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a large sauce pan over medium high heat. When hot, add the diced onion and bell peppers. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until soft and golden, about 8 minutes.
- Add the garlic and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add the beans and corn, cook until heated through, about 1 minute.
- Add the cooked chicken and the taco seasoning. Stir until everything is combined and coated with the taco seasoning. Pour in salsa and stir to combine. If the mixture is too dry, add a tablespoon or two of the reserved pasta water.
- Pour the entire chicken mixture into the pot containing the pasta. Add the shredded cheese and stir to combine, until cheese is melted and fully mixed in.
- Taste and season with salt and pepper if desired.
- Garnish with chopped cilantro if desired and serve.
Notes
* If using store bought taco seasoning, be aware that it might be higher sodium, so be careful about how much salt you add to the dish, if any.
** To save time, I used a store bought rotisserie chicken
***You can also use monterey jack cheese if you prefer the dish to be less spicy.
Click HERE to go to the Dreamfields Healthy Pasta Page if the link below doesn’t work!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Raji says
Tried it for the first time. A quick recipe with things most of us have at home. Great taste. Thanks for sharing and my son finished up everything:)
DeDe says
Chicken taco pasta looks amazing! Going to try this for sure!
Meghan says
Thanks DeDe! I hope you love it!
jeremy mclaughlin says
Todays recipe of the day is Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Butternut squash pasta salad.
Meghan says
Thanks for entering Jeremy!
Sarah Gillespie says
That veggie lasagna looks AMAZING!!
Meghan says
Thanks so much Sarah!
Rosie says
The featured recipe is Veggie Lovers Lasagna!! I love their version, and my fav way to make lasagna is a veggie version, and keep experimenting. I’d like to try this one! and with Dreamfields it would be the best!
Meghan says
Thanks so much Rosie!
Nadya LeMoon says
Today’s recipe is Spicy Sausage Tuscan Pasta, yum!
Meghan says
Hi Nadya, thanks for entering!
Julie Clark says
I couldn’t find a featured recipe, but the Angel & Devil pasta sounds great!
Meghan says
Thanks Julie!
latanya says
Lasagna Soup
Meghan says
Thanks for entering Latanya!
Rachel @ Rachel Cooks says
This pasta might have to be dinner tonight! Loving that lasagna soup though that’s the recipe of the day. 😉
Meghan says
Thanks so much Rachel!
Elena says
The recipe of the day is lasagna soup
Meghan says
Thanks for entering Elena!
Elena says
I like the Pasta Checca
Meghan says
That does look really good!
Lauren Gaskill says
My husband and I were just talking about how I’ve never made Mexican pasta!! Too funny! Going to have to make this soon!
Meghan says
Yay! I hope you love it! Thanks Lauren!
Megan @ MegUnprocessed says
That sauce sounds amazing!
Meghan says
Thanks Megan!
sandra says
Red Sauce with Clams sounds good.
Meghan says
Thanks for entering Sandra!
Geoff says
Today’s featured recipe is Easy Shrimp Marinara Linguine
Meghan says
Thanks for entering Geoff!
Melissa says
Today it’s Easy Spicy Shrimp Marinara Linguine. Yum!
Meghan says
Thanks for entering Melissa!
Edye says
The recipe is Easy Shrimp Marinara Linguine.
Meghan says
Thank you for entering Edye!
Dandi D says
The recipe today is Easy Spicy Shrimp Marinara Linguine.
Meghan says
Thanks so much for entering Dandi!
Stephanie | The Foodie and The Fix says
Hooray for Healthy Pasta Month! Btw, I about died, DIED! When I saw this in my FB feed the other day. It looks so ridiculously delicious and these flavors are some of my favorites. Also, can we just put cilantro on everything? Would that be weird? I would totally be down for some cilantro ice cream or something. 🙂 I love that you used a rotisserie chicken here, too, that’s one of my favorite time savers!
Meghan says
Haha, I think there is a market for cilantro ice cream, you should get on that! And thank you so much friend! I’m glad you dig this pasta!
Steph says
I get an error when I click on the link for the featured recipe ?
Meghan says
Hi Steph – sorry about that! I’m not sure why it isn’t working, but I added another link right above the entry form so that you can get to the site! I hope that works!
Vunda V says
so the link won’t work for me, and I don’t know how to find the feature recipe, but the top recipe on the recipe page is
Almond, Shrimp and Feta Pasta Salad
Meghan says
Hi Vunda, thank you! I’m not sure why it isn’t working, but I added another link right above the entry form so that you can get to the site! I hope that works!
Annamarie V says
Today is Elbows with Red Sauce and Clams and it sounds really good.
Meghan says
Thanks for entering Annamarie!
Joan Kubes says
The featured recipe is Elbows with Red Sauce and Clams
Meghan says
Thank you for entering Joan!
Vera K says
The featured recipe today is Elbows with Red Sauce and Clams.
Meghan says
Thank you for entering Vera!
JenniferAnne says
It is Mixed Greens Rotini with Feta and Roasted Tomatoes
Meghan says
THank you for entering JenniferAnne!
Shannon says
The geatured recipe is Rotini with Seared Shrimp and Avocado-Chimichurri Sauce.
Meghan says
Thank you for entering Shannon!
Kristen says
The featured recipe is Mexican Lasagna.
Meghan says
Thank you for entering Kristen!
Mary Cloud says
Today’s recipe is Mexican Lasagna – sounds delicious
Meghan says
Thank you for entering Mary!
Nicole @ Young, Broke and Hungry says
Wow! I could go for a huge bowl of this delicious looking pasta right now.
Meghan says
Thanks so much Nicole!
Judith says
mexican lasagna
Meghan says
Thanks for entering Judith!
paige c says
Mexican Lasagna!
Meghan says
Thank you for entering Paige!
Natasha says
This looks soo tasty! It’s currently snowing and I’m sitting here at my desk. I’d rather be munching on this 😉
Meghan says
Yikes, snow! Time to break out all the cozy recipes! Thanks Natasha!
Susan Christy says
Mixed Greens Rotini with Feta and Roasted Tomatoes
Meghan says
Thank you for entering Susan!
Carolsue says
Today’s recipe is Mixed Greens Rotini with Feta and Roasted Tomatoes
P.S. Your link in Rafflecopter doesn’t work (or at least for me, it didn’t).
Meghan says
Thanks for letting me know Carolsue, and thanks for entering!
Annie says
Mexican nite + Italian nite = every mom’s dream. Okay, I’m not a mom, but I am indecisive. And now I don’t have to choose!
Meghan says
Haha! Alll the flavors. Thanks Annie!
David says
Today’s recipe is Mixed Greens Rotini with Feta and Roasted Tomatoes
Meghan says
Thank you David!
E.A. says
This looks SO delish!! I can’t wait to try the @Dreamfields Pasta and your recipe looks SO scrumptious!! Thanks for sharing this!
kelli says
chicken taco pasta and it looks amazing!
Meghan says
Thank you Kelli!
Rich Weston says
Mixed Greens Rotini with Feta and Roasted Tomatoes
Meghan says
Thank you Rich!
Jessica @ Citrus Blossom Bliss says
LOVE this pasta dish. I love all pasta, but this looks especially tasty. Aaaand the dish of the day is Mixed Greens Rotini with Feta and Roasted Tomatoes – so many tasty things, I can’t even handle it!
Meghan says
Thanks so much Jessica!
grace says
Mixed Greens Rotini with Feta and Roasted Tomatoes…i’m sure it’s delicious!
Meghan says
Thank you Grace!
Sj Dc says
Mixed Greens Rotini with Feta and Roasted Tomatoes
Meghan says
Thank you Sj!
Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says
I did not know it was National Pasta month! As if I need an excuse to eat pasta, lol 😀 This looks seriously good! Plus, I love the mash up of taco + pasta! Best of both worlds 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Meghan says
Haha, right!?! Thanks Dawn!
Michelle @ Giraffes Can Bake says
It’s not even 7am here and I’m craving this so bad! Can I have pasta for breakfast?! Looks so yum!
And I love that the pasta is a little healthier, yay extra protein! Would make me feel a little better for scoffing a massive bowl of this!
Meghan says
Haha, I think pasta for breakfast is acceptable. Thanks Michelle!
Julie says
We love our pasta and this recipe looks amazing!
Meghan says
Thank you Julie!
Marianne | Basil & Bubbly says
Of COURSE you make your own taco seasoning — how did I know? Because I do, too! These photos look ah-mazing and I am always down for some pasta with a little less guilt. Great post!
Meghan says
Haha, it makes sense that we would both make our own taco seasoning! Thanks so much Marianne!