Make Pressure-cooker Taco Meat quickly from frozen ground beef or turkey thanks to this Pressure-cooker recipe. Perfect for taco night or any busy weeknight dinner!
We've all been there. You plan on making tacos for dinner but when evening rolls around, you realize you haven't defrosted the ground meat.
Enter the Pressure-cooker electric pressure cooker.
❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- Not only will it defrost your ground beef or turkey, it will also cook it — all in simply 30 minutes.
- If you make a large batch, you can use it in all sorts of different ways, including dishes like Taco Pizza, Taco Pasta, Taco Mac and Cheese, and taco salads.
- The versatility truly helps you stretch your dollar when grocery shopping.
💡 Get more meal prep tips with the Costco Meal Plan and Grocery List as well as the ideas for a Well Stocked Pantry. We also include helpful shelf-life guidelines to maximize your pantry goods.
👩🏻🍳 Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this simple recipe.
Ground turkey – We almost always use ground turkey. However, you can use lean ground beef, ground pork, or even ground chicken.
Taco seasoning – We like to have this pre-made taco seasoning mix on-hand. But you can use your own homemade taco seasoning, too.
Water – to help cook the meat in the Pressure-cooker.
✅ Step-by-step directions
Total cooking time is simply around 30 minutes to make this flavorful taco meat.
Exact measurements of ingredients and instructions are in the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this post. Here are some helpful tips to guide you as you make this recipe.
1. Place the trivet that came with your Pressure-cooker inside the inner pot. Pour 1/2 cup of water into the pot; reserve the rest of the water for later.
2. Then place the frozen meat on top of the trivet.
3. Close and seal the lid. Set your Pressure-cooker to Pressure Cook on High for 25 minutes. It will take anywhere from 9 to 15 minutes for your Pressure-cooker to come to pressure before it starts counting down.
4. When the cook cycle is done, allow 10 minutes for natural release, then do a quick release. Once all of the pressure has been safely released and the valve pin has gone down, carefully open the lid.
5. Remove the trivet. Press the SAUTE function and add the remaining water and the taco seasoning. Stir until combined, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon and evenly coating the meat with the seasoning.
6. Use the cooked meat to make hard or soft tacos with your favorite toppings like sour cream, cilantro, or hot sauce. Or use it in other taco-meat dishes.
⭐️ Recipe FAQs
It takes longer for the Pressure-cooker to come to pressure with frozen meat, as it requires more heating time. Using a meat thermometer is a great way to check the internal temperature of the meat to make sure it's done. Ground beef and ground turkey should be at 165°F when done.
Can We use broth instead of water to cook the taco meat?Yes, you can use chicken or beef broth if you prefer. This will impart the meat with the broth flavors which may clash with whatever taco seasoning you use. So We use water instead.
How do you store leftover taco meat?Store your leftover taco meat in an airtight container in the fridge. It will keep for 3-4 days. If you need to save it for longer, place it in a freezer-safe airtight container or freezer bag and date it. Taco meat will stay good for up to 4 months in the freezer.
Kitchen equipment
Of course, you'll need an Pressure-cooker for this recipe. This 8-quart model is the Pressure-cooker We have and love. You can also use a 6-quart for this recipe, but anything smaller will likely not work.
More taco recipes
- What to Do with Leftover Taco Meat
- Air Fryer Meatloaf
Tri-Pepper Turkey Pasta- Dutch Oven Chili with Turkey, Farro, and Stout
Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you truly loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
Pressure-cooker Taco Meat
By Marlynn Schotland Prep Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 25 mins Total Time: 30 mins Servings: 4 Cook frozen taco meat in the Pressure-cooker, and have enough meat for plenty of meals!Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey meat or ground beef
- 1 cup water, divided
- 1/4 cup taco seasoning
Instructions
- Pour 1/2 cup of water into the instant pot liner. Add trivet and place frozen meat on top of trivet.
- Close and seal lid. Pressure Cook (or Manual) on HIGH for 25 minutes. Allow for Natural Release for 10 minutes, then do a Quick Release for the remaining time. Once the pressure is completely released and the valve pin is down, press CANCEL.
- Carefully open the lid. Remove the trivet. Press SAUTE and add the remaining water and the taco seasoning. Stir until combined, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon.
Notes
Cooked ground meat will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. You can freeze in a freezer safe container for 3-4 months.Nutrition
Calories: 155 kcal, Carbohydrates: 8 g, Protein: 27 g, Fat: 2 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g, Trans Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 62 mg, Sodium: 1254 mg, Potassium: 335 mg, Fiber: 3 g, Sugar: 3 g, Vitamin A: 1415 IU, Vitamin C: 7 mg, Calcium: 5 mg, Iron: 2 mgNutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.