Homemade spaghetti with meat sauce is stuffed into toasted hard taco shells to create the ultimate kids’ dinner. These spaghetti tacos were a favorite of my daughter’s when she went through her iCarly phase!
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“My kids have been after me to make Spaghetti Tacos because of iCarly! So glad I found you via Pinterest as this will be Tuesday night’s dinner when I have to feed the babysitting kids too. Should be a hit for all. Thank you!!” -Amber Joy, FoodieCrush reader
Homemade Spaghetti Tacos, Just Like iCarly
I know, I know. You’re sitting there, staring at this post and thinking this recipe is one of those “Oh, let’s see how outlandish we can be and create an oddball recipe just to be different.”
Well, it is and it isn’t.
Blame it on Spencer. He’s Carly’s big brother in the TV show iCarly. When I first created this recipe years ago, Smudge was deep in her iCarly phase and one night when her friends were over for a sleepover, I asked “How about spaghetti for dinner?”
What I heard in return was a symphony of, “SPAGHETTI TACOS!!!!!!”
Seriously? Well, why not?
This recipe is a riff off my my favorite bolognese sauce. The beauty of a heavier pasta sauce like this one is that it tastes even better the next day which makes it perfect for a back-to-school dinner. You can let it simmer and have regular spaghetti dinner on Sunday, and add a taco shell or two with the leftovers on Monday.
It’s all about easing into the week.
Heidi’s Tips for Recipe Success
- Tenderize that beef. This recipe uses both white wine and milk to tenderize the ground beef and create a moist and flavorful meat sauce. Don’t worry, the alcohol in the wine cooks off, so your kids can chow down on these spaghetti tacos without issue.
- Sneak in some greens, if you want. I added some shredded zucchini to my batch of spaghetti because back in the day Smudge wasn’t always good about eating her vegetables (what kid is?). You can omit the zucchini, if desired.
- Toast your taco shells. Hard taco shells are already fairly hardy, but a quick toast in the oven makes them even sturdier so they don’t crumble when loaded up with spaghetti.
What You’ll Need
The full recipe, with amounts, can be found in the recipe card below.
- Ground beef — I prefer using 85/15 ground beef. You need some fat so that your sauce tastes rich and flavorful.
- Soffritto — A blend of onion, carrots, and celery forms the base of many Italian sauces, including this bolognese-inspired sauce.
- White wine + milk — Both tenderize the beef and create a succulent spaghetti sauce.
- Crushed tomatoes, sauce + paste — The three canned tomato products work together to create a sauce that tastes like it simmered for hours rather than just one.
- Balsamic vinegar — Another tenderizing and flavoring agent that adds depth to the sauce.
- Spaghetti noodles — Normally I’d say you can use any kind of noodle you’d like, but spaghetti is the easiest pasta shape to stuff into taco shells. Skip anything short and sturdy, like penne, which will be nearly impossible to keep cradled in the tacos.
- Hard taco shell — I used white corn taco shells, but you can use any you like. Spaghetti tacos won’t work with soft tortillas.
How to Make Spaghetti Tacos à la iCarly
- Make the spaghetti sauce. The ground beef and soffritto are cooked in a large pot, then the remaining ingredients are added and the sauce simmers for an hour over low heat.
- Cook the spaghetti until al dente. Make sure to salt the boiling water generously to season the noodles from the inside out.
- Toast the taco shells, then assemble. Just 3 to 4 minutes in a 400ºF oven turns the taco shells golden brown.
Heidi’s Tip: For easy taco assembly, I suggest using a pair of kitchen tongs to fit the spaghetti and meat sauce into the taco shells.
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below, leave a comment to tell us what you think, and tag me on Instagram @foodiecrush.
Spaghetti Tacos Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt (plus about ⅛ cup reserved)
- 3 cloves garlic , pressed or minced
- ½ yellow onion , chopped
- 2 carrots , peeled and chopped
- 3 ribs celery , chopped
- ¼ cup white wine
- ¼ cup low-fat milk
- 30 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
- 30 ounces canned tomato sauce
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 cup grated zucchini
- ¼ cup fresh shredded parmesan (or fresh mozzarella)
- 1 pound spaghetti noodles
- 12 white corn taco shells
Instructions
- In a dutch oven or a large heavy-bottom sauce pan, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add hamburger and garlic and cook for 5-8 minutes.
- Add onion, carrots and celery and cook for another 5 minutes or until onion is transparent.
- Add wine and cook for 4-5 minutes or until cooked down.
- Add milk and cook 4-5 minutes or until cooked down.
- Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, oregano, balsamic vinegar and bring to a low boil. Add grated zucchini. Reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
- About 15 minutes before sauce is done, bring a large stock pot of water to a boil. Add enough salt (about ⅛ cup) to make water taste like the ocean and cook spaghetti noodles until al dente, about 8 -10 minutes. Add noodles to sauce and mix well. Remove from heat.
- Heat oven to 400ºF. Place taco shells on a baking sheet and toast for 3-4 minutes or until golden. Remove from oven.
- Fill taco shells with spaghetti noodles and sauce and garnish with cheese.
Nutrition
What to Serve with Spaghetti Tacos
More Spaghetti Recipes to Slurp Up
- Spaghetti alla Carbonara
- Spaghetti and Meatballs
- Crab Spaghetti
- Spaghetti Pasta Salad
- Best Ever Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
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Anna @ hiddenponies
LOVE these – I could eat spaghetti every day, and in a taco?? Amazing!
carrian
haha, peyton would sit with me in the hospital and watch this when I was pregnant. Ok, it only happened three times, but this was the only show on and it kept her out of my cords and distracted. I’ll have to surprise her with these. Actually, I’m kinda excited to do just that!
Smudge totally tried to con me into making this. It worked. And she’s happy. Peyton I bet will like it too!
kari
So reminds me of the leftover spaghetti sandwiches that I grew up with. Who doesn’t love spaghetti (not many I would assume). You cannot forget the mayo either, it totally brings it all together.
I love the concept of being able to hold spaghetti in your hand, it could even be spaghetti lettuce wraps drizzled with a ricotta cream sauce-yum!!!
Becky @ Project Domestication
Love this combo. I love the idea of making Spaghetti on Sunday and these as leftover the next day. WINNER! And of course, gorgeous photos.
Cookin' Canuck
What a fun idea! I’ll have to make this for my kids (and I know they’ll want to send thanks to Smudge).
Bev @ Bev Cooks
This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever laid eyes on. Ever.
Kathryn
Hilarious idea, I love that you actually made it for the kids (and probably earned yourself yet more cool mom points!).
katie
I love this idea! We’ve actually had spaghetti sandwiches before…basically a meatball sandwich with some leftover spaghetti thrown in, because I’ve always love scooping spaghetti onto a slice of Italian bread at dinner – so why not a sandwich?
But this taco thing is brillz. We’re big iCarly lovers here and I think I remember that episode. I’m sure my kids will for sure! I also love the sneaky veggies :)
Davina Sanchez
I think I might actually try this! Your photos really make it look appetizing!
Hip Foodie Mom
Love this! And my daughter will love this even more since it was on iCarly! :P thank you!
Barbara | Creative Culinary
I have recently realized that a lot of the foods I made when my kids were growing up I’ve quit making since they’ve both graduated from college and are living on their own. I’ve also wondered why? Right now I am craving a hamburger baked bean casserole with mashed potatoes bad!
My youngest daughter is 28…doesn’t matter; she would still LOVE this!
I would love to get the recipe for that casserole. Please share!
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes
OK this is too funny! I love it!
Meg
My daughter is obsessed with these! We have made a gluten-free version at our house.I can’t wait to show her your post when she gets home from school.
Hi Meg, do you adapt it only with gluten-free noodles, or is there another tip to share? THX!
Auntiepatch
My mother started making spaghetti enchiladas with leftover spaghetti in the 50’s. My friends thought it sounded strange until they tasted them! Everybody loved spaghetti enchiladas then and now. I will have to try your tacos now!
OMG! Enchiladas? I triple dog dare you! Or maybe I’ll just borrow that idea!
Delishhh
I would love one of these – one of my favorite foods is spaghetti bolognese and i at LOTS of it while pregnant and still can’t get enough of it! Would love to try this!
Deborah
Ok, Abbi will go gaga over this. 2 of the foods she will actually eat – wrapped up into one!!
Stefanie @ Sarcastic Cooking
Oops… I was saying I know what I am going to make the next time they are all in town again! Another great clever recipe Heidi!
Stefanie @ Sarcastic Cooking
This recipe reminds me of my husband and his college roommates bachelor style of cooking! Isn’t it weird the similarities between what kids like and what immature men like to cook?!?! I kn
Susan
Forget kids…this looks fun for all ages!!
Alyssa | Queen of Quinoa
Spaghetti? Yes. Tacos? Yes. Together? Absolutely! Fabulous idea – one that I’m sure the adults in my family would love :)
Miss McBooty
So, by “dinner is for kids” you mean “dinner is for BIG kids” right? ;) Looks great!
Laurie {Simply Scratch}
I’m SO showing my kids this post! You will be their hero… too freakin’ funny!
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel
This is so fun!! My girls would totally crack up over this. Will definitely have to try it sometime.
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
Such a fun idea!!
Emily
Okay, we may have to use this in a future Taco Tuesday. Or would it be for Thursketti on Thursday? Now I’m all confused! ;)
Oh Em. You are too ironic. Or funny. Or witty. Now I’m confused too.