Ninja foodi taco meat is tender and juicy, and loaded with flavorful Tex-Mex spices. Make this easy 4-ingredient pressure cooker recipe (with fresh or frozen ground beef!) as the foundation for the most delicious tacos, burritos, salads, and more!

Whether it is a busy weeknight or relaxing weekend, any time is the right time for enjoying tacos loaded with savory, spicy meat and your favorite toppings!

This Ninja Foodi taco meat recipe is my go-to for a winning dinner plan. It's quick and easy, and perfect to make consistently delicious seasoned ground beef with serious Tex-Mex flair! And amazingly enough, all of that great deep, crave-able flavor is made with only 4 ingredients... In fact, you probably have all of the necessary ingredients in the kitchen as we speak.

Because we use jarred salsa and taco seasoning packets, so there is no chopping or real prep work needed! Simply dump the pantry staples right into the Ninja Foodi and pressure cook for just 10 minutes (plus a bit of time for the pot to fully pressurize). Then saute in the same pot for a few minutes more, until the ground beef becomes fork-tender and perfectly flavorful.

a scoop of cooked ground meat in a large spoon

Best yet, everything is cooked with one countertop appliance so prep is a breeze - plus mess is minimal and cleanup is a snap, too!

Use homemade taco meat for last-minute dinners or as the star of a fun DIY taco bar at casual get togethers. But that's not all: This recipe is terrific for making burritos, taquitos, nachos, taco salads, and so much more.

How to make Ninja Foodi taco meat

If you have frozen ground meat, pull it out of the freezer few hours before cooking. If you choose to cook from frozen, just add 20 more minutes to the cooking time.

Place ground beef in the inner pot of ninja foodi pressure cooker. Top with with your favorite salsa ( i used salsa Verde) and the whole package of taco seasoning. Instead you can add separately chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper in equal proportions.

ground beef covered with salsa in pressure cooker

Add water. It will help to avoid the BURN message on the pressure cooker display and its needed to bring the pot to pressure. Close and lock the lid. Pressure cook taco meat for 10 minutes.

Quick release the pressure once done. Carefully open the lid and break up the meat using a special tool or a fork. It should break up easily. If it feels like taco meat has to much liquid you can evaporate it.

Turn on the SAUTE button and saute meat, stirring, until extra liquid is gone.Stir in chopped cilantro and your Ninja Foodi taco meat is really to use.

raw ground meat for taco meat in ninja foodi

Recipe ingredients

Ground beef. 85% lean is ideal. This percentage has just the right amount of fat to cook the beef tender, without being greasy or drying out.

Taco seasoning. Classic blend of spices that typically includes chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, paprika, salt and pepper.

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Salsa. Fresh or jarred. I like a thick and chunky salsa with lots of extra goodies, like diced onions and jalapenos.

Water. Essential when cooking meat in a Ninja Foodi or other pressure cooker. This keeps the ground beef from sticking to the bottom of the pot and causing the dreaded "Burn" warning.

Variations

Use frozen ground beef to make this easy taco meat recipe without thawing the meat. Increase the pressure cook time to 20 minutes.
Choose any salsa you like! This can be a mild or spicy variation, green (verde) salsa, Rotel, chipotle salsa, restaurant-style salsa... The possibilities are nearly endless.
Make this easy recipe with ground chicken or ground turkey. I recommend using dark meat rather than white meat for the most flavorful, juicy and tender taco filling.
You can even prepare as a vegan taco meat recipe! Use fresh or frozen plant-based imitation ground beef as you would regular beef.
I use store bought taco seasoning for the fastest recipe. However, it is surprisingly easy to make your own seasoning blend!

Frequently asked questions

Can you put raw beef in a pressure cooker?

Yes, this Ninja Foodi taco meat recipe includes placing the raw ground beef directly in the pot to pressure cook.

Do you put taco seasoning in before or after draining the meat?

Add the taco seasoning along with all other ingredients before pressure cooking. There is no need to drain the beef in this wonderfully easy recipe!

What toppings do you put on tacos?

Really, anything you want! Some classic Tex-Mex options include shredded iceberg lettuce, diced tomatoes and/or onions, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, avocado slices or guacamole, jalapeno slices, and hot sauce. A squeeze of lime juice is also a great idea for a pop of freshness!

Can I make this recipe in the Instant Pot?

Absolutely! Like a Ninja Foodi, the Instant Pot is a name brand pressure cooker. Follow the same recipe steps for using this or other pressure cooking appliance.

Serving suggestion

Use Ninja Foodi taco meat in different tacos, in burritos, taquitos. It also will be great in a variety of taco bowls or salads! Top nachos with this taco meat for a delicious and easy snack or appetizer.

Leftovers

I like to keep ninja foodi taco meat leftovers in the air tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Use it in tacos or mixed with white or brown rice.

Freezer. You can also freeze this cooked taco meat in the freezer safe bag or plastic or glass container. Make sure to add all the juices and liquid to your container. If stored properly it will be good in the freezer for up to 6-8 months. Its not recommended to keep it longer because of the possible freezer burn.

Reheat in the microwave or on the stove in the pan or back in the Ninja Foodi using SAUTE button.

Ninja Foodi taco meat

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1 package taco seasoning
½ cup salsa
½ cup water

Instructions

Place all the ingredients in the ninja foodi.
Close the lid and pressure cook it for 10 minutes. Quick release the pressure.
Break up the meat using a special tool or simply a spoon.
Saute until extra liquid is evaporated.

Notes

For frozen ground beef set the pressure to 20 minutes.
I like to keep ninja foodi taco meat leftovers in the air tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Use it in tacos or mixed with white or brown rice.
Freezer. You can also freeze this cooked taco meat in the freezer safe bag or plastic or glass container. Make sure to add all the juices and liquid to your container. If stored properly it will be good in the freezer for up to 6-8 months. Its not recommended to keep it longer because of the possible freezer burn.
Reheat in the microwave or on the stove in the pan or back in the Ninja Foodi using SAUTE function.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 322Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 101mgSodium: 438mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 31g