Here is a really easy Instant Pot taco casserole recipe that is full of flavor and lots of cheese! Stir in a spoonful of sour cream for a creamy pressure cooker taco pasta made in just 10 minutes. Your whole family will surely love this flavorful dinner and it’s delicious the next day if you have leftovers.
I’m back with another one of my easy Instant Pot recipes! Once again I didn’t want to go to the store and thought about what I could make in my pressure cooker with things I already had in my fridge and pantry, thus this Instant Pot taco casserole was created! I honestly couldn’t believe how tasty it came out, especially since I made it on the fly but even my kids gave it 2 thumbs up!!
Before I added all the cheese and sour cream I scooped a portion out for my husband who needed a dairy free Instant Pot recipe. He even said without cheese (the best parts if you ask me) it was really flavorful.
If you love taco pasta you are going to love this 3 minute pressure cooker version for sure, it’s one of our favorite Instant Pot casseroles. 😉
On to this amazing Instant Pot taco casserole recipe!
This is one of our cheap Instant Pot recipes because you can make this Instant Pot taco casserole for about $15 or less and feeds 5-6 people!
You can choose any type of small pasta. If you like elbow macaroni noodles then use those, we chose rotini which are this fun spirally shape that the kids like.
Honestly I just used what was in the cupboard to make this Instant Pot taco casserole, love that.
At the end I put a dollop of sour cream on top but once I stirred it in I think it would be best to stir it in before serving, unless you don’t care for it.
Totally up to you but I like it creamy taco pasta style personally.
You only need a few ingredients to make this easy Instant Pot taco casserole
- Instant Pot – this is the 1 I have
- Ground beef – this is how to defrost Instant Pot frozen ground beef in case you forgot to thaw it out the night before. 😉
- Small noodles – we used rotini
- Cheese – I like Mexican blend already shredded version
- Diced tomatoes – I like petite tomatoes
- Tomato sauce
- Beef broth
- Onion
- 1 packet taco seasoning
If you don’t have a taco seasoning packet then just add (I didn’t have one and this is what I used)
- 1.5 tsp of:
- Lawry’s seasoning salt
- Garlic salt
- Chili powder
And in case you are starting with Instant Pot frozen ground beef, here’s how to thaw it out.
After you make this be sure to try some of our other Instant Pot recipes like these:
- Instant Pot sloppy joe casserole
- Cheesy chicken parmesan casserole
- I’d try this Instant Pot enchilada casserole next
- Holiday Instant Pot corn casserole recipe
- Our chicken taco bowls are great.
Here’s a video showing you how I make it:
Instant Pot Taco Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 onion diced
- 1.5 tsp seasoned salt I use Lawry's (if using 1 taco seasoning packet then skip these seasonings and just add that)
- 1.5 garlic salt
- 1-2 tsp chili powder depending on spice level
- 14.5 diced tomatoes petite diced is best
- 8 oz tomato sauce
- 1 3/4 c beef broth
- 2 c noodles small, we used rotini
- 1.5-2 c cheese Mexican blend shredded is best
- 1/2 c sour cream optional
Instructions
- Put your Instant Pot on saute and add your olive oil, ground beef, spices (or taco seasoning packet) and diced onions. Brown meat until pink is gone. Turn pressure cooker off. Can drain if you desire, or not.
- Pour in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and beef broth, do not stir.
- Pour in uncooked noodles and gently press down so they are submerged into the liquid, do not stir.
- Put lid on Instant Pot and close steam valve.
- Set to pressure high for 3 minutes.
- Do a quick release.
- Sprinkle 1.5 c cheese on top and put lid back on to warm cheese and allow to melt for at least 5 minutes, 10 is better to allow sauce to thicken as well.
- Serve with a dollop of sour cream on top or put 1/2 c. sour cream into pot and stir for a creamy taco casserole style meal! Will thicken more upon standing.
Video
J says
We just need ingredients and instructions. Not your life story. Good meal though
Tara says
My daughter is gluten-free. Can you use gluten-free pasta in the instant pot?
Linda Carole says
Can this taco casserole be made in 3q mini.
The Typical Mom says
You would need to cut the recipe in half
Matt says
Made this recipe using canned Italian stewed tomatoes “the kind with garlic/basil/oregano” instead of diced and used meat ragu for tomato sauce … still used the sour cream and Mexican blend cheese but went more Italian in flavor and turned out amazing
Chuck R. says
Great recipe. Crushed some Fritos over it for a little crunch like a taco.
Brian says
Added half a cup of diced jalapeños to give it a little more spice. Very good. Thanks.
Jess says
Can you freeze once cooked?
The Typical Mom says
I haven’t done that yet but imagine it might freeze well
Dale says
really good and easy to make. thanks for sharing
The Typical Mom says
Glad you loved it.
Andrea says
Thinking of trying this substituting the pasta with cauliflower rice for a low carb version.
The Typical Mom says
Lemme know how it works, think it may need shorter cook time.
Allison says
The perfect quick and easy meal! We’ll be making this again and again. Thank you for sharing!
The Typical Mom says
Glad you loved it
Jessica says
This was just the type of meal I love for busy weeknights. Family loved it!
Clara says
Can you make this without the tomato sauce?
The Typical Mom says
If you substituted with beef broth it would just not be nearly as thick or rich.
Lara Schesser says
Oh my goodness! I made this for the first time last night, and it was AMAZING! Everyone loved it, and it’s definitely at the top of our favorite recipes now. I got my Instant Pot for Christmas and it’s seriously changing how I cook. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe!
The Typical Mom says
So glad y’all loved it too, it’s a fave here.
Cori says
So awesome. Thank you! I have two teenagers and it’s almost impossible to find recipes that both of them love. They both came back for more. Stirring the sour cream in before serving was a great touch. Really made it creamy.
The Typical Mom says
Yeah!!! So glad it was a hit.
Denise says
Great recipe!
Stefanie says
I forgot I wanted to add black beans, would I need to add cooking time and more liquid?
Thanks!
Ashley says
Is the calories estimated with the cheese and sour cream added?
The Typical Mom says
Recipe card calculates it with everything that is listed in box.
Erika says
I can’t do diced tomatoes (don’t ask me…I can do sauce but chunks give me allergy type reaction)…can I omit or add taco sauce? When I make taco pasta regularly I use taco sauce instead of just tomato sauce
The Typical Mom says
You could try that or tomato sauce, there may just be a difference in flavors.
Josey says
Turned out great will make again.
Candace says
I have an 8 quart, made it as the recipe states and the pasta was still 1/2 cooked. I brought it back up to high pressure, but was scared to burn the bottom (which I did) and the pasta was still under cooked. I don’t understand what went wrong.
The Typical Mom says
I have never had that at all with this or any other IP casserole I have made. Make sure steam valve is completely sealed before starting and deglaze after cooking meat. Either of those could have been the issue.
Amy says
Can this recipe be doubled or should I just make it twice?
The Typical Mom says
I have a 6 qt. and it would be too much to double, maybe if you had a 10 qt??
Cori says
I made an extra 2 cups of pasta on the stove just in case …I ended up adding it to the finished product and it was great. There was more than enough sauce to accommodate the extra pasta.
The Typical Mom says
Glad you loved it.
Melissa says
It was a quick and delicious dinner last night! I used taco seasoning and the Mexican style diced tomatoes because that is what I had on hand. That gave it a nice spicy little kick.
Margie says
Your taco casserole recipe sounds so good.. I was wondering if you could use rice instead of pasta..My husband is not a fan of pasta… if so how much longer would I Have to cook it.. Sorry I am new to Instant pot … Thanks so much for all your recipes… YOU are a great help..
The Typical Mom says
I haven’t done that though there is a stuffed pepper casserole I have for the IP he might like. https://temeculablogs.com/instant-pot-stuffed-pepper-casserole/
Jessica says
I had the same thought! I might try it this week and see!
Cynthia Johnson says
I made this tonight after work. My grand girls like to help. Even my picky 3 1/2 yo.gobbled it up.! I used taco seasoning and I used 1 1/2 lbs of ground beef (I’m a meat hog lol) mmwith 1 1/2 pkgs of taco seasoning and used fire roasted garlic diced tomatoes for the diced tomatoes. Thanks for a yummy, quick and easy dinner!
Judy Bee says
Why don’t you try Orzo pasta? He’d never know the difference!