Description
This Instant Pot Taco Pasta is a quick and flavorful one-pot meal combining seasoned ground beef, Rotel tomatoes, and tender penne pasta in a creamy salsa con queso sauce. Ready in just 15 minutes, this dish blends Mexican-inspired spices and cheesy goodness for a comforting family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Seasonings
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 (1-oz) package taco seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Liquids and Canned Goods
- 1 (10-oz) can Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 (15-oz) jar salsa con queso
Other Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 (16-oz) box penne pasta
- 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
Instructions
- Brown the Beef: Set the Instant Pot to sauté mode and brown the lean ground beef. Once cooked, drain any excess grease to keep the dish from being too oily.
- Add Seasonings and Tomatoes: Stir in the taco seasoning packet and the can of Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies. Let this mixture cook together for about 5 minutes to develop the flavors.
- Deglaze the Pot: Turn off the Instant Pot. Pour in a small amount of beef broth and scrape the bottom of the pot to loosen any browned bits, preventing a burn notice during pressure cooking.
- Add Flour, Broth, and Pasta: Sprinkle in the all-purpose flour, then add the remaining beef broth and penne pasta. Make sure to press the pasta down so it is submerged in the liquid to cook evenly.
- Pressure Cook: Lock the Instant Pot lid and set it to pressure cook on high/manual mode for 5 minutes.
- Release Pressure: Allow a natural pressure release for 15 minutes to let the pasta finish cooking gently. After that, perform a quick release for any remaining pressure.
- Finish with Cheese: Stir in the salsa con queso cheese dip until smooth and creamy. Top the pasta with shredded Mexican cheese blend before serving for extra cheesy goodness.
Notes
- Be sure to scrape the bottom of the pot after sautéing to avoid the burn alert during pressure cooking.
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for lean ground beef for a lighter option.
- If you prefer a spicier dish, add extra diced jalapeños or hot sauce to taste.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently.
