Instant Pot is a wonderful gadget to have in a household specially if you are a working women and short of time. ย I tried my hand on making pasta in the Instant pot and that too not the same original style. ย I made this Tex-Mex Pasta with bursting flavors using enchilada sauce instead of regular pasta sauce. ย
This is such an easy fix for weeknights. ย We had just come back from our brunch and apple picking as kids were off for Columbus Day. ย I was under the weather and after I got home didn’t feel like doing anything. ย Had my tea and was talking to my husband I was like what do you guys want for dinner and I was telling him how my fellow blogger Sonal is compiling a post for Instant Pot pasta recipes and I want to try it. ย He is like go for it but I didn’t have all the ingredients.
My husband who is a sweet heart, he went to the grocery store and got me the ingredients. ย I ย did a couple of other things and realized that it is already 6pm and I have to leave in 30 mins to take my daughter to her dance class. ย I am panicking here and trying to make this pasta. ย I saved so much time making it in the Instant pot as I didn’t have to boil the pasta separately. ย This one pot meal was ready in less than 20 mins and I fed my daughter also before leaving.
While I am making this, I asked my son if he will eat it. ย He is like I don’t know, I was like you will have to give it a try as mama doesn’t have too much time to prepare something else. ย He tried it and loved it so much that this was his lunch in school the next day.
So this idea came from searching the net and saw a tex mex pasta salad so decided to use mexican flavors which is more like our own Indian flavors.
Why I love Instant Pot?
- mess free cooking
- easy to clean
- time saver
- don’t need any other pots and pans
- no baby-sitting required
Lets get to the recipe….do give it a try and let me know what you think.
Ingredients:
- 2-3 cups pasta (used penne)
- 1ย tbspย grape seed oil (or your choice of oil)
- 1 cup diced red onion (yellow is fine too)
- 4 clovesย minced garlic
- 1ย cupย water or (a little more to make sure the pasta is soaked)
- 1 can enchilada sauceย (10oz)
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp roasted cumin powder
- 1/2 cup sweet corn (used can ones)
- 1/2 cup black beans (used can ones)
- saltย to taste
- 1 cup shredded mexican cheese (or more as per your taste)
- dollop of sour cream
- avocado, cubed
- Fresh chopped cilantro
- Sliced jalapeรฑos
- Lime (optional)
- 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
Directions:
Turn on the instant pot to SAUTE mode. ย Add the oil to the pot. ย Once the screen shows HOT, add the chopped onions and cook until translucent and then add minced garlic to it. ย Cook it for a 30-40 seconds.
Now add the enchilada sauce and water along with the chili powder, cumin powder and salt. ย Mix it well and add dry pasta shells to it. ย Make sure the pasta shells are covered under the liquid.
Close the lid and set the valve to SEALED position. ย Press MANUAL and set it for 5 mins. ย Once it beeps, release the pressure right away (QPR). ย Add most of the corn and black beans to the pasta and mix it well.
Sprinkle cheese, red bell pepper, corn and black beans on top. ย Cover the pot with the lid, this will help the cheese to melt. ย Your tex-tex pasta is ready.
Garnish it with cilantro, avocado, jalapeรฑos, and a dollop of sour cream. ย If you want you can also put some salsa. Sprinkle lime juice if you want.
Serve hot and enjoy the flavors.
Try a few other Instant Pot recipes from my blog: ย Veg Pulao, Kala Chana Curry, Hard Boiled Eggs, Lauki Ki Sabzi
Pin this Tex-Mex Pasta recipe for later
If you like the recipe, please comment below after you give it a try and share it on Facebook. ย Would like to hear from you. Your comments, likes, dislikes, matters to me. ย Thank you for stopping by!!
Happy Cooking!!!
Tex-Mex Pasta | Mexican Style Instant Pot Recipe
Instructions
- Turn on the instant pot to SAUTE mode. ย Add the oil to the pot. ย Once the screen shows HOT, add the chopped onions and cook until translucent and then add minced garlic to it. ย Cook it for a 30-40 seconds.
- Now add the enchilada sauce and water along with the chili powder, cumin, diced tomatoes and taco seasoning(if using). ย Mix it well and add dry pasta shells to it. ย Make sure the pasta shells are covered under the liquid.
- Close the lid and set the valve to SEALED position. ย Press MANUAL and set it for 4 mins. ย Once it beeps, release the pressure right away (QPR). ย The sauce should be a little watery consistency. Add a little bit of corn and black beans to it and mix it well.
- Sprinkle cheese, corn and black beans on top. ย Close the lid for a couple of mins and this will help the cheese to melt. ย Your Tex Mex Pasta is ready.
- Garnish it with cilantro, avocado, jalapeรฑos, and a dollop of sour cream. ย If you want you can also put some salsa. Sprinkle lime juice if you want.
- Serve hot and enjoy the flavors.
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