Instant Pot Taco Soup

The Instant Pot Taco soup is one of the most popular recipes on Corrie Cooks and one of the easiest soups you can make.

This is one of those cozy and comforting soups we all need when the weather outside is just dull and awful.

You will fall in love with the flavor and the richness of the soup. The soup is bursting with flavor and it is loaded with protein coming from the ground beef and beans.

Why This Recipe Works

This recipe could not be easier to prepare. Many of the recipes on the site are made quicker and easier by using the Instant Pot but still require peeling and chopping ingredients. But not this one!

This recipe happens to use quantities that are commonly sold. For example, you’ll use whole cans of ready to eat ingredients like crushed tomatoes, chopped chilies, and red beans. So there’s no need to chop or measure, just dump the can right into the pot!

And ground beef is often sold in 1 lb. packages too. If it’s a little bit over or under 1 lb., no worries, just add the whole thing anyway and it will still turn out great. It’s so satisfying to use up all the ingredients without having leftovers you don’t know what to do with. It also helps a lot with clean up not to have to use measuring cups, cuttings board and knife, etc.

Recipe Ingredients

Olive oil – you can also substitute vegetable oil or any neutral oil.

Ground beef – I use 85% lean, but you can use a leaner grind if you’re trying to cut down on fat.

Taco seasoning mix – usually a blend of primarily chili powder, with some other flavors like garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, cumin, paprika, and sometimes salt and/or sugar. If you don’t have any, you can substitute a similar chili powder blend or make your own spice blend using these ingredients based on your liking.

Beef stock – you can also substitute chicken stock.

Red beans – for this Instant Pot taco soup recipe I used red beans, but you can use garbanzo beans, black or brown beans, or any kind you have.

Chopped chilies – these usually come in a small 4 or 5 oz. can and can range from mild to spicy.

Crushed tomatoes – try to get the unflavored, unsalted variety, so you can control the seasoning.

How To Make Taco Soup

First, gather your ingredients:

Cook the beef in Instant Pot on Saute mode, with some oil, until browned.

Add spices and chili peppers. Stir well.

Add stock and 1 can of crushed tomatoes.  Lock the lid in place, and select High-Pressure. Cook for 7 minutes.

Then, do a quick pressure release.

Stir gently and add red beans. Simmer on Saute for 6 more minutes.

Serve warm.

Recipe Notes

• For maximum flavor, try sautéing the ground beef until nice and brown. Then when you add the chilies and tomatoes, scrape the bottom of the pot to “deglaze” the pot. Meaning, you want to add all the stuck-on brown bits back into the soup to add more flavor!

How to Serve Taco Soup

Serve this Instant Pot Taco Soup recipe with a big dollop of sour cream on top just to balance out the heat from the canned chilies. Sliced avocado and grated Mexican cheese also helps with combating spiciness and adds beautiful color and creaminess to the dish!

If you’re looking for another way to add color and freshness, try garnishing the soup with fresh herbs like cilantro.

Another excellent garnish for this dish is fried tortilla strips to stay with the taco theme and add a little bit of crunch. Or, make it more like a burrito and serve it over a bed of rice!

If you are into tacos, check out this Instant Pot taco pasta or this Instant Pot chicken tacos recipe.

Need more ideas? Check out What to Serve With Taco Soup for 20 delicious recipes.

FAQs

Can I replace the beef?

Yes! The beef is not mandatory and if you want, you can try making the soup with pork, chorizo, or any other spicy pork sausage.

Whatever you choose you just can't go wrong as this soup is just perfect!

Can I double the recipe?

Absolutely! You can easily double this recipe if you have a large Instant Pot. The cooking time will stay the same, it will just take a little longer to come to pressure.

It’s a great idea to double this recipe because it freezes well too! So if you have extra, you can freeze some of it and save it for a rainy day.

More Instant Pot Soup Recipes

Looking for more soup recipes? There are lots of delicious and nutritious soup recipes on Corrie Cooks for you to check out next:

Instant Pot Menudo (spicy Mexican soup)

Instant Pot Vegetable Soup

Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup

Instant Pot Tomato Soup

Instant Pot Hamburger Soup