This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This Instant Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta has only 6 ingredients, cooks in about 30 minutes, and is so delicious! This pressure cooker cheesy taco pasta is one of my most popular Instant Pot pasta recipes! This is a great beginner Instant Pot recipe.
Originally Published 9/1/2017
This post contains Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Instant Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta
When you first get your Instant Pot, you are going to want something delicious and fairly simple to make in it.
This Instant Pot Taco Pasta recipe is a good one because it gets you familiar with the sauté function as well as the pressure cook function.
Every time I cook pasta in my Instant Pot electric pressure cooker, I am grateful that this wonderful appliance exists!
Pasta in a Pressure Cooker?
Yes! Pasta cooks up very well in the Instant Pot. The key is the liquid to pasta weight ratio. Since you don’t drain it, the liquid is absorbed by the pasta, so you need to use the correct amount.
The rule-of-thumb is 1 cup of liquid to 4-ounces of pasta. It is best to weigh it. Food Scales like this one are so useful.
It is great to cook the pasta in broth and have it soak up all of that liquid flavor. I love that you don’t have to drain it!
Creamy, cheesy Instant Pot Taco Pasta is my favorite of all of my Instant Pot pasta recipes.
Is Instant Pot Taco Pasta Spicy?
- Instant Pot Taco Pasta is so easy to make, and has so much flavor!
- The flavor for this pasta dish comes from salsa and my homemade Easy Taco Seasoning (or use the packet from the store).
- It will be as spicy as your salsa and your taco seasoning, which is normally mild to medium. Use a hotter version or add red pepper flakes while browning the meat for a spicier result.
Don’t Forget the Fixin’s
Garnish with Taco fixin’s, or serve as is. Either way it will be a hit with the family! Some favorite garnishes are:
• Avocado chunks
• Corn chips
• Extra shredded cheese
• Hot Sauce
• Finely diced onion
• Cilantro
• Sour Cream
Watch the Video for Instant Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta Recipe
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
Instant Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni
Instant Pot Chili Mac
Instant Pot Pizza Pasta Casserole
Instant Pot Creamy Cajun Pasta with Sausage
If you make this pressure cooker Taco Pasta recipe let me know! Just leave a comment with a star rating below. I’d like to know how you liked it!
Instant Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 lb Lean Ground Beef or Lean Ground Turkey (80%-93% lean)
- 2 ½ Tablespoons Taco Seasoning (see my recipe for homemade, or use 1 packet of store bought)
- 1 (16 oz) Container of Salsa
- 16 oz Pasta Shells*, medium (or use 16 oz rotini)
- 4 cups Broth, (low sodium beef or chicken)
- 2 cups Shredded Cheese (I use 1 cup Monterey Jack and 1 cup sharp Cheddar)
Instructions
Brown the Meat
- Turn pot on to Sauté mode.
- When display reads Hot, add the meat (use a little olive oil if using ground turkey). Cook until mostly done.
- Add the taco seasoning, stir and finish cooking meat.
- Add the salsa and broth. Stir with wooden spoon and scrape the bottom of the pot to get up all of the browned bits (deglaze).
- Put on a glass lid (or any lid that fits. If you use the pressure cooker lid, make sure it is on Venting). Let the broth heat up and start to simmer.
- Add the pasta and stir.
- Cancel the sauté mode.
- Put the pressure cooker lid on and set the steam release knob to the Sealing position.
Pressure Cook
- Press the Manual (or Pressure Cook) button and use the +/- button to select 5 minutes for softer pasta, 4 minutes for more al dente (or half the time on the pasta package directions).
- When cooking cycle ends, turn off the pressure cooker.
- Do a controlled Quick Release of the pressure/steam. I like to start it in smaller bursts until I am sure no sauce will be spewing from the steam release knob. Then I turn the knob all the way to Venting, and let it release the remaining steam/pressure.
- When the pin in the lid drops, and it is safe to open it, do so with the lid facing away from your face.
- Give the pasta a good stir, add the cheese, stir again, and serve.
Garnish with any of these, if desired:
- Avocado, Jalapeño, Sour Cream, Tortilla Chips, Cilantro
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Resources to Make This Pressure Cooker Taco Pasta Recipe
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Made this tonight and it sooooo good! Now one of my favorite Instant Pot recipes!
This was my very first recipe using the insta pot. My husband asked for something with meat and cheese and found your recipe. It was a hit with both of us. I was nervous about using the insta pot, but your video was so easy to follow and understand. This is a keeper for us.
That’s great, Amanda! Thank you for your review!
This was the first thing I tried in my new instsnt pot. It was a winner!! Thank you! This has become a staple in our home and it gave me the confidence I needed as a newbie. 🙂
That’s great, Amanda! Thank you for your review!
Hi! I’ve made this before and loved it. I’m thinking about making it tonight with leftover carnitas. Is it necessary to bring to sauté and bring to a simmer with the salsa and broth or should all of it just be mixed together? Thank you!
I would try dump and start.
This was delicious, and my picky boys (ages 6 & 8) asked for seconds and were also perfectly willing to eat it leftover the next night. My husband and I enjoyed it, too. Thanks so much! It was so easy and used ingredients I had in my pantry (although I had to use beef broth instead of chicken, since that’s what I had). 5 stars!
That’s great! Kids really like this recipe! Thank you for your review!
Great Recipe. Thank you for sharing this wonder dinner. The kids really enjoyed it.
Awesome! I’m glad the kids liked this. Thank you for your review!
I would like to make this with shredded chicken instead. Any suggestions on how to adjust the recipe/directions for that?
Hi Meredith, just add everything except for the chicken and pressure cook it. Then add the cooked chicken and cheese. Stir, put the lid on until it warms up the chicken and melts the cheese.
Just opened and stirred cheese in! Looks delicious!! Super easy for a last minute dinner!
Yum!! Thank you for this recipe. So comforting on a cold, windy evening. I halved the recipe for my 3-qt IP and it worked just fine. (Despite the fact that I forgot to cut the taco seasoning in 1/2… still delicious!) I added some diced onion while the meat was cooking and topped it with seasoned tortilla strips for some texture. SO simple. Definitely a keeper to put into the rotation.
That’s great, Andrea! I have had a few people tell me that they doubled the seasoning, they like that spice! Thanks for your comment!
SPOT ON recipe, once again! This is a great creation and following the directions from start to finish made a fantastic dish. easy to make, super tasty, and a real crowd pleaser. Thank you for sharing your invention with us, this will be a regular for us for a long time coming!
Thank you, again! 🙂