This post may contain references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Oh Sweet Basil may receive compensation when you click on links to such products.
This Instant Pot Taco Soup is a quick and easy weeknight dinner packed with bold Mexican flavors. Loaded with beef, beans, corn, and spices, it’s perfect topped with cheese, sour cream, and avocado for a hearty, family-friendly meal.

Table of Contents
- The Best Taco Soup Recipe
- Instant Pot Taco Soup Ingredients
- How to Make Taco Soup in an Instant Pot
- What to Top Instant Pot Taco Soup With
- Can I Make Taco Soup in a Slow Cooker?
- Freezing and Reheating Instant Pot Taco Soup
- Other Comforting Recipes You’ll Love
- How to Make Instant Pot Taco Soup
- Instant Pot Taco Soup Recipe
The Best Taco Soup Recipe
One of my favorite memories as a mom is of our daughters coming home on a chilly late fall afternoon, while our son, still just a toddler, stood at the window waiting for them. The moment they passed the big bush in our yard and came into view, he would light up with pure excitement, bouncing with joy until they walked through the door. That year felt like the happiest season for our little family. The girls would scoop him up in hugs, and that night we all gathered around the table with steaming bowls of taco soup topped with crunchy chips.
It’s funny how the simplest, most ordinary days become the ones we treasure most. There’s something about a pot of soup on the stove that feels grounding and safe. I honestly think every family should make soup at least once a month during the school year! Kids go through so much, and soup has a way of bringing comfort, warmth, and calm to the whole house.

Instant Pot Taco Soup Ingredients
This hearty taco soup is loaded with beef, beans, corn, and bold taco flavors. It’s quick to make and perfect for weeknight dinners or game-day gatherings.
- Olive Oil: Adds richness and helps brown the beef and onions.
- Ground Beef: Provides hearty, savory flavor as the base of the soup. Can swap for ground chicken or ground turkey.
- Onion: Adds sweetness and depth to the broth.
- Corn: Brings a touch of natural sweetness and texture.
- Pinto Beans: Adds protein, fiber, and heartiness. Can swap for black beans or kidney beans.
- Rotel Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies: Adds a mild kick and bright tomato flavor.
- Diced Tomatoes: Provides a rich, savory tomato base for the soup.
- Dry Ranch Seasoning Mix: Adds creamy, tangy flavor for extra depth.
- Taco Seasoning: Gives the soup classic taco spices and a flavorful punch.
- Beef Broth: Creates a savory, flavorful liquid base for the soup. Swap with chicken broth in a pinch.
Serve it with your favorite toppings and enjoy a warm, comforting bowl that’s sure to become a family favorite.
Note: This recipe calls for dry ranch seasoning, not ranch dressing. Ranch seasoning usually comes in small packets and can be found in the spice aisle.

How to Make Taco Soup in an Instant Pot
This easy taco soup is packed with bold flavors and ready in no time using your Instant Pot or slow cooker.
- Sauté: Heat olive oil in the Instant Pot or a pan. Cook ground beef and chopped onion until browned.
- Drain: Remove excess fat from the meat and onions.
- Combine: Add corn, pinto beans, Rotel, diced tomatoes, ranch seasoning, and taco seasoning. Stir to mix.
- Add Broth: Pour in beef broth and stir until everything is well combined.
- Cook:
- Instant Pot: Seal and cook on “Soup” for 20 minutes, then quick release.
- Slow Cooker: Cook on low for 5–6 hours or high for 4 hours.
- Serve: Top with shredded cheese, avocado, sour cream, and Fritos as desired.
Ladle it into bowls and top with your favorite taco fixings for a hearty, satisfying meal everyone will love.

What to Top Instant Pot Taco Soup With
You can top your taco soup with anything you’d normally add to a taco. Some of our favorites include shredded cheese, sour cream or Greek yogurt, Fritos, pickled jalapeños, avocado, diced tomato, chopped onion, hot sauce, and green chiles. For extra freshness, add a squeeze of lime juice right before serving. You can also serve it with warm tortillas or tortilla chips!
Kick up the heat with chili powder, a splash of hot sauce, or fresh peppers like jalapeño.
Can I Make Taco Soup in a Slow Cooker?
Absolutely! To make this easy taco soup in a slow cooker, you’ll need to brown the meat and onions in a skillet before transferring the mixture to a slow cooker. Dump in the rest of the ingredients, then let the taco soup cook on low for 5 to 6 hours.

Freezing and Reheating Instant Pot Taco Soup
Instant Pot Taco Soup freezes beautifully, making it perfect for meal prep or saving leftovers. Let the soup cool to room temperature, then store it in freezer-safe bags or jars. When you’re ready to enjoy it, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat on the stove or in the microwave until warmed through. The flavors stay just as vibrant, so it tastes fresh and delicious every time.
Tips for Making Instant Pot Taco Soup

Factor in pressure time: Remember the Instant Pot needs time to build and release pressure, which can add a few extra minutes to cooking.
Customize ingredients: Swap beans, omit corn, or adjust other ingredients to fit your taste and what you have on hand.
Add spice carefully: If you like it spicy, add a dash of hot sauce to the pot or just to your bowl. Start small—a little goes a long way.
Extra guidance: Check out our Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Cheat Sheet for tips on cooking all the basics in your Instant Pot.

This Instant Pot Taco Soup is hearty, flavorful, and easy to customize, making it the perfect weeknight meal. Top it with your favorite taco fixings and enjoy a warm, comforting bowl your whole family will love.
Other Comforting Recipes You’ll Love
- Easy Biscuit Chicken Pot Pie
- Southern Macaroni and Cheese
- Best Chili Recipe
- Ham and Potato Corn Chowder
- Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast





Can I use chicken instead of beef?
Absolutely!!
This recipe is so tasty! I am making it for a potluck at work tomorrow!
Yum! It is always a hit in our house! How did it go over at work??
What’s the calorie count?
Shoot! We are on it! Thank you for lettings us know the nutritional information is missing!
About to make this for the super bowl but not sure about can sizes for all items?
Hey Kim! I just updated the recipe to include the can sizes. Enjoy! 🙂
I would love to make this, however I’m wondering if I could possibly purée the tomatoes so they aren’t in chunks?? My kids don’t really care for chunky bits of tomato. Do you think it would change he outcome of the recipe too much?
Oh absolutely! That would work great! You can even leave them out if you prefer. 🙂
WHat size of canned tomatoes do you use
This was wonderful, thank you! However, the total time is NOT 30 minutes. Why do recipes not include at least an estimated time for the pressure to build? The pressure on this took a solid 20 minutes to build up, making total time 50 minutes. Just fyi for future recipes you post. New instant pot owners struggle with this! 😊
Thanks for the note Kate. I wonder why ours doesn’t take that long to build pressure? Ours starts and is done in almost half the time. I’ll make a note in case there’s a difference in pots I wasn’t aware of. Thank you so much for pointing that out!
Same with me! Started wishing I had just thrown it in the crock pot earlier. 😉 I’ll know for next time and allow more time to build the pressure.
Oh dear! What model do you have?
So you don’t drain the grease from browning the hamburger meat?
If there’s a lot to be drained then you can do that.
Do you drain your beans and corn? Thx!
It will work either way. 🙂
hey girl- this soup looks amazing!