Name: Instant Pot Taco Pasta
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 lb lean ground beef; 1 (1-oz) packet taco seasoning; 1 (10-oz) can Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies; 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour; 4 cups beef broth; 1 (16-oz) box penne pasta; salt and pepper (to taste); 1 (15-oz) jar salsa con queso; 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend

Instant Pot Taco Pasta Recipe – so simple and tastes great! One bite and you will be blown away! Pasta, taco meat, and salsa tossed in a jar of cheese dip. Seriously delicious! Pasta, lean ground beef, taco seasoning, beef broth, Rotel diced tomatoes and green chiles, salsa con queso, and shredded cheese. Top the pasta with your favorite taco toppings. Add this one-pot meal to your menu ASAP!

bowl of taco pasta in front of an instant pot with text overaly

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Instant Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta

Stop what you are doing and add this Instant Pot Taco Pasta to your menu. It is AMAZING! Pasta, taco meat, and salsa tossed in a jar of cheese dip. O-M-YUM! One bite and you will be blown away! I made this for lunch last week and I wanted to lick the bowl. It has all of my favorite flavors in one pot. Whip up a quick salad and you are set! This pasta dish has quickly become one of our favorite meals.

What is an Instant Pot?

Instant Pot is a name brand of electric pressure cookers. Depending on the model, the Instant Pot can also be used as a slow-cooker, rice cooker, and yogurt maker.

What is a pressure cooker? A pressure cooker is a sealed pot with a lot of steam inside that builds up high pressure and helps food cook faster.

The high pressure helps force liquid and moisture into the food quickly.

Food cooks faster under high pressure.

The extra liquid and moisture that the pressure adds help tough cuts of meat get very tender very quickly.

How to Make Instant Pot Taco Pasta

This pasta is super easy to make with only a few simple ingredients. Start by browning lean ground beef in the instant pot on the sauté mode. Drain off any excess grease. Add a packet of taco seasoning and a can of Rotel diced tomatoes and green chiles. Cook for 5 minutes. Turn off the Instant Pot and add a little bit of beef broth. Scrap all of the browned bits off the bottom of the pot. Add flour, remaining beef broth, and pasta. Press the pasta down into the liquid. Lock lid and pressure cook on HIGH or manual for 5 minutes. Do a natural pressure release for 15 minutes. Quick release any remaining pressure. Stir in cheese dip. Top the pasta with shredded cheese. Garnish with parsley or cilantro and enjoy.

Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions

Can substitute ground turkey or chicken.
Here is our recipe for Homemade Taco Seasoning: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-taco-seasoning/
I use beef broth for the liquid in this recipe. Use low sodium broth if using store-bought taco seasoning.
- Feel free to substitute water.
I use a jar of Tostitos Salsa con Queso. I find it in the chip aisle.
Can use any pasta shape you prefer. Elbow macaroni, penne, or small pasta shells all work great.
Use any shredded cheese that you enjoy. Mexican cheese blend, cheddar cheese,
Can add onion, bell pepper, corn, black beans, and black olives are all delicious.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

What to Serve with Taco Mac & Cheese

This one-pot meal has quickly become a family favorite. There is very little prep time and only a 5 minute cook time. You can’t beat that for an easy weeknight meal! We top the pasta with salsa, green onions, cheese, avocado, and sour cream. Serve the pasta with a salad and some bread.

Looking for more easy Mexican recipes? Here are a few of our favorite recipes from the blog:

Salads