Taco Pasta

My search for recipes for the Instant Pot has been frustrating, I guess it's not made for cooking for two.  Even the Mini, which is 3 quarts, doesn't have much... it's a good rice cooker, though.

I stumbled across this recipe for four, someday I will cut in half and try it again.***

My free advice follows the recipe:

Taco Pasta in the Instant Pot

Ingredients

    1 pound ground beef , lean
    1-2 teaspoon(s) taco seasoning*
    8 oz tomato sauce**
    2 cups beef broth
    8 oz (dry weight) small pasta (medium shells or radiatore)
    1.5 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, Mexican blend or cheddar jack)


Set Instant Pot to saute. When hot, add meat.  Break it up as it browns.


Once ground beef is browned, stir in taco seasoning, tomato sauce, beef broth and then pasta.  Be sure the pasta is completely covered.

Cover and seal lid. Change setting to manual/pressure cook and cook on high pressure for half the time needed to cook the pasta, according to the pasta package.  For this radiatore, I cooked it 5 minutes.

Do a quick release.

Open the pot and taste it... add salt if needed.

It gets better looking...

Stir in cheese until melted.

Serve with sour cream, or whatever floats your boat.

*  If you want it spicier, add more. 1 tsp. was about Taco Bell level of spice. 
**  2 tablespoons tomato paste mixed into enough water to make 1 cup is a decent substitute.

Now... for the FREE ADVICE

This makes a lot... four hearty servings, and it was nasty when reheated, sticky icky because of the cheese.  I suggest stirring cheese into it after you've put it into your bowl, then when you refrigerate the rest, it won't glue itself together.

Be sure to get lean ground beef, or you'll have grease in the bottom and that's icky.

The best way to do a quick release on the Instant Pot is to whack the knob (gently of course) with something long, like wooden tongs, so the first burst of steam doesn't burn your hand.

*** Good news, it works for half the amount! Makes two servings.

1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 - 1 teaspoon(s) taco seasoning*
4 oz tomato sauce**
1 cup beef broth
4 oz small pasta (medium shells or radiatore)
 3/4 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, Mexican blend or cheddar jack)

Same directions as above.  Cooking time is determined by the type of pasta used.  Pasta is always half the time the package calls for, and always quick release.