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Instant Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta in a white bowl

Instant Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta

This Instant Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta has only 6 ingredients, is ready in under 30 minutes, and is delicious!

Course Dinner
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword instant pot taco pasta recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 494 kcal
Author Sandy Clifton

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

  1. Turn pot on to Sauté mode.

  2. When display reads Hot, add the meat (use a little olive oil if using ground turkey). Cook until mostly done.

  3. Add the taco seasoning, stir and finish cooking meat.

  4. 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).

  5. 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.

  6. Add the pasta and stir.

  7. Cancel the sauté mode.

  8. Put the pressure cooker lid on and set the steam release knob to the Sealing position.

Pressure Cook

  1. 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).

  2. When cooking cycle ends, turn off the pressure cooker.

  3. 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.

  4. When the pin in the lid drops, and it is safe to open it, do so with the lid facing away from your face.
  5. Give the pasta a good stir, add the cheese, stir again, and serve.

Garnish with any of these, if desired:

  1. Avocado, Jalapeño, Sour Cream, Tortilla Chips, Cilantro

Recipe Notes

*If using 12 oz of pasta shells, reduce broth to 3 cups.

Calories are approximate and based on using 93% lean ground turkey and fat free chicken broth, and cheddar cheese.