This Instant Pot Taco Meat is so quick to make and results in a deliciously moist and flavorful addition to tacos, burritos, taco salads, nachos, you name it!
Ingredients
- Olive Oil – used to brown the beef and veggies before pressure cooking to add another layer of flavor.
- Ground Beef – make sure you use lean ground beef so the taco meat isn’t too oily.
- Yellow Onion and Bell Peppers – add a bit of sweetness and color to the meat.
- Lime Juice – makes the beef super tender and adds delicious tangy flavor.
- Enchilada Sauce – gives the meat tons of moisture and adds sweet, smoky, slightly spicy flavor.
- Rotel with Green Chiles – diced tomatoes and green chiles add tons of sweet, spicy flavor. Don’t drain the can. The liquid adds moisture to the meat.
- Taco Seasoning – you can either use store-bought taco seasoning or whip up a homemade batch. If you’re using homemade, you’ll need 3 tablespoons per 1 packet of store-bought.
- Salt – brings out flavor.
How to make
- Hit SAUTE on your instant pot then add in olive oil, beef, onion, and peppers. Cook until the meat is no longer pink, then hit CANCEL, remove the mixture, and drain any excess grease.
- Deglaze the pot with lime juice, scraping up any brown bits, then pour in enchilada sauce and rotel. Without mixing, add the beef mixture back in then sprinkle with taco seasoning. Cover and lock the lid then cook on HIGH pressure for 5 minutes.
- Naturally release for 5 minutes then flip the pressure valve to venting. Stir to combine then serve and enjoy!
Can you put raw ground beef in the instant pot?
You can but I recommend browning it first. Bonus: you can brown the beef right in the instant pot before pressure cooking it using the SAUTE setting! No extra dirty dishes.
Browning the beef first helps lock in the moisture and flavor of the meat before you cook it fully. Don’t skip this step!
Do you drain meat before adding taco seasoning?
Yes! After you brown the taco meat, you’ll want to drain any excess grease before adding the seasonings.
If you drain the grease after you add the seasonings, you’ll drain out some of that delicious flavor!
How to serve instant pot taco meat
I love this instant pot taco meat served as a soft or hardshell taco topped with all the delicious fix-ins (salsa, guac, pico, cheese, etc.)
But tacos aren’t your only option! You can serve this taco meat in a number of different ways:
- On salads. Toss a scoop of it with lettuce, shredded cheese, sour cream, olives, and crushed tortilla chips for a delicious taco salad.
- As filling for burritos. Roll it up in a burrito sized tortilla mixed with rice, beans, and more.
- As part of an appetizer. Serve it over nachos or mix it into a bowl of queso and serve it with chips.
- On pizza. Layer it on taco pizza for even more flavor.
How to store
Leftover taco meat will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To reheat, thaw in the fridge if frozen then microwave or warm on the stove.
– Jennifer
Instant Pot Taco Meat
Equipment for this recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 2 bell peppers diced
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 1 (10 oz) can enchilada sauce
- 1 (10 oz) can Rotel with green chiles undrained
- 2 (1 oz) packets taco seasoning
- Salt to taste
Recipe Video
Instructions
- Hit SAUTE on your 6 quart Instant Pot.
- Once it reads HOT, add in olive oil, beef, onion, and peppers.
- Cook, breaking up the meat as you go, until the beef is no longer pink.
- Hit CANCEL on the Instant Pot, remove the beef mixture, and drain any excess grease.
- Deglaze with lime juice, scraping up any brown bits to avoid a burn reading, then pour in enchilada sauce and rotel.
- Without mixing, add beef mixture back in, then sprinkle with taco seasoning. Again, don’t mix.
- Cover and lock the lid - make sure the pressure valve is pointed toward SEALING.
- Cook on HIGH pressure for 5 minutes.
- Allow the Instant Pot to naturally release for 5 minutes before flipping the pressure valve to VENTING.
- Stir to combine the mixture, then taste and re-season, if necessary.
- Serve with all your favorite taco fixings!
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Nutrition Information
*Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.