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This is the best Instant Pot Taco Meat you will ever make. Made with ground beef, classic taco meat spices, and loaded with hidden veggies for added nutrition. Perfect to make classic tacos with a healthier spin to them.
Instant Pot Taco Meat
If you are a taco lover, like I am, then you need to try this Instant Pot Taco Meat recipe. It’s so easy to make and the flavors are on point. Perfectly seasoned with classic taco spices and hidden veggies for an extra boost of nutrition. We love this taco meat on our home and make it often. We love it not just for tacos but also to make burritos, burrito bowls, nachos, and more. Make this taco meat for your next Taco Tuesday feast!
What you need to make Instant Pot Taco Meat:
Ingredients:
- Olive Oil
- Yellow Onion
- Red Bell Pepper
- Cremini Mushrooms
- Jalapeño Pepper
- Canned Diced Tomatos
- Ground Beef
- Chili Powder
- Paprika
- Cumin
- Oregano
- Garlic Powder
- Pink Sea Salt
- Black Pepper
Equipment:
- Instant Pot
How to make Instant Pot Taco Meat:
- Start by prepping veggies; thinky dice onion, mince garlic, thinly dice red bell pepper, mushrooms, and jalapeño pepper. In a small bowl mix together all the spices; chili powder, paprika, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, pink sea salt, and black pepper.
- Set Instant Pot on sautee setting. Drizzle olive oil and bring to a heat. Add diced onion and mince garlic and sautee for 2 minutes until onion starts to soften and become translucent.
- Toss in the rest of the veggies; red bell pepper, mushrooms, and jalapeño pepper. Continue to sautee until veggies start to soften, about 3-5 minutes. While veggies soften, sprinkle spices over veggies and continue to sautee by tossing veggies and mixing with spices.
- Add in ground beef using a spatula to help break it down into small pieces. Continue sauteeing until beef browns, about 5-7 minutes. Once beef is browned, stir in diced tomatoes making sure eveything is well combined.
- Close Instant Pot lid and turn the steam release valve to the sealing position. Press “Pressure Cook” or “Manual” button and set cooking timer for 15 minutes. At this point, the Instant Pot will take some time to build up and reach pressure. The pot will beep and timer will then begin to countdown.
- Once countdown finished, allow NPR for 10 minutes. Slowly and carefully turn valve to steam release to finish releasing pressure. Open lid and give beef a stir.
- Serve immediatly with taco shells, burritos, over rice for burrito bowls, lettuce for taco salad, or any other preferred way.
Meal Prepping it:
This is a great recipe to include in your meal prep for the week. It’s super easy and quick to make and makes a pretty decent batch. Aside from making this taco meat to serve and make tacos, you can serve it in many other ways. You can make taco salads, taco bowls, taco skillet, etc. All great dishes to make for a quick dinner or prepping for lunches.
Can you freeze Taco Meat?
Yes. This taco meat is ideal for freezing and keeping a stash in the freezer. Just let the beef completely cool after after it’s finished cooking. Place in a freezer bag or container and place in your freezer. Keep frozen for 1-3 months.
Can you make this recipe in the Crockpot?
This recipe can very easily be made in the Crockpot in the case you don’t have an Instant Pot (or simply prefer using a Crockpot instead). You will have to complete the first 4 steps in a sauté pan on the stove top to cook veggies and brown beef. Transfer cooked beef and veggies to Crockpot and stir in diced tomatoes. Cover Crockpot and set on High for 2 hours or on low for 4 hours.
Tips and Substitutions:
- Use the types of ground meat- Ground turkey and chicken are great for this recipe too!
- Use other veggies- Chop up some zucchini, carrots, celery, baby spinach etc. and add them to the meat for added nutrition.
- Make it in the crockpot- Don’t have an IP or just prefer to use the Crockpot? Brown the beef on a pan over the stovetop. Once it has browned, throw in the crockpot along with the rest of the ingredients plus 1 cup beef or vegetable broth. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 2-4 hours.
- Make more than tacos- Use this taco meat to make burritos, burrito bowls, taco salads, nachos, etc.
What to serve Taco Meat with?
- Warm tortillas for tacos or burritos
- Rice or Cauliflower Rice to make burrito bowls
- Best and Easiest Homemade Guacamole
- Grilled Mexican Street Corn Salad
- Loaded Guacamole
- Pickled Red Onions
Did you like this Instant Pot Taco Meat recipe? You may also like these other Mexican night recipes:
Instant Pot Taco Meat
This is the best Instant Pot Taco Meat you will ever make. Made with ground beef, classic taco meat spices, and loaded with hidden veggies for added nutrition. Perfect to make classic tacos with a healthier spin to them.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 yellow onion
- 1 clove of garlic
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 cup cremini mushrooms
- 1 jalapeño pepper
- 1- 15 oz can diced tomato
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 2.5 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1.5 tsp pink sea salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
Instructions
-
Start by prepping veggies; thinky dice onion, mince garlic, thinly dice red bell pepper, mushrooms, and jalapeño pepper. In a small bowl mix together all the spices; chili powder, paprika, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, pink sea salt, and black pepper.
-
Set Instant Pot on sautee setting. Drizzle olive oil and bring to a heat. Add diced onion and mince garlic and sautee for 2 minutes until onion starts to soften and become translucent.
-
Toss in the rest of the veggies; red bell pepper, mushrooms, and jalapeño pepper. Continue to sautee until veggies start to soften, about 3-5 minutes. While veggies soften, sprinkle spices over veggies and continue to sautee by tossing veggies and mixing with spices.
-
Add in ground beef using a spatula to help break it down into small pieces. Continue sauteeing until beef browns, about 5-7 minutes. Once beef is browned, stir in diced tomatoes making sure eveything is well combined.
-
Close Instant Pot lid and turn the steam release valve to the sealing position. Press “Pressure Cook” or “Manual” button and set cooking timer for 15 minutes. At this point, the Instant Pot will take some time to build up and reach pressure. The pot will beep and timer will then begin to countdown.
-
Once countdown finished, allow NPR for 10 minutes. Slowly and carefully turn valve to steam release to finish releasing pressure. Open lid and give beef a stir.
-
Serve immediatly with taco shells, burritos, over rice for burrito bowls, lettuce for taco salad, or any other preferred way.
Recipe Notes
Tips and Substitutions:
- Use the types of ground meat- Ground turkey and chicken are great for this recipe too!
- Use other veggies- Chop up some zucchini, carrots, celery, baby spinach etc. and add them to the meat for added nutrition.
- Make it in the crockpot- Don’t have an IP or just prefer to use the Crockpot? Brown the beef on a pan over the stovetop. Once it has browned, throw in the crockpot along with the rest of the ingredients plus 1 cup beef or vegetable broth. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 2-4 hours.
- Make more than tacos- Use this taco meat to make burritos, burrito bowls, taco salads, etc.
*Number of total servings in estimated. Actual number of servings may vary depending on your own personal preference in portion sizes.
**Nutritional values shown are general guidelines for 1 serving using the ingredients listed above. These numbers do not reflect and may vary depending on substitutions, additions and/or different brands and/or other ingredients that may be used.
**Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links and sponsored content. All the opinions are my own and I only recommend products I use in my own home with my own family.
