Instant Pot Mexican Beef and Rice Recipe for Flavorful Weeknight Meals

This Instant Pot Mexican Style Beef and Rice is a fast, comforting one‑pot dinner ideal for busy weeknights. Made with ground beef, jasmine rice and classic Tex‑Mex seasonings, it cooks quickly in the pressure cooker and delivers bold, familiar flavors the whole family will enjoy.

It’s a hearty, satisfying Instant Pot meal that requires minimal effort.

Originally developed as a gluten‑free Instant Pot recipe, this Mexican beef and rice casserole is perfect for simple family dinners. Everything cooks together in one pot to create a cozy rice casserole with tender beef and familiar Mexican‑style seasoning.

If you want an easy, reliable ground beef Instant Pot dinner that’s filling and crowd‑pleasing, this recipe is a great go‑to.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 lb Ground Beef
• 2 tsp Dried Oregano
• 2 tsp Ground Cumin
• 2 tsp Ground Coriander
• 2 tsp Smoked Paprika
• 2 tsp Chili Powder
• 1 tsp Sea Salt
• 1/2 tsp Coarse Ground Black Pepper
• 1 medium Yellow Onion, chopped
• 2 tbsp Minced Garlic
• 1 Red Bell Pepper, chopped
• 1 Orange Bell Pepper, chopped
• 1 (6 oz) can Tomato Paste
• 1 (14.5 oz) can Corn, drained
• 1 1/2 cups Jasmine Rice
• 3 cups Chicken Broth (or beef broth)
• 1 cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded
• 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded

Instructions

Set the Instant Pot to Sauté. Add the olive oil and ground beef, breaking the meat apart as it browns. Cook until the beef is nearly done.

Stir in the dried oregano, ground cumin, ground coriander, smoked paprika, chili powder, sea salt and black pepper. Add the chopped onion, minced garlic and chopped bell peppers. Sauté about 4 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.

Add the tomato paste, drained corn and chicken broth. Stir well to combine. Level the rice evenly over the mixture, but do not stir the rice into the liquid — leaving it on top helps prevent sticking on the bottom.

Secure the lid and set the Instant Pot to Manual/Pressure Cook on high for 18 minutes.

When the cook time ends, allow the pressure to release naturally (slow release) to ensure the rice finishes cooking and the mixture isn’t soupy. This may take about 10 minutes.

After the pressure has released and it is safe to open the lid, remove the lid and add half of the shredded cheeses. Stir the cheese into the rice and beef mixture until melted and evenly distributed.

Serve the Mexican Style Beef and Rice in bowls and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Optional garnishes include avocado, sour cream, fresh tomatoes, black olives or cilantro.

Frequently Asked Questions