Instant Pot Taco Soup
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning that at no additional cost to you, I will receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Read my full affiliate disclosure here.
Happy Fall, Y’all!! I know the Autumnal Equinox isn’t for another couple of weeks, but in my house Fall begins the day after Labor Day! My Fall decorations go out on my mantle and my Autumn Wreath goes on my front door! Never mind the fact that it has still been in the upper 90s outside this week!
I absolutely love living in a part of the United States that experiences all 4 seasons, but since I have progressively moved farther and farther south Fall has become a little less crisp. I grew up in Northern Virginia in the metro area of Washington D.C. We could see the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance from the town I grew up in and Fall was one of my favorite times of the year! My family and I would go “Leaf Peeping” (I didn’t know this was an actual term until I was well into my adult life!) and pick apples in the mountains. Is there anything better than biting into a fresh apple you just picked right off the tree?
Every October, we would go to a local Farm Market to pick out our pumpkins to carve into Jack o’ Lanterns, we would go on hay rides and drink free apple cider. Those were such great childhood memories!
Fall is also significant to me personally! Austin and I got married on November 20th and all of our wedding showers and Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties happened in October! Then, our first daughter was born on October 10th! It’s so much fun to be reminded of such special times every time the weather cools off and the leaves start changing colors!
Two of my favorite things to make in the Fall are pumpkin bread (I’ll share that recipe soon!) and soup! I have several delicious soup recipes, but one of my favorites is this Taco Soup Recipe.
This easy, nutritious and delicious recipe originally came from a dear friend who started out as Austin’s friend in college and became one of my best friends in our early years of marriage! She and her husband married 2 months before Austin and I did and we enjoyed hanging out, celebrating birthdays, traveling and laughing together! One of our traditions was to watch “The Bachelor” or “The Bachelorette” on Mondays and my sweet friend made this Taco Soup recipe many times.
Our lives with kids and living in different cities over the years have changed our traditions and time we can spend together, but I love having friends that your shared history means you can pick up where you leave off. Every time I make this soup I think back to those fun times with friends in our pre-children era!
Over the years, I’ve made a couple of tweaks to this recipe and adapted it from a crock pot recipe to my awesome Instant Pot! The beauty of this recipe is that it is so easy and adaptable to your tastes, preferences or what you have in your pantry! My sister likes to add bell peppers to her taco soup and another friend has made this recipe without meat and added extra beans!
This recipe requires an Instant Pot. The link is the same kind I have, but mine has a Pioneer Woman pattern on it, which I love! Austin’s grandmother gave it to us for Christmas several years ago because she knows how much I love cooking! I’m planning to do an entire post about my Instant Pot, so be looking out for that.
If you don’t have an Instant Pot, you can still make it in a Crock Pot! Just follow the same instructions, but cook on High for 4-6 hours or Low for 8-10 hours.
Here is the recipe:
Like I wrote on the recipe, garnish with your favorites! I always serve my Taco Soup with Fiesta Cheese and Cantina Tortilla Chips! My kids go back for seconds and thirds!
You can also garnish with cilantro, green onions or sour cream! On a cold night, you can also serve with cornbread!
Let me know if you make it! Enjoy!