Description
Hearty Instant Pot Taco Pasta blends Mexican-inspired flavors with comforting pasta for a quick weeknight meal. Spicy ground beef, melted cheese, and zesty seasonings come together in one pot, delivering a delicious dinner that satisfies intense cravings.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef (or turkey)
Pasta and Base:
- 2 cups uncooked pasta (rotini, penne, or shells)
- 2 cups beef or chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Seasoning and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 packet (2 tablespoons) taco seasoning
- 1 can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional Toppings:
- Chopped cilantro
- Jalapenos
- Diced avocado
- Crushed tortilla chips
Instructions
- Heat the Instant Pot on sauté function and drizzle olive oil, allowing the surface to warm thoroughly.
- Introduce ground beef to the pot, breaking it into crumbly fragments and browning until no pink remains visible.
- Carefully eliminate any accumulated excess fat from the meat’s surface.
- Generously sprinkle taco seasoning across the browned meat, ensuring thorough coating and aromatic distribution.
- Pour diced tomatoes with green chilies and broth into the pot, stirring to integrate all flavors comprehensively.
- Gently nestle pasta into the liquid mixture, ensuring each piece is partially submerged without excessive stirring.
- Secure the Instant Pot lid, setting the pressure valve to sealing position.
- Activate high-pressure cooking mode and maintain for precisely 4 minutes.
- Allow natural pressure release for 5 minutes following cooking completion.
- Swiftly release remaining pressure using quick release mechanism.
- Unveil the lid and fold shredded cheddar cheese into the pasta, stirring until completely melted and smoothly incorporated.
- Incorporate sour cream, blending until the mixture achieves a luxuriously creamy consistency.
Notes
- Choose lean ground beef to reduce excess grease and create a healthier dish without compromising flavor.
- Customize the spice level by adjusting taco seasoning or using mild green chilies for sensitive palates.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular pasta with chickpea or gluten-free pasta alternatives that hold up well under pressure cooking.
- Elevate the protein content by adding black beans or switching to ground turkey for a lighter protein option.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg