Instant Pot Taco Pasta — A New Take on Taco Tuesday
Instant Pot Taco Pasta takes Taco Tuesday to a whole new level! Weeknight dinners can be tough, since they need to come together quickly and most importantly be tasty.
Because who wants to eat a boring dinner? We certainly don't. This recipe is quick, easy, and unique. Plus it comes together with minimal effort, making you look like a pro chef.
Cooking in the Instant Pot is a great way to speed up the dinner-making process without sacrificing your entire evening or taste. Learning how to make pasta in Instant Pots really is a time-saver when it comes to making this taco pasta casserole.
Pressure cookers work by trapping steam inside the pot, allowing the liquid inside to reach a higher than boiling temperature. This ground beef pasta is a great starter recipe for all the instapot meals you will cook up.
First, cooking taco meat in Instant Pot pressure cookers is easy. You can even cook frozen ground beef.
Don't get tripped up over what to serve with your taco casserole. We've put together this list top Mexican side dishes you'll want to make.
Table of contents
Why You Will Love This Instant Pot Pasta
- A cheesy taco pasta recipe
- Simple ingredients
- Great Instant Pot ground beef recipe
- Kid-Approved
- Fun taco dinner idea that isn't a classic taco
- Tasty Mexican Pasta
- Delicious alone or top with your favorite toppings
- One of the easiest ground beef Instant Pot recipes
- Instant Pot spaghetti with a twist
- Can save time cooking frozen ground beef
Because the steam is trapped inside the pot it reenters the meat, pasta or vegetables, cutting down cooking time while increasing the moisture in the food being prepared.
Older pressure cookers were often difficult to regulate and could be dangerous to use if not properly attended. But thanks to the wonder that is the Instant Pot, temperature and pressure are automatically regulated, so it's a breeze to use!
What is Instant Pot Taco Pasta?
Instant Pot hamburger pasta is a the perfect marriage of two beloved meals: tacos and pasta! It reminds me of taco hamburger helper.
Instead of using the traditional marinara, alfredo, or meat sauce, why not mix things up and turn your pasta in to a Mexican feast?
Instant Pot Taco Pasta swaps your Italian meat sauce for taco seasoning and ground beef.
By cooking the pasta in chicken broth and salsa, rather than water, it becomes infused with zesty taco flavors that will bring a little intrigue to your next Taco Tuesday.
Taco Tuesday is always fun, but sometimes tacos can require a lot of preparation and a large number of ingredients.
This recipe for Instant Pot Taco Pasta only needs six ingredients to come together, then you can garnish it with your favorite toppings, or not. The choice is yours.
More Recipes For Taco Tuesday
Looking for more unexpected ways to spice up your Taco Tuesday? Then check out these great recipes:
- Instant Pot Ranchero Beans
- Instant Pot Refried Beans
- Homemade Salsa Recipe Instant Pot
- Instant Pot Black Beans Recipe
Ingredients for Taco Pasta
- Ground Beef
- Taco Seasoning
- Chicken Broth
- Salsa
- Pasta
- Shredded Cheese
How To Make Instant Pot Taco Pasta
First, turn the Instant Pot on to sauté mode and brown the ground beef. Once cooked drain grease. You could also use leftover taco meat if you happen to have it on hand.
You can also cook frozen ground beef in your pressure cooker if you didn't have a chance to defrost it.
Next, add the taco seasoning, chicken broth, salsa, and pasta shells.
Close the lid on the pressure cooker and set to sealing. Set a manual high pressure for 5 minutes.
Perform a quick release when the cooking time is up.
Dish onto a plate, add your favorite taco toppings, and enjoy!
Can I Use Chicken Instead of Beef
Go right ahead and dice up some chicken and sear till it is almost fully cooked. Or opt for ground chicken, and in that case, you will want to cook the chicken all the way through.
Can I Cook This Taco Pasta On The Stovetop
Cook your pasta as directed on the back of the box.
Then in another pan you will cook your ground beef till no longer pink. Toss in the other ingredients, except don't add in the chicken stock, you won't need it.
Pour in the cooked pasta, and let it simmer for a few minutes to help blend all the flavors, and then serve it up.
Topping Ideas
- Sour Cream
- Black Olives
- Avocado or Guacamole
- Lettuce
- Salsa
- Pico De Gallo
Recipe FAQs
I recommend cooking this taco pasta in Instant Pot for 5 minutes followed by a quick release of pressure.
Some recipes show 4 minutes and they like it. I always say it is a personal preference for doneness.
To fix undercooked pasta in the Instant Pot, all you have to do is place the lid back on the pressure cooker. Then cook for another minute or two then do a quick release.
You need to do a quick release of pressure when cooking pasta in the pressure cooker. The reason being is if you allow your pasta to natural release, it will turn to mush.
Absolutely! Leave out the meat and swap chicken broth with a vegetable broth. If you want to add some protein into the dish add some black beans or even pinto beans.
Recipe
Instant Pot Taco Pasta — A New Take on Taco Tuesday
Nothing like the Mexican flavor in every bite, you'll fall in love with this recipe. Take Taco Tuesday to the next level with the perfect marriage of two mealtime favorites: pasta and tacos!
Ingredients
Supplies
Instant Pot Mexican Pasta Ingredients
Instructions
- Turn the Instant Pot onto sauté mode and brown the ground beef. Drain grease.
- Add the next 4 ingredients: taco seasoning, chicken broth, salsa, and pasta shells.
- Close the lid on the pressure cooker and set to sealing.
- Set a manual high pressure for 5 minutes and then do a quick release when the cooking time is up.
Notes
Use our Homemade Salsa recipe to make this more homemade! Fresh salsa is always best and so delicious! We made this Instant Pot Salsa recipe that is full of flavor. It's also great to use in our Instant Pot Salsa Chicken. Yum!
Recommended Products
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14 Pcs Silicone Cooking Utensils Kitchen Utensil Set, 446°F Heat Resistant,Turner Tongs,Spatula,Spoon,Brush,Whisk. Wooden Handles Kitchen Gadgets Tools Set for Nonstick Cookware (Dark Coffee) -
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Nutrition Information
Yield
4Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 652Total Fat 39gSaturated Fat 15gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 19gCholesterol 138mgSodium 1798mgCarbohydrates 30gNet Carbohydrates 0gFiber 6gSugar 6gSugar Alcohols 0gProtein 45g
Let me know how you like this Instant Pot taco pasta. A fun twist to the Mexican spaghetti recipe. And, you can add some tortilla chips or Doritos and make it a crunchy taco hamburger helper style recipe.
I followed the directions exactly I added the 4 cups of broth and it was like water where did I go wrong