Instant Pot Taco Pasta is a quick and flavorful one-pot meal that combines the bold spices of taco seasoning with tender pasta, and ground meat. Made entirely in the Instant Pot, this dish is perfect for busy weeknights, as it cooks quickly and requires minimal cleanup.

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Instant Pot Taco Pasta
We're always looking for fun ways to change up Taco Tuesday and this Instant Pot Taco Pasta recipe is a perfect alternative to regular tacos or Taco soup. It has all of our favorite Mexican flavors in one easy taco pasta dish!
The pasta absorbs the rich flavors of the seasoned meat and tomatoes, creating a hearty, satisfying meal that's great for the whole family. Topped with shredded cheese, fresh cilantro, or a dollop of sour cream, cheesy taco pasta is a delicious combo of comfort food and Tex-Mex flair.
This cheesy pasta reminds me of a dish we used to make with Hamburger Helper (a staple in my early years of marriage), but this version is so much better!!
Love pasta dishes? Check out this Cajun Pastalaya Recipe!
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Why You'll Love Instant Pot Taco Pasta
Easy. This is one of the most simple dinner recipes you will ever make and it's loaded with flavor and textures! If you love tacos and you love your Instant Pot, you need to try this recipe!
Fool-proof. Cooking pasta in an Instant Pot is almost fool-proof. Following the instructions closely, you will always end up with perfectly cooked pasta!
Crowd pleaser. This is one of our taco night favorites. Everybody loves the flavors of tacos and this new way of enjoying those flavors is always a hit. It's also a great way to have a hearty meal without a lot of time in the kitchen or heating up your oven.
More Popular Instant Pot Recipes
- Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
- Easy Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo with Jar Sauce
- Instant Pot Zatarain's Dirty Rice
- Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas
- Easy Instant Pot Au Gratin Potatoes
Tools Needed
Pressure cooking is one of the easiest ways to make an easy dinner recipe in a short amount of time.
- Instant Pot (or other electric pressure cooker)
- Strainer
- Silicone spoon
Ingredients
The simple ingredients for this creamy taco pasta are easily found at any grocery store.
- Olive oil
- White onion
- Red bell pepper
- Jalapeno
- Ground beef
- Taco Seasoning
- Fire roasted diced tomatoes
- Salsa
- Water
- Farfalle pasta (bowtie pasta)
- Mexican style shredded cheese (or Fiesta cheese)
- Optional toppings: sour cream, extra cheese, tortilla chips, green chiles, jalapenos, pico de gallo, hot sauce, etc.
Find the complete recipe with ingredients measurements in the recipe card below.
Substitutions
Ground Beef. Lean ground beef (we buy beef in bulk) is our preference but you could easily substitute ground turkey or ground chicken for the ground beef if you prefer.
Red Bell Pepper. Other colors of bell peppers would be fine in this recipe - red is my preference but the recipe is very versatile.
Bowtie Pasta. My kids love bowtie pasta but again, it will not change the recipe to use another shape of pasta if you prefer. We also love rotini pasta and penne or pasta shells - use the pasta of your choice!
Salsa. Obviously store-bought salsa is the easiest option for this recipe but we love this homemade salsa recipe so we often use it instead.
Water. For extra flavor, you can use beef broth or beef stock, chicken stock or chicken broth, or even a vegetable broth.
How to Make Instant Pot Taco Pasta
With this easy Instant Pot Taco pasta, you will have a delicious meal that the entire family will love ready to eat in under half an hour!
- Set Instant Pot to the sauté setting.
- Let heat and add olive oil.
- Add onions and peppers and sauté until soft and fragrant.
- Then add in a pound of ground beef and cook until no longer pink.
- Scrape the bottom of the pot to release any browned bits, then drain the meat.
- Then add in taco seasoning, the can of tomatoes, salsa, and water and stir.
- Then top with dry pasta.
- Seal and lock the lid and set the Instant Pot to High Pressure cook for 12 minutes.
- Once finished cooking, do a controlled quick release to
- Then carefully unlock the lid, add the cheese on top and give it a good stir.
- Serve hot with all of your favorite taco toppings: a bit of sour cream or hot sauce, extra cheddar cheese, some mild salsa, etc. Enjoy!
Variations
This simple recipe is also very versatile. Add a can of black beans for extra fiber and a more well-rounded, delicious dinner. Whole-kernel corn is another great addition to this Cheesy Instant Pot Taco Pasta!
Storage Directions
Refrigerator. To store Instant Pot Taco Pasta, allow it to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
Reheating. When reheating, add a splash of water or broth to restore the creamy texture, as the pasta may absorb liquid during storage. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally until warmed through. This recipe might even be better the next day!
More Mexican Inspired Recipes
Recipe
Instant Pot Taco Pasta (Easy Cheesy Recipe)
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings (1 cup) 1x
Description
Instant Pot Taco Pasta is a quick and flavorful one-pot meal that combines the bold spices of taco seasoning with tender pasta, and ground meat. Made entirely in the Instant Pot, this dish is perfect for busy weeknights, as it cooks quickly and requires minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Set Instant Pot to "Saute" Mode.
- Let heat and add olive oil.
- Add onions and peppers and saute until soft and fragrant.
- Then add in ground beef and cook until no longer pink.
- Drain.
- Then add in taco seasoning, the can of tomatoes, salsa, and water and stir.
- Then top with dry pasta.
- Seal and lock the lid and set the Instant Pot to High Pressure cook for 12 minutes.
- Once finished cooking, manual release the steam.
- Then carefully unlock the lid and stir in cheese.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 12
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Pressure Cooker
- Cuisine: Mexican
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