Instant Pot Taco Lettuce Wraps

Healthy Instant Pot Taco Lettuce Wraps is the easiest meal you’ll make this week! Ready in 20 minutes or less, this recipe is a cheap way to feed a crowd with just one pound of ground beef or turkey.

When someone asks me for a delicious, easy beginner Instant Pot dish, this is the recipe I share! It pressure cooks for just 2 minutes and it’s SO GOOD.

This is one of my favorite meals to make after work because I can have it on the table within 20 minutes. Can’t beat that.

I don’t love the texture of plain quinoa, but I LOVE IT when I make this! It’s such a healthy and inexpensive way to stretch 1 pound of ground beef to feed at least 5-6 people.

Instant Pot Taco Meat

A lot of people love making Instant Pot beef tacos, which is just taco meat in a tortilla. However, this requires a lot of meat (read: dollars!) to feed even an average sized family. 

In this recipe, I mix ground beef or turkey with homemade taco seasoning, quinoa, and black beans for tasty taco meat that has healthy fillers and carbs to stretch your dollars. 

I like to serve it as lettuce wraps, but you can also use tortillas. It’s a crowd pleaser that you can customize however you like.

Adding quinoa and black beans stretches the pound of ground beef. This hearty, inexpensive recipe can feed 6-8 people with just one pound of ground beef!

It’s truly a versatile Instant Pot meal, perfect for meal prepping with the leftovers.

I like to think of this recipe as a reverse burrito bowl, with quinoa instead of rice. It’s incredibly easy to make Instant Pot quinoa without any seasoning, so make sure to pin that recipe for later!

Since these quinoa lettuce wraps contain carbs from the beans and quinoa, as well as protein from the taco meat, I find it to be an extremely healthy Instant Pot ground beef recipe.

How to make Healthy Instant Pot Taco Lettuce Wraps

• Sauté ground beef in the instant pot on SAUTÉ.
• Add quinoa, beans, taco seasoning, and beef broth. Stir to combine. You can also add some frozen or canned corn and a can of green chilies at this point. If you want to add even more flavor, sauté a finely diced onion and garlic with the ground beef.
• Close the lid, turn the knob to sealing, and cook on manual high pressure for 2 minutes.
• Let the pot naturally release pressure while you prepare other ingredients, about 5-10 minutes. Remove the lid, stir to fluff, and add more seasoning and salt as necessary. I like to hold the salt until after it cooks because some seasoning mixes contain a lot of salt. I like using beef bouillon over straight salt because it adds more flavor.
• Serve with lettuce or tortillas and your favorite taco toppings. Enjoy!

If you prefer to omit the quinoa, simply add ½ – 1 pound more ground beef with the same amount of liquid.

Instant Pot Ground Turkey Taco Meat

Many people replace ground beef with ground turkey for a heart healthy, low carb alternative. Ground turkey is generally lower in saturated fat and calories than ground beef.

Simply replace the ground beef in this recipe with the same amount of ground turkey for an even healthier Instant Pot taco lettuce wrap! Since turkey can be less flavorful than ground beef, I recommend adding additional taco seasoning, to taste.

Turkey taco lettuce wraps are an incredibly healthy, filling, and easy Instant Pot meal that even your pickiest eaters will love.

How to make homemade taco seasoning

I like to make my own homemade taco seasoning since I always have everything on hand, and I know the ingredients going into my food.

Here’s the recipe I use for this recipe- I use the entire batch of seasoning for this recipe for Healthy Taco Lettuce Wraps. Simply mix everything in a small bowl and use it as you would any taco seasoning. 

• 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon dried onion flakes
• ½ tablespoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon beef bouillon powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper 

Taco Toppings

The most fun part about this meal is letting everyone choose Instant Pot taco lettuce wrap toppings! I find this part gives my kids some choice and autonomy to help them enjoy the dish.

Here are some favorite taco topping ideas:

• Fresh diced tomatoes
• Pico de gallo
• Avocado
• Guacamole
• Cilantro
• Green onions
• Sour cream
• Cheese
• Lime
• Diced bell peppers

How to use leftover Instant Pot taco meat

Unless you’re feeding a large crowd, this recipe will have leftovers. I usually have tortillas ready for the rest of the week.

I simply scoop a big portion of Instant Pot taco meat into the tortilla with cheese and grill it for a delicious burrito or quesadilla!

My friend recommended using leftover Instant Pot taco meat to make stuffed bell peppers. Genius! I’ve also used the leftovers to make chili. Just add a couple cans of crushed tomatoes and more beans or meat and you can make easy weeknight chili!

Let me know in the comments how you use your leftovers!

Chances are, if you make healthy Instant Pot taco lettuce wraps, you’ll also have some leftover lettuce. Try my Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken lettuce wraps or dip!

Easy Postpartum Meals

I relied on this recipe for a quick, nutritious meal postpartum. It was also great for when I got back to work after having babies.

I made this for Brooke Walker this week on Studio 5, because I knew she was coming back from maternity leave. I remember getting back to work after both my babies. It’s SO stressful—physically, mentally, and emotionally!

It doesn’t matter how much you LOVE your job, it’s a difficult transition. Let me just say, I have been a work-from-home mom, a work-at-the-office mom, and a stay-at-home mom…ALL are difficult in unique ways.

It’s important as women to love and support each other, no matter what!

Check out my other TV segments here!

Other one pot instant pot® recipes

• Instant Pot Chicken Teriyaki Bowl
• Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo
• Easy Instant Pot Margherita Pasta
• Instant Pot Sausage and Kale Pasta
• Ritz Chicken and Rice Casserole
• Instant Pot Chicken Legs from Fresh or Frozen
• Chicken con Broccoli | Olive Garden Copycat
• 4 Ingredient Instant Pot Country Style Ribs from fresh or frozen

Instant Pot Taco Lettuce Wraps

Healthy Instant Pot Taco Lettuce Wraps is the easiest meal you’ll make this week! Ready in 20 minutes or less, this recipe is a cheap way to feed a crowd with just one pound of ground beef or turkey.

3.67 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Author: Lisa Childs

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound ground beef or turkey
• 1 cup quinoa rinsed
• 1 can black beans drained and rinsed
• 2 cups beef broth
• 2-3 tablespoons taco seasoning homemade preferred
• 4 ounces green chiles optional
• 1 head iceberg or romaine lettuce
• sour cream salsa, avocado, red pepper, cheese, olives, lime, cilantro, chips, for topping
• salt or beef bouillon to taste

Homemade Taco Seasoning

• 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon dried onion flakes
• ½ tablespoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon beef bouillon powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

• Press the Saute button and adjust to high. Let preheat until it reads "Hot" on the display.
• Saute ground beef until mostly cooked, about 5 minutes. Add quinoa, beans, taco seasoning, and beef broth. Stir to combine. You can also add some frozen or canned corn and a can of green chiles at this point.
• Close the lid, turn your knob to sealing, and cook on manual high pressure for 2 minutes. ​
• Let the pot naturally release pressure while you prepare other ingredients, about 5-10 minutes. Remove the lid, stir to fluff, and more seasoning and salt as necessary. I like to hold the salt until after it cooks because some seasoning mixes contain a lot of salt. I like using beef bouillon over straight salt because it adds more flavor.
• Serve with lettuce or tortillas and toppings. Enjoy!

PRODUCTS WE LOVE

• 717 Industries Steamer Basket, Stainless Steel Mesh Strainer Compatible Instant Pot Other Pressure Cookers, Fits 6 & 8 Quart Pots (Grey Silicone Handle)
• Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, Sterilizer, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Saute, Yogurt Maker, and Warmer, 6 Quart, 14 One-Touch Programs
• MY COOKBOOK! The “I Love My Instant Pot®” Cooking for One Recipe Book

NOTES

• If you want to add even more flavor, you can sauté a finely diced onion and garlic with the ground beef.

• If you prefer to omit the quinoa, you can add ½-1 pound more ground beef with the same amount of quinoa and liquid.
• Be aware of the salt content in all your seasonings.
• The attached recipe for homemade taco seasoning is the perfect amount for this recipe. If desired, mix the seasoning in a separate bowl and add 1-2 tablespoons to the mixture before pressure cooking. Add additional seasoning to taste.

NUTRITION

Serving: 1grams

Tried this recipe?Mention @triedtestedandtrue!