Instant Pot Taco Pasta (only 6 ingredients) - Foody Schmoody Blog (2024)

Published: Jul 23, 2017 · Modified: Oct 2, 2023 by foodyschmoody ·

This Instant Pot Taco Pasta is a one pot meal that only requires six easy ingredients. It is cheesy, full of ground beef (or use ground turkey or chicken) and has all the taco flavor kids love without being overly spicy.

When Taco Tuesday needs a change up, try this family friendly recipe mash up that has the best of both worlds; taco flavor and cheesy pasta!

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If you have visited my taco pasta recipe before but the pictures look different, don't worry, you're in the right place. The recipe is the same but I've updated the photos.

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🔪Ingredients
📹Recipe video
🍲Simple cooking instructions
📃Double the recipe
🥘Substitutions and additions
🍽️Equipment
❓FAQ
Printable Recipe Card

If you like to mix up taco night, after you fall in love with this Instant Pot Pasta, be sure to check out my Taco Rice Skillet. It is another kid favorite recipe and a stove top one pot meal for easy cleanup!

And if you're looking for a slow cooker recipe, check out my Taco flavored Slow Cooker Wings.

🔪Ingredients

As I mentioned above, this easy pasta dinner only requires six ingredients. It is also a recipe that can be altered very easily if you are missing an ingredient.

Something you may notice is that my taco pasta doesn't contain cream cheese whereas most other recipes do. I simply don't think it is a necessary ingredient.

See printable recipe card at bottom for measurements.

Meat - I use ground beef but you can also lighten up the dish by using ground turkey or chicken
Seasoning - Taco seasoning, whatever level of spiciness you enjoy will work.
Pasta - A small shape works best, try elbows or small shells
Broth - Beef works best but if using ground turkey or chicken you could sub in chicken broth
Cheese - Shredded cheddar, cheddar-jack or cheddar blend
Sauce - Tomato sauce or you can use salsa instead. The tomato sauce seems to work better for picky kids but salsa will give more taco flavor.

TIP: Use lean ground beef to avoid the need to drain the excess grease that renders when cooking.

📹Recipe video

Because this recipe is so easy, it is a great one to teach the kids to cook. My son had to prepare a cooking video for Scouts, so I thought I'd share that.

Always supervise children when cooking.

🍲Simple cooking instructions

Brown ground beef, breaking up as it cooks.

Stir in taco seasoning, sauce and beef broth.

📃Double the recipe

The recipe as written gives four very generously sized portions. It is super easy to double this recipe.

Double all ingredients but keep the cook time the same!

🥘Substitutions and additions

I like to use this recipe as a baseline. It is simple and the kids love this recipe as is. But, some of my other family members like to stir in a few ingredients just before eating.

Here are a few of our preferred additions to taco pasta.

canned black beans
diced jalapenos
guacamole
sour cream
cilantro
scallions
canned corn kernels

🍽️Equipment

This recipe requires an electric pressure cooker. I use the Instant Pot brand and it seems to be the most trusted brand out there.

If you are in the market for a new Instant Pot, I have had the 6 quart Instant Pot Duo since 2017 and I feel confident in recommending it.

❓FAQ

Do I need to drain the ground beef grease from Instant Pot?

You do not need to drain the grease if you are using a lean beef. If you are using a higher fat content beef, it might be beneficial to drain it.

What is a quick release on an Instant Pot?

Quick release simply means you manually open the vent to release the pressure rather than letting it release over time.

Printable Recipe Card

Instant Pot Taco Pasta

foodyschmoody

Tacos and pasta, my two favorites, come together to create this super tasty, family friendly dinner that requires only 6 ingredients and about 10 minutes of cooking time in the Instant Pot.

4.73 from 65 votes

Print Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian, Mexican

Servings 4 servings

Calories 684 kcal

Equipment

Instant Pot

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef lean
1 ounce taco seasoning
8 ounce tomato sauce
2 cup beef broth
8 ounce small pasta small or medium shells or elbows
1 ½ cup shredded cheese cheddar, mexican blend or cheddar jack

Instructions

Set Instant Pot to saute. Add the ground beef and break up as it cooks. Once ground beef is browned, stir in taco seasoning, tomato sauce and beef broth. Be sure to scrape the bottom while stirring, to avoid meat sticking to pot. Next add the pasta. Push the pasta into the mixture just enough to submerge; don't stir.
Cover and seal lid. Change setting to manual and adjust time to 5 minutes.
Once Instant Pot beeps to show it's done, quick release. Carefully remove cover and stir.
Turn off Instant Pot. Top with cheese, put cover back on but don't seal. Allow a minute or two for cheese to start to melt. Serve with desired toppings.

Video

Notes

Double The Recipe: double all ingredients but keep cook time the same.

Recipe has also been made using 12 oz pasta, 2 ½ C broth and all other ingredients the same. Cook time the same.

Recipe inspired and adapted from http://chattavore.com/instant-pot-taco-pasta/

Nutrition

Calories: 684kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 39gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 16gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 120mgSodium: 1621mgPotassium: 702mgFiber: 4gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1187IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 324mgIron: 4mg

Keyword easy meal, ground beef, instant pot, pasta, quick meal, taco

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