Instant Pot Taco Pasta
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Last Updated on April 17, 2023 by Lisa Johnson
Instant Pot Taco Pasta is the perfect meal for busy weeknights. It is creamy, cheesy, and easy to make with ground beef, taco seasoning, salsa, pasta noodles and lots of cheese!
Check out my Instant Pot Recipes page for even more delicious pressure cooker recipes.
Okay there are a few extra ingredients, but you get the idea. Sauté the onions and garlic, brown the meat and dump everything else into your pressure cooker. It could not get any easier!!
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Taco Pasta ingredients
- diced onion and minced garlic with some olive oil to sauté them.
- ground beef – you can substitute turkey or chicken if you prefer.
- taco seasoning – you can use package taco seasoning (you will need 1.5 packages) but it contains potato starch and “may” cause a burn notice if it thickens the liquid too much while cooking. I have not tried this recipe using packaged seasoning.
- chicken stock – it has a richer, fuller flavor than beef stock.
- a jar of your favorite salsa – I used Fontera Roasted Tomato, but any salsa that is not too chunky will work great. If you like spicy, choose a spicy salsa!
- fusilli or rotini dry pasta – or pasta of your choice, including gluten-free if you like.
- black or pinto beans and corn are optional, but definitely add something to the finished dish.
- cheddar, queso fresco, and Monterrey Jack cheeses.
- cilantro and any of your favorite taco toppings – sliced avocado, jalapenos, diced tomatoes, sour cream, black olives, hot sauce, etc.
Be sure to check out the detailed printable recipe card below
If you love Instant Pot Mexican recipes as much as we do, you need to try these recipes too! Chicken Taco Bowls, Red Chile Pork Tamales, Creamy Chicken Enchilada Soup, and how about a delicious Kahlua Flan for dessert?
How to make Cheesy Instant Pot Taco Pasta
Plug in your pressure cooker and press the “Sauté” button. Add the olive oil to the liner when the display reads “HOT”. Add the onions and cook until they start to soften, about 3 minutes.
Next, add the garlic, stir and cook for one minute. Add the ground beef and break apart with a wooden spoon. Stir in the taco seasoning and cook until no longer pink.
Pour in the chicken stock and use the wooden spoon/turner to scrape the bottom of the pressure cooker to remove any cooked on bits. We do not want a BURN notice!!
Press the “Cancel” button. Stir in the salsa. Sprinkle the pasta over the liquid but do not stir! Gently press the noodles down just until they are submerged in the liquid.
Sprinkle the drained corn over the pasta, then sprinkle the drained black beans on top of the corn. Again, do not stir!!
Secure the lid and check to make sure the knob is in the “Sealing” position. Press the “Manual or Pressure Cook” button, check to make sure it is High Pressure, and adjust the time to 5 minutes using the + or – buttons.
When the pressure cooker beeps press/turn the knob to release the pressure manually.
Stir to combine. Do not panic if it seems to still have a lot of liquid, the pasta will absorb it as it sits.
Add the cheeses and stir to combine.
Serve with your choice of toppings.
Store leftover beef taco pasta in an airtight container inside the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a foil covered baking dish in a 350°F. oven until heated through.
Recipe modifications
- For a Mexican pasta bake – pour into a baking dish and top with 2 cups of shredded cheese. Bake in a 400 degree oven until bubbly, about 10 minutes.
- For extra creamy pasta – stir in 2 to 4 ounces of cream cheese and/or 1 cup of sour cream or yogurt before adding the cheeses.
- For extra creamy, extra cheesy – do all of the above!!
- To use a different type of pasta – cook for half the amount of time listed on the package. Example: my package of pasta lists the time as 9 minutes for al dente, and 11 minutes for fully cooked. I would normally cook my pasta for 10 minutes on the stove, therefore this recipe calls for 5 minutes in a pressure cooker.
Tools used to create this recipe
You can see the rest of my favorite kitchen tools and gadgets here in my Amazon Affiliate Page. I earn a small commission when you purchase through my links, at no cost to you, so I can keep bringing you more delicious recipes!
- 6 quart Instant Pot
- Cheese Grater
- Roasted Tomato Salsa
- Chicken Stock – also available at your local grocery store.
- Chefs Knife
- Cutting Board
- Wooden Spoon/Turner
More delicious instant pot recipes
- Southwest Chili with Black Beans and Corn
- Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf
- Barbecue Ribs
- Salmon and Potatoes
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Enjoy!!
Instant Pot Taco Pasta
Equipment
- Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 0.5 cup diced yellow onion
- 2 large cloves garlic minced
- 1 pound ground beef mine is 80/20
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 16 ounce jar tomato salsa not chunky style – mild or spicy
- 15 ounce can black beans drained and rinsed
- 15 ounce can corn drained or rinse
- 8 ounces dry fusilli or rotini pasta
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterrey Jack cheese
- 0.5 cup crumbled queso fresco or cojito
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- sliced avocado, sour cream, black olives, jalapeno slices, diced tomatoes, hot sauce to garnish
Instructions
- Plug in your pressure cooker and press the "Sauté" button. Add the olive oil to the liner when the display reads "HOT". Add the onions and cook until they start to soften, about 3 minutes.
- Next, add the garlic, stir and cook for one minute. Add the ground beef and break apart with a wooden spoon. Stir in the taco seasoning and cook until no longer pink.
- Pour in the chicken stock and use the wooden spoon/turner to scrape the bottom of the pressure cooker to remove any cooked on bits. We do not want a BURN notice!!
- Press the "Cancel" button. Stir in the salsa. Sprinkle the pasta over the liquid but do not stir! Gently press the noodles down just until they are submerged in the liquid.
- Sprinkle the drained corn over the pasta, then sprinkle the drained black beans on top of the corn. Again, do not stir!!
- Secure the lid and check to make sure the knob is in the "Sealing" position. Press the "Manual or Pressure Cook" button, check to make sure it is High Pressure, and adjust the time to 5 minutes using the + or – buttons.
- When the pressure cooker beeps press/turn the knob to release the pressure manually. Stir to combine. Do not panic if it seems to still have a lot of liquid, the pasta will absorb it as it sits.
- Add the cheeses and stir to combine. Serve with your choice of toppings.
Notes
- For a cheesy taco pasta bake – pour into a baking dish and top with 2 cups of shredded cheese. Bake in a 400 degree oven until bubbly, about 10 minutes.
- For extra creamy pasta – stir in 2 to 4 ounces of cream cheese and/or 1 cup of sour cream or yogurt before adding the cheeses.
- For extra creamy, extra cheesy – do all of the above!!
- To use a different type of pasta – cook for half the amount of time listed on the package. Example: my package of pasta lists the time as 9 minutes for al dente, and 11 minutes for fully cooked. I would normally cook my pasta for 10 minutes on the stove, therefore this recipe calls for 5 minutes in a pressure cooker.
- Taco Seasoning
- You can use package taco seasoning (you will need 1.5 packages) but it contains potato starch and may cause a burn notice if it thickens the liquid too much while cooking. I have not tried this recipe using packaged seasoning.
