Metro Parent / January 2012 / Family Taco Night Recipes with a Twist

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Family Taco Night Recipes with a Twist

Cure the kids' craving with some creative cooking: Try spaghetti, chicken nuggets and bacon cheeseburger filling for fresh fixings!

Nothing brings the family together quite like taco night. So why not make it extra special by putting a taco twist on some other family favorites to make an easy, fun meal everyone will love?

Whether it's the crunch that brings them to the table, the crave-able taste of tacos or the ability to make their taco their way, it's the one dinner that can please all palates. Toss in kid standards like spaghetti, chicken nuggets and bacon cheeseburger, and you've some serious contenders! Try these three recipes from OldElPaso.com to mix up your Mexican.

Fiesta Spaghetti Tacos

Need something to spice up spaghetti? Serve up those noodles and meat sauce in a fun fiesta form.

• Prep/cook time: 25 minutes
• Servings: 5 (2 tacos each)

Ingredients

• 5 oz. uncooked spaghetti, broken in half
• 1 lb. lean (at least 80 percent) ground beef
• 1 package (1 oz.) Old El Paso 40 percent less-sodium taco seasoning mix (or similar product)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 1/4 cups tomato pasta sauce (any variety)
• 1 box (4.7 oz.) Old El Paso Stand 'N Stuff taco shells (10 shells) (or similar product)
• 1 medium tomato, chopped (3/4 cup), if desired
• 2 Tbsp. shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Cook spaghetti as directed on package; drain.
2. Meanwhile, in 10-inch nonstick skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in taco seasoning mix and water. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 3-4 minutes or until thickened. Stir in pasta sauce; cook over medium heat until hot. Stir in cooked spaghetti.
3. In the meantime, heat taco shells as directed on box. Spoon about 1/2 cup spaghetti mixture into each taco shell; top with tomato and Parmesan.

Variation: If you like corn, add 1 cup frozen whole-kernel corn with the pasta sauce. Cook about 5 minutes or until hot.

Chicken Nugget Tacos

Chicken nuggets, again? Add some zing with taco toppings like lettuce, sour cream and salsa and serve it up in hard and soft taco shells.

• Prep/cook time: 30 minutes
• Servings: 6 (2 tacos each)

Ingredients

• 24 frozen breaded cooked chicken nuggets
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 2 tsp. Old El Paso 40 percent less-sodium taco seasoning mix (from 1-oz. package) (or similar product)
• 1-2 Tbsp. milk
• 1 box (7.4 oz.) Old El Paso hard and soft taco shells (6 hard corn shells and 6 soft flour tortillas) (or similar product)
• 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese (3 oz.)
• 1 1/2 cups shredded lettuce
• 1/2 cup Old El Paso Thick 'n Chunky salsa (or salsa of your choice)

Directions

1. Bake chicken nuggets as directed on package. Cover to keep warm. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F. Heat taco shells and tortillas as directed on box.
2. Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix sour cream, taco seasoning mix and enough milk for desired consistency. Set aside.
3. Fill each taco shell and tortilla with two chicken nuggets, cheese, lettuce and salsa. Drizzle each with sour cream mixture.

Amazing Bacon Cheeseburger Tacos

Do the kids love cheeseburgers? Serve 'em up taco style for a winning combo.

• Prep/cook time: 25 minutes
• Servings: 6 (2 tacos each)

Ingredients

• 1 lb. lean (at least 80 percent) ground beef
• 1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
• 1 package (1 oz.) Old El Paso 40 percent less-sodium taco seasoning mix (or similar product)
• 2/3 cup water
• 1/2 cup Old El Paso Cheese 'n Salsa dip (from 15-oz. jar) (or salsa of your choice)
• 1 box (7.4 oz.) Old El Paso hard and soft taco shells (6 hard corn shells and 6 soft flour tortillas) (or similar product)
• 1 1/2 cups shredded lettuce
• 1 large tomato, seeded and chopped (1 cup)
• 6 slices bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled

Directions

1. In 10-inch nonstick skillet, cook beef and onion over medium-high heat 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in taco seasoning mix and water. Reduce heat to medium; cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until thickened. Stir in dip until well mixed.
2. Heat taco shells and tortillas as directed on box.
3. Fill heated taco shells and tortillas with warm beef mixture, lettuce, tomato and bacon.

Substitution: Can't find the Cheese 'n Salsa dip? Try 4 ounces Mexican prepared cheese product, cubed, or another soft cheese that melts easily. If you prefer less spice, use regular prepared cheese product.