This Instant Pot taco soup is done in under 30 minutes and packed full of bold flavors like fire roasted corn, smoked paprika and cumin. It's easy, healthy and a great freezer meal!
Jump to:
Who doesn't love a simple, healthy dinner done in under 30 minutes?! That pretty much checks all the boxes for busy weeknights in our house, especially on taco tuesday. With school starting back and schedules getting crazy, we'll be making this Instant Pot taco soup recipe on repeat!
Why We Love Instant Pot Taco Soup
- The whole family will love this easy recipe. Tacos are always a crowd pleaser so why not serve it in soup form?
- It's the perfect recipe for the fall. It's healthy, comforting and cozy!
- Customize the toppings with whatever you're craving. The toppings are the best part so go heavy and add them all!
- It doesn't take much time to make. The Instant Pot is great for developing a lot of flavor quickly, which is why we love instant pot soups when we need a quick dinner.
Speaking of meals that check all the boxes, our Instant Pot Lasagna Soup is another go-to. Highly recommend!
Ingredient Notes
- Ground beef: we like to use a ground beef with a little more fat because it gives it so much flavor. Beef is an excellent source of high-quality protein, which is one of the most satisfying nutrients. Eating a protein-rich diet will help students feel full and prevent cravings throughout the day. In a 3-ounce serving of beef, students will get nutrients they may be lacking in – like protein, iron and zinc – which aid in brain development and cognition, all for less than 200 calories.
- Yellow onion: dice this small and saute it for a depth of flavor.
- Red bell pepper: adds flavor and extra veggies (your kids won't even know!).
- Tomato paste: this adds richness and helps thicken the soup.
- Canned tomatoes with chilis: this is essentially Rotel, but you can use diced tomatoes only if you don't like green chilis.
- Black beans: drain and rinse them well! They add a great texture to the dish and extra fiber.
- Fire roasted corn: I love the deep smoky flavor you get, but you can use sweet corn as well.
- Beef broth: compliments the ground beef well and helps turn this into a soup rather than a stew.
- Spices: chili powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, garlic (or garlic powder).
How to Make Instant Pot Taco Soup
- Saute: Set the Instant Pot to saute mode and saute the onion, red pepper and garlic in olive oil for 2-3 minutes. Add the ground beef and brown for 3-4 minutes, or until no pink remains.
- Pressure cook: Add the remaining ingredients then lock the lid into place and seal the vent. Set to Pressure Cook (manual cook) for 8 minutes. When the time is up, allow the soup to Naturally Release (do nothing) for 10 minutes, then Quick Release the pressure valve with the handle of a wooden spoon until the soup has vented all the way.
- Top and serve: Stir, taste for seasoning then serve warm with your favorite toppings.
How to Make it in the Slow Cooker
Slow cooker taco soup: Follow the steps to saute the meat and veggies over medium heat on the stove. Transfer to a slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-7 hours.
Prefer to Watch Instead of Read?
Our Favorite Taco Toppings
- Avocado slices
- Cilantro
- Red onion
- Tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips
- Cheddar cheese
- Sour cream
- Tomatoes
- Jalapeno
Side Dish Ideas
- A side salad, like this roasted chipotle sweet potato salad or cucumber tomato avocado salad.
- Cornbread or cornbread muffins
- A piece of crusty sourdough bread or soft sourdough rolls
- Chips and guacamole
- It's also great on it's own with tons of toppings!
Modifications
- Dairy-free: this recipe is naturally dairy-free. Just choose topping options above that are dairy-free!
- Another protein: ground turkey, ground chicken or chicken breast can all be used instead.
Storage and Freezer Instructions
Fridge: Allow the soup to cool completely then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.
To Freeze: Follow the steps to saute the meat and veggies (could do this over the stove) then allow it to cool and add the mixture to a plastic bag with the rest of the ingredients. Lay it flat in the freezer to freeze solid then stand it up to save space.
To cook/reheat: allow it to thaw overnight in the fridge then cook it on low in the slow cooker for 6-7 hours or on high pressure for 8 minutes with a 10 minute natural release.
Making a double batch and freezing it is such a great option as we head into the school year. You'll get two dinner with one effort. Freeze half and save it for a busy night when you're rushing kids around to practice!
This post is sponsored by the Ohio Beef Council. Thank you to brands like them who believe in me and my recipes so I can keep sharing free ones with all of you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a star rating ★ below. You can also tag me on Instagram so I can see it!
More instant pot dinners:
- Instant pot Mongolian beef
- Instant pot pot roast and potatoes
- Gluten free spaghetti in the Instant pot
- Healthy Instant pot beef stroganoff
Recipe
Instant Pot Taco Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 can tomato paste
- 1 (10 ounce) can tomatoes with green chiles (rotel)
- 1 (15 ounce) can black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 ounce) can fire roasted corn drained
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 3 cups beef broth
- Toppings: avocado, cilantro, tortilla chips, sour cream, red onion, cheese, tomatoes, jalapeno
Instructions
- Set the Instant Pot to saute mode and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pot. Allow it to heat until the oil is rippling then add the onion, red pepper and garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes. Add the ground beef and brown for 3-4 minutes, or until no pink remains.
- Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, fire roasted corn, black beans, spices and beef broth and stir to combine. Lock the lid into place and seal the vent. Set to Pressure Cook (manual cook) for 8 minutes. It will take a few minutes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure then it will start counting down. When the time is up, allow the soup to Naturally Release (do nothing) for 10 minutes, then Quick Release the pressure valve with the handle of a wooden spoon until the soup has vented all the way.
- Stir, taste for seasoning then serve warm with your favorite toppings.
Alyssa says
Love this soup and I love that there is barely any prep work to be done, especially if you buy pre chopped onions. I will definitely be making this again. One note - the instructions don’t mention anything about the tomato paste. I assumed I was supposed to add it with the tomatoes so that’s what I did and it turned out great.
Molly Thompson says
Thanks for taking the time to share, Alyssa!! Glad you love it! It's a weeknight staple around here.