Best Instant Pot Taco Meat (Ground Beef Tacos)

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Instant pot taco meat is the easiest way to have taco night any time! This fast and flavorful recipe can easily be doubled with the same quick cook time.

We love taco night around here! We eat it in all different forms, including instant pot salsa chicken tacos, crockpot beef tacos, taco stuffed shells, Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas and instant pot taco casserole. My son’s all-time favorite tacos are ground beef tacos in crunchy taco shells. 

He had been asking to have them for weeks, so I finally made some for him the other night. I had been meaning to post a tutorial on making taco meat in the instant pot for some time, so I finally got around to taking some pictures.

Taco meat disappears quickly around here but I made it happen. So do cheeseburger sliders and spicy meatloaf.

Why make instant pot taco meat?

I love making taco meat in my pressure cooker for a couple of reasons. It’s not necessarily faster, but it is more hands-off. As a busy mom of three kiddos 7 and under, I can use all of the extra time I can get.

You may also like: Instant Pot Roast Beef

I love that I can make a big batch of taco meat, divide it up, and freeze the extra for future meals. That makes the ground beef taco request much easier. Plus we use taco meat for so many other things – like these amazing freezer burritos. 

I also love making taco meat in the instant pot because it tastes so good. The meat comes out extra juicy and the addition of mild diced green chilies just makes it better. I use my very favorite taco seasoning in this recipe. McCormick’s premium taco seasoning. 

I buy it in bulk at Costco and sprinkle it on all kinds of things. We also like the Trader Joe’s taco seasoning packets, but it is much more spicy. If you want to make your own, I recommend this homemade taco seasoning recipe from Good Cheap Eats. 

–>Sign up for our newsletter<–

How to make instant pot taco meat?

1. Press the sauté button on your instant pot.
2. Add olive oil, chopped onion, and ground beef.
3. Mix until mostly browned, about 5 minutes.
4. Drain the fat.
5. Pour in beef broth and deglaze the bottom of the pot.
6. Mix in taco seasoning and diced green chilies.
7. Pressure cook for 8 minutes.
8. Let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes.
9. Release the remaining pressure, remove the lid, and serve. 
10. There will still be some liquid visible in the pot. It will continue to absorb into the taco beef as it cools.

How do you reheat taco meat in the instant pot?

If you want to reheat the taco meat on another day, simply add it into your pot and press the sauté button. Add 1-2 tablespoons of water or broth and stir until heated through. 

How do you brown ground beef in an instant pot?

Browning ground beef in the instant pot is really is! It is one of the reasons why I love my instant pot. The handy sauté function makes it a breeze to brown ground beef before pressure cooking and it only dirties one pot!

1. To brown ground beef in your instant pot, remove the lid and press the sauté button.
2. If also browning and onion, add a little bit of oil. Add your grown beef to the instant pot and break it apart with a wooden spoon as it browns.
3. It takes approximately 5-7 minutes to brown ground beef in the instant pot.
4. Once finished, just drain the fat from the pot and use the ground beef as directed in your recipe.

Join our instant pot recipe sharing group on Facebook.

Can I cook frozen ground beef in my Instant pot?

Yes, if you want to use frozen ground beef, you can quickly defrost it before making instant pot taco meat. It does take a little more time if you plan on using frozen meat, but it is still doable on a busy weeknight because it is mainly hands-off.

Place 1 cup water in the instant pot. Place the frozen ground beef on a trivet inside the instant pot. Cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. Natural pressure release for at least 10 minutes. And then follow the recipe as described. 

Can I double this recipe?

Yes, you can double this recipe. The cook time stays the same. Just make sure you don’t go past the max fill line inside of your instant pot.

Can I freeze instant pot taco meat?

Yes. Taco meat freezes very well. It’s important to let your taco beef fully cool before freezing. Freeze it an air-tight container with label and date. Freeze up to 3 months.

What to serve with instant pot taco meat?

As mentioned above, we love serving them in a simple crispy taco shell with cheese, sour cream, tomato, and lettuce. I love a simple side of refried beans and Spanish rice with these tacos. A lot of times, we just eat the tacos on their own without any other sides.

Save this recipe for later on Pinterest.

Did you try this recipe for instant pot taco meat? Let us know what you thought with a rating and comment.