Cheesy Instant Pot Taco Pasta Is the Comfort Food You’ve Been Looking For

Pasta and sauce are not hard to make on the stove. Most of the time, it’s one of the fastest and easiest meals to get on the table. But when you have a lot of homework to do, laundry to fold, or a small child begging for a story, using the Instant Pot is even easier. This Instant Pot taco pasta cooks in about 20 minutes, most of which is entirely hands-off, and it’s just the kind of hot, hearty, cheesy, carb-laden comfort food people tend to want in the middle of a sudden cold snap. 

Use the Instant Pot’s sauté function to cook diced onion in some olive oil with chopped bell peppers. Let them cook a few minutes, then add ground beef and brown it in the hot oil. 

Now we’re at the “pour everything in the Instant Pot and read a book until the timer goes off” part of the recipe. Stir in taco seasoning, salsa, uncooked pasta shells, and low-sodium beef broth. The pasta should all just be covered by the salsa and beef broth. You can always add a bit more broth if the level looks too shallow.

Pressure cook the contents on high for four minutes, then release the pressure, remove the lid, and stir in a cup of shredded cheese. You can use whatever kind of cheese you like best here. Cheddar and Monterey Jack are both great options, but mozzarella or American work too. Use whatever you like, as long as it’s cheesy and melts well. 

It’s ready to serve right away. You can top it with sour cream or a bit of fresh lime juice. The author even suggests eating it with tortilla chips. Either way, make sure you have enough for leftovers, because you’ll never regret having these sorts of leftovers in your refrigerator. 

Get the recipe: Instant Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta from Hip Foodie Mom

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