Instant Pot Taco Meat

By
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
An internationally recognized culinary authority, Kristina Vanni is well-known for her recipe development, food photography, and experience as a TV show host.
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Updated on 02/10/23
Instant Pot Taco Meat

Kristina Vanni
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 15 mins
Servings: 6 tacos
Yield: 1 pound
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
182 Calories
9g Fat
1g Carbs
22g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 182
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g 12%
Saturated Fat 4g 18%
Cholesterol 67mg 22%
Sodium 417mg 18%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 2%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 22g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 23mg 2%
Iron 3mg 15%
Potassium 380mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Forgot to defrost the ground beef before dinnertime? No problem. This recipe for Instant Pot taco meat can be your lifeline. Perfectly seasoned taco meat can go from the freezer to the dinner table in a matter of minutes. It is possible to put a completely frozen ground beef in the electric pressure cooker and it will defrost and cook in minutes.

For this recipe a quick homemade taco seasoning blend is made with chili powder, garlic powder, oregano, cumin, salt, and cayenne pepper. Beef broth is also added into the mix to help the ground beef cook in the pressure cooker. Once everything has been combined in the Instant Pot, it simply cooks at high pressure for 5 minutes. If you have fresh ground beef, it only needs to cook for 3 minutes.

Once you open the lid, don't be concerned because the mixture will be watery and the meat will still be pink. Now all you have to do is switch the pressure cooker to the sauté setting and stir until the meat is cooked through and the moisture cooks off.

That's it! Once the taco meat is done, you can fill taco shells or tortillas with all your favorite toppings. Taco Tuesday has never been easier!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup beef broth

  • 2 teaspoons chili powder

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1 teaspoon oregano

  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 1 pound fresh or frozen lean ground beef

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Instant Pot Taco Meat

    Kristina Vanni

  2. In the instant pot or electric pressure cooker, combine the beef broth, chili powder, garlic powder, oregano, cumin, salt, and cayenne pepper.

    Instant Pot Taco Meat

    Kristina Vanni

  3. Add the fresh or frozen ground beef.

    Instant Pot Taco Meat

    Kristina Vanni

  4. Lock the lid into place and set at High Pressure for 3 minutes for fresh ground beef and for 5 minutes for frozen ground beef. When the cook time ends, use the quick pressure release.

    Instant Pot Taco Meat

    Kristina Vanni

  5. Remove the lid and stir the ground beef mixture. At this point the ground beef will not be fully cooked and the mixture will appear watery.

    Instant Pot Taco Meat

    Kristina Vanni

  6. Set the instant pot or electric pressure cooker to the sauté setting and cook the rest of the way, stirring frequently, until the water evaporates and the beef is browned. This will take about 5 minutes more.

    Instant Pot Taco Meat

    Kristina Vanni

  7. Serve in tortillas or taco shells with all of your favorite taco toppings.

    Instant Pot Taco Meat

    Kristina Vanni

Can you put raw ground beef in instant pot?

Yes, both fresh and frozen ground beef can be prepared in the Instant Pot.

Can you cook taco meat frozen?

Yes, it is possible to cook frozen ground beef to make taco meat.

Do you drain meat before adding taco seasoning?

Depending on the fat content of your ground beef, sometimes it can be necessary to drain before adding taco seasoning.