Looking for your next favorite Instant Pot dish? I have one tasty Instant Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta is a perfect way to switch up your classic Taco Tuesday. An Instant Pot Mexican dish that is loaded with seasoned ground beef, pasta, and cheese.
Table of contents
What I love about this taco pasta is that it is freezer friendly. If you like to meal prep, check out my Instant Pot freezer meals!
This is a simple Instant Pot ground beef dinner. Use shells, taco seasoning, and more for a simple but tasty dinner. Pile on your favorite toppings and dive in!
🍲 Ingredients
- Ground Beef
- Taco Seasoning
- Chicken Broth
- Pasta
- Salsa
- Shredded cheese
- Optional: Toppings
🧄How To Make Taco Pasta In The Instant Pot
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning (or two tbs homemade)
- 3 Cups chicken broth
- 1 cup salsa
- 8 ounces uncooked pasta shells
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Mexican Cheese
- Toppings: tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, avocado, cilantro, etc.
The first step is you want to turn the Instant Pot on to the saute mode and cook the ground beef until brown. Drain off any grease.
Then, toss in all the ingredients (except for toppings) and close lid, and cook on manual high pressure for 5 minutes. Do a quick release when done.
Top with your favorite toppings and dinner is served.
🍅 Meal Prep And Freezer Meal
Refrigerate: For storage, you can place it in an airtight container and store for around 3 days in the refrigerator.
Make into an Instant Pot Freezer Meal: In terms of making a freezer meal, here is how. Cook your ground beef, add in the taco seasoning and salsa into a freezer bag. Freeze for up to three months.
Cook from Frozen: To cook from frozen, add in pasta, broth, and your frozen meat mixture. Cook high pressure for 4 minutes with a quick release. Stir in cheese and top with your favorite toppings.
🥣 Expert Tips
- You can use ground turkey or ground chicken in replace of ground beef.
- Feel free to drain off the excess grease once beef is cooked before moving on to the next step.
- Scraping the bottom of the instant pot is imperative. Otherwise, you can get a burn notice when cooking.
- Ensure all your pasta is in the liquid otherwise it will not cook up properly.
- Toss in some black beans and drained corn for added flavor.
🍽️ Recipe FAQs
Place dry pasta in the Instant Pot. Pour in your liquid and make sure all the pasta is covered in liquid. Cook for 4 minutes on high pressure, followed by a quick release.
Homemade fresh pasta can’t be cooked in the Instant Pot. The reason being is the high pressure will break down the pasta and leave your pasta mushy. Dry or refrigerated pasta are recommended.
More Instant Pot Mexican Recipes
- Pressure Cooker Mexican Casserole
- Mexican Street Corn Cauliflower
- Instant Pot Burrito Bowl
- Fajita Chicken Bowl
- Instant Pot Mexican Rice
Instant Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning or two tbs homemade
- 3 Cups chicken broth
- 1 cup salsa
- 8 ounces uncooked pasta shells
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Mexican Cheese
- Toppings: tomatoes cheese, sour cream, avocado, cilantro, etc.
Instructions
- Start by turning your Instant Pot to saute mode. Then add in the ground beef and cook until fully browned.
- Now you will add in your chicken stock and use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom to remove any stuck-on bits.
- Add in your taco seasoning, salsa, pasta, and place the lid on the Instant Pot making sure the sealing valve is set to sealing. Do high pressure for 4 minutes followed by a quick release of pressure.
- Open the lid and toss in your cheese, and stir until cheese is melted.
- Now scoop up your Instant Pot cheesy taco with sour cream, diced tomatoes, olives, etc.
Notes
FREEZER MEAL INSTRUCTIONS
1. Add in cooked ground beef to a freezer bag, Add in taco seasoning, salsa, and freeze for up to three months. TO COOK FROM FROZEN: 1. Add pasta in the bottom of the instant pot. Add in 3 cups of chicken stock, make sure to cover all pasta. Add in the frozen meat mixture. 2. Cook on high pressure sealed for 4 minutes with a quick release. 3. Stir in cheese and then add your favorite toppings to each plate.- You can use ground turkey in replace to ground beef
- Feel free to use any smaller pasta in replace of the shells
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to three days.
Nutrition
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Let me know how you like this Instant Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta!
Comments & Reviews
Caroline says
How would I adjust the cook time if I froze in half for two servings instead of four ?
Kelsey says
If you are doing from froze for just 2 servings I would only do 2-3 minutes on High pressure.
Vanessa says
Tried this last night. Flavor was great. But the bottom burned resulting in the instant pot never coming to pressure… not sure what i did wrong. Ended up turning it to Sauté mode to let the noodles finished cooking. Taste was great, just wish I knew why it burned.
Kelsey says
One big thing is after you cook the ground beef and such, make sure to scrape bottom of pot to ensure nothing is stuck. If so it can cause a burn notice and burn your bottom of pot.
Brenda Jones says
I have to use a gluten free pasta (made w/corn & rice) — any recommendations on adjusting the cooking time?
Kelsey says
Hey there! I am not 100% sure on the pasta if you would cook the same time or not. I would assume it would cook similar time, but I can’t fully say if it will break it down or not. I am sorry I am no help.