Instant Pot Ground Turkey Taco Meat
Developed and tested by Robyn Conley Downs
on Sep 1, 2021 (last updated Apr 23, 2026) 
Make ground turkey meat easy in the Instant Pot with tomato sauce and a few simple spices for an easy prep taco night dinner.
5 star review
“Easy and delicious. Next time I make this, I’ll double the recipe so I have leftovers to use in another meal that week.”
– Sonja
Make Taco Meat Easy in the Instant Pot
Ground turkey tacos are one of my go-to weeknight dinners! They come together quickly, the topping options are endless, and one simple batch of taco meat can stretch into multiple meals: tacos on Monday, taco bowls on Tuesday, burritos on Wednesday, taco salads on Thursday. The Instant Pot makes it even easier, hands-off once the meat browns and the spices hit the pot, so you’re not stuck stirring at the stove while everyone asks when dinner will be ready.
Here’s what I learned after testing this recipe: the spice blend is the whole game. I use cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, chili powder, and salt in equal parts, which gives you that classic taco flavor without a packet of seasoning (and all the sodium and additives that come with it). Skip the chili powder if you’re feeding picky eaters or sensitive to heat, and add a tablespoon of hot sauce at the end if you want it spicy. I use 93% lean ground turkey for the best texture. Leaner grinds work, but they come out drier and less flavorful.
Serve this turkey taco meat in warm tortillas with all the toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, sliced jalapeño, chopped cilantro, diced tomato, and a big squeeze of lime. My easy 4-ingredient guacamole is the perfect pairing and comes together in under 5 minutes! Or, if you want a hands-off version you can set and forget, my slow cooker ground turkey taco meat uses the same spice blend in the crockpot for busy mornings when dinner needs to be ready when you get home.
Testing Notes from My Kitchen to Yours
- Skip the chili powder if you are sensitive to heat.
- I also like to in a tablespoon of hot sauce at the end to kick up the heat!
- I used 93% lean ground turkey, you can use an even leaner ground turkey if you like but it will be drier, less tender and less flavorful.
- To keep these grain free, use a grain-free tortillas or lettuce wraps instead of traditional tortillas.
Instant Pot Ground Turkey Taco Meat
Ingredients
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp granulated garlic powder
- 1 tsp mild chili powder
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb 93% lean dark meat ground turkey
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 4 tbsp tomato paste
Topping Ideas
Equipment
Instructions
- In a small bowl, make the spice mixture by combining the cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, chili powder, and salt, stirring to combine. Set aside.
- Set a 6-quart Instant Pot to sauté for 15 minutes. Allow to pre-heat for 5 minutes.
- When heated, add the olive oil and the turkey, sprinkling with half the spice mixture. Stir, breaking the ground turkey apart with a wooden spoon
- Allow the turkey to brown on one side, about 4-5 minutes, then stir to flip the turkey and cook and additional 3-4 minutes until browned and cooked through
- Add the remaining spice mixture and chicken stock stirring, to combine
- Add the tomato paste to the top of the turkey mixture. Do not stir.
- Cover and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. Your instant pot may take up to 10-20 minutes to come to pressure. When done cooking, quick release the pressure
- Stir the turkey mixture until well combined. Serve in warm tortillas with preferred toppings if desired
Notes
- Optional Serving Suggestions: Tortillas, lettuce, tomato, avocado, jalapeno, hot sauce, salsa, cheese, sour cream, red onion.
- Crockpot: Check out my go-to slow cooker ground turkey taco meat!
We loved it. Very flavorful. I cut back on the chili powder. I’ll make it again.
Kari, yay, so glad you and your crew enjoyed this one. Thanks so much for leaving a review!
Very good flavor and the whole family loved it. The final result had more liquid than I thought it would. Is that typical for this recipe?
Hi Stacey, so happy you enjoyed this one! Pressure cookers can differ when it comes to heat, so if yours gets slightly less hot it could have led to more liquid at the end. You can try adding less chicken stock next time – say 3/4 of a cup – for a thicker consistency!
Easy and delicious. I appreciated the tip to leave out the chili – my people don’t care for spicy, so I cut the chili in half, which was perfect for us. Next time I make this, I’ll double the recipe so I have leftovers to use in another meal that week.
Yay, so glad you enjoyed this one, Sonja, and that it was a hit with your family, too! Thanks so much for leaving a reivew!