Quick & Easy Instant Pot Taco Soup: Your Healthy Ground Beef & Bean Weeknight Hero
Transform your dinner routine with this incredibly flavorful and surprisingly simple Instant Pot Taco Soup. Bursting with your favorite Tex-Mex flavors, this hearty soup combines protein-rich ground beef, a trio of wholesome beans, sweet corn, diced tomatoes, and a robust blend of warm spices. It’s a complete meal that comes together in a flash, making it an ideal choice for busy weeknights when you crave something nutritious, satisfying, and utterly delicious.
The Magic of the Instant Pot for Taco Soup
Pressure cookers, like the ever-popular Instant Pot, are game-changers in the kitchen, especially when time is of the essence. Last year, I embraced the Instant Pot revolution, and there’s no turning back! After experimenting with a few recipes, including my Instant Pot Lebanese Green Beans, I quickly grew comfortable with its efficiency and versatility.
Using an Instant Pot for dishes like this Instant Pot Taco Soup simplifies the cooking process immensely, dramatically reducing both preparation and cleanup time. It’s the perfect solution for those hectic evenings when you need a delicious, homemade meal on the table without spending hours in the kitchen.
If you’re a fan of a hearty chili, you are absolutely going to adore this Instant Pot Beef Taco Soup. It’s packed with all your favorite Tex-Mex ingredients, delivering a comforting and satisfying experience in every spoonful. For more comforting soup ideas, you might also enjoy our Cabbage Roll Soup, Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup, Instant Pot Turkey Chili, or this delightful Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken Lime Soup.
Why This Instant Pot Taco Soup is a Family Favorite
One of my primary goals when planning weekly meals for my family is to ensure they receive a good balance of vegetables and protein. This Instant Pot Taco Soup hits all the right notes! It’s generously loaded with juicy, flavorful ground beef and three different kinds of beans, ensuring a substantial protein boost that keeps everyone feeling full and energized.
Ground beef is my go-to choice for family meals because it’s incredibly versatile, cooks quickly, and is an affordable protein source. This recipe also incorporates a vibrant array of vegetables, including naturally sweet corn and robust diced tomatoes, adding both flavor and essential nutrients to every bite.
Customize Your Bowl: Delicious Topping Ideas
Once your Instant Pot Taco Soup is ready, the fun truly begins with an array of vibrant and flavorful toppings! These additions not only enhance the taste but also add beautiful color and texture to your meal. Consider garnishing your bowls with any of these delicious options:
- Diced Red Onion: For a sharp, fresh bite.
- Chopped Avocado: Creamy and rich, adding healthy fats.
- Shredded Cheese: A classic melted topping for ultimate comfort.
- Fresh Cilantro: Bright and herbaceous, a staple in Tex-Mex cuisine.
- Crushed Tortilla Chips or Corn Chips: For a satisfying crunch.
- Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt: To add a cool, tangy contrast.
- Sliced Jalapeños: Fresh or pickled, for an extra kick of spice.
- Lime Wedges: A squeeze of fresh lime juice can brighten the entire dish.
Experiment with different combinations to find your perfect taco soup experience!
Smart Tips for Feeding Your Family Economically and Healthily
As many of us settle back into the rhythm of the school year, easy, filling, and healthy meals become a top priority. I’m proud to partner with the Ohio Beef Council to help you prepare protein-rich meals for your family and highlight how ground beef can be an economical and healthy choice for your household.
In my house, with five hungry mouths to feed, I’m constantly searching for meals that are both nutritious and budget-friendly. Here are a couple of practical tips I rely on to get those delicious family meals on the table:
Firstly, always look for opportunities to save money on beef by purchasing family-sized packs at the grocery store. These larger packages often offer a better value per pound and provide a variety of cuts that can be used for different meals throughout the week, including favorites like Ribeye, Flat Iron steaks, and Kabobs. You can learn even more ways to save when buying beef directly from experts.
Secondly, leverage your Instant Pot to its full potential! You simply can’t beat the convenience and easy cleanup that comes from cooking an entire meal in one pot. If you’re like me and need to get dinner on the table in record time, your Instant Pot can quickly become your best friend and a secret weapon for stress-free meal preparation.
Instant Pot Power Tip: Cooking Frozen Beef
Did you know you can safely cook frozen beef directly in an Instant Pot without the need for thawing? This feature is a lifesaver on days when you forget to pull meat from the freezer!
For even quicker cooking, a smart trick is to chop larger, thicker pieces of beef into smaller, uniform chunks before freezing. These smaller pieces will not only fit more easily into your Instant Pot but will also cook significantly faster, helping you shave precious minutes off dinner time without compromising on flavor or safety.
The Nutritional Power of Beef
You might recall a few months ago when I had the incredible opportunity to travel with the Ohio Beef Council to Denver. During that trip, I gained a wealth of knowledge about beef production and spent valuable time with dedicated cattle ranchers. One fascinating fact that truly resonated with me is that a mere 3-ounce serving of beef—roughly the size of an iPhone—delivers over 10 essential nutrients and a remarkable 25 grams of protein, all for less than 150 calories. That’s an impressive nutritional punch!
Another key takeaway from my Denver experience was understanding that lean beef is a vital component of a healthy diet for children and adults alike. Research consistently shows that incorporating lean beef daily can contribute to lowering cholesterol levels, supporting overall cardiovascular health.
For families with student athletes or generally active children, beef stands out as an excellent dietary choice. The high-quality protein found in beef is crucial for building and repairing muscles, fostering strong bodies, and ensuring that exercise is more effective when paired with a robust protein intake. I’ve personally observed that when my kids consume protein-rich meals, they aren’t immediately asking for snacks afterward. This is because protein is one of the most satisfying nutrients, effectively curbing hunger and helping to control snacking throughout the day.
Beyond physical benefits, protein also plays a significant role in cognitive function, helping children stay focused and alert during the school day. Furthermore, the B vitamins abundantly present in beef provide students with sustained energy, empowering them to perform at their very best, both academically and physically.
Selecting and Storing Ground Beef
Ground beef truly is a dependable ingredient when you need to feed a hungry family quickly and efficiently. When you’re at the grocery store, aim to select ground beef that exhibits a bright, cherry-red color, is firm to the touch, and shows no excessive liquid in the packaging – these are indicators of freshness and quality.
For optimal freshness, store ground beef in your refrigerator for 1-2 days. If you’re not planning to use it immediately, it can be safely stored in the freezer for up to 4 months, making it a fantastic ingredient to keep on hand for impromptu meals like this taco soup.
In addition to my enlightening trip to Denver, Colorado, I’ve also had the privilege of visiting beef farmers right here in Ohio with the Ohio Beef Council. These experiences have deepened my appreciation for the care and dedication that goes into bringing high-quality beef to our tables.
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Instant Pot Taco Soup
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Ingredients
For the soup
- 1 pound ground beef {I like to use 80/20}
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1/2 of a red bell pepper,, seeds removed, diced
- 1 – 15 ounce can of black beans,, drained and rinsed
- 1 – 15 ounce can of kidney beans,, drained and rinsed
- 1 – 15 ounce can of pinto beans,, drained and rinsed
- 1 – 15 ounce can of sweet corn,, drained and rinsed
- 1 – 15 ounce can of diced tomatoes
- 1 – 8 ounce can of tomato sauce
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 Tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Soup toppings
- Shredded cheese
- Sour cream
- Cilantro
- Avocado
- Jalapeños
- Lime Wedges
- Crushed chips or corn chips
Instructions
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Set your Instant Pot or your pressure cooker to sauté. Add the ground beef, garlic and onion and cook until browned, stirring while it cooks. Once it is cooked add the remaining ingredients to the pot and give it a good stir.
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Cover and seal the lid. Change the Instant Pot to MANUAL HIGH pressure and set the time to 5 minutes {remember your Instant Pot takes time to come to pressure before starting the 5 minutes}.
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Once your pot is depressurized, remove the lid carefully {open away from your body} using a towel or kitchen mitt to grasp the lid.
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Stir everything together again and taste, adjusting seasoning to your liking.
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Serve the taco soup in soup bowls and top with your desired toppings. I like to serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, diced tomatoes, avocado, red onion, cilantro and chips.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Today’s post is sponsored by the Ohio Beef Council. As always, opinions are 100% my own.