Taco Soup Recipe (Instant Pot or Slow Cooker!) - Oh Sweet Basil (2024)

FAQs

Can I use a crockpot instead of a pressure cooker? ›

Pressure cookers can get hot enough for meats and vegetables to brown in them when cooking, but slow cookers can't. If you want similar flavor development but are using a slow cooker, you'll have to sear your ingredients in a separate pan first.

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute.

The time it takes to boil soup in an Instant Pot can vary depending on the specific recipe and ingredients used. However, on average, it usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure and then an additional 15 to 30 minutes for the soup to boil and cook adequately.

Traditionally cheaper cuts of meat always slow cook better. Slow cooking breaks down the connective collagen in meat, which turns into unctuous gelatine. This creates that soft and tender mouth feel we all crave.

Yes, cooking in a pressure cooker is healthy. Unlike a slow cooker, which cooks foods for a long time at a lower temperature, pressure cookers do use high heat when cooking - but not for a long time. This means that most of the nutrients won't be lost.

Simmer for Longer

If you have the time, simmering your taco soup for a longer period can help to thicken it naturally. As the soup cooks, the liquid will reduce and evaporate, resulting in a thicker consistency.

If you're looking to add a rich, creamy texture to your soup without using flour or cornstarch, coconut milk can be an excellent alternative. Simply stir in a can of coconut milk into your soup and let it simmer. The natural fats in coconut milk will give your soup a luxurious consistency.

Taco soup is a really easy soup made with ground beef, beans, a colorful medley of vegetables like onions, tomatoes, green chiles, and corn, and a generously spiced tomato-based broth. It's got a ton of flavor and texture, but requires barely any work to prepare.

Just remember that all Instant Pots are multi-cookers, which means they slow cook and pressure cook, and Crock-Pots are usually only slow cookers. If you only care about slow cooking, then go for a stand-alone slow cooker like a Crock-Pot.

If you are slow cooking in the Instant Pot, you should be able to leave your dish cooking overnight for as long as the recipe dictates. Anything that calls for 8 hours cooking time should be sufficient as long as you make sure you're up in time to take it out of the slow cooker once it's finished.

Do you put a lid on an Instant Pot when slow cooking? ›

When slow cooking in the Instant Pot, you can cover the pot using a tempered glass lid or the regular Instant Pot lid. If you are using the Instant Pot lid, you need to move the steam release valve to the "venting" position.

Add fresh herbs

Adding fresh herbs after you've heated up your soup is a great way to bring out existing flavors, or add new ones. Chop up a little cilantro with tortilla soup, throw in some basil for a bland tomato soup, or add some chopped thyme to chicken noodle soup.

Add flour or cornflour

Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes to allow the starch granules to burst to thicken, and to cook out any flour flavour.

The whole point of a pressure cooker is to cook meals quickly that normally take a long time. There are really no substitutes if you want the meal ready quickly. In contrast, a slow cooker will prepare the same type of meals as a pressure cooker although the meat texture is usually better in a pressure cooker.

Generally, if your slow cooker meat, soup, or stew recipe calls for 8 hours on the low setting or about 4 hours on the high setting, it should be fully cooked in about 25 to 30 minutes in the Instant Pot. For chicken or turkey, use the 15-minute poultry button. While volume doesn't matter, density does.

Tenderises Tough Cuts: Slow cookers excel at turning tough cuts of meat into fork-tender delicacies.