Instant Pot Quarantine Casserole–with only a handful of ingredients and a few minutes you can make this low carb easy taco beef casserole.
Instant Pot Quarantine Casserole
I found a stove/oven version of this recipe online and was intrigued. What is quarantine casserole? Turns out it is an easy cauliflower rice casserole with only 7 ingredients that’s super tasty and perfect for stay-at-home days. Whether you’re in quarantine or not this ground beef taco casserole is super yummy and perfect for January since it’s low calorie, low carb and high protein.
Why you should make this recipe:
- You will feel like you are eating a big bowl of rice and beef without all the carbs and calories that rice contains.
- A serving is only 236 calories but has 25 grams of protein to keep you full!
- It has yummy taco flavor from taco seasoning, green chilies and shredded cheese.
- It has a zero minute pressure cooking time which means you’ll be enjoying this dish sooner than you can say super supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
What ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe
This recipe only contains 7 ingredients! You may even have all the ingredients in your kitchen right now! I used my 6 quart Instant Pot* but you can also make it in a 3 or 8 quart pot with no changes.
- Lean ground beef–you can also use ground turkey (reduce broth by 2 Tbsp)
- Taco seasoning–some taco seasonings are more potent than others
- Chicken or beef broth–you can also use Better than Bouillon and water
- Frozen riced cauliflower–find this next to the other frozen vegetables
- Rotel tomatoes–diced tomatoes with green chiles and seasonings
- Green chiles–I used mild
- Shredded cheese–colby jack, cheddar, monterey jack or taco cheese
- Sour cream, green onions and/or sliced avocados–for topping
How to make beef taco casserole in the Instant Pot
- Brown the ground beef: Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the beef and break it up. Brown for about 5 minutes. Drain off excess grease. Stir in the taco seasoning and stir to coat the beef.
- Deglaze pot: Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off Instant Pot.
- Add ingredients: Dump the cauliflower on top. Then dump the Rotel and green chilies on top. Don’t stir.
- Pressure cook: Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 0 minutes (yes zero minutes). When time is up move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
- Stir. If there is excess liquid then you can thicken with cornstarch, if desired, or you can spoon off some of the liquid. (You can also thicken with potato flakes…about 2-4 tablespoons should do).
- Stir in the cheese.
- Serve: Scoop onto plates and enjoy topped with a dollop of sour cream, green onions or some sliced avocados.
Is this recipe gluten free?
This recipe is gluten free as long as your broth and taco seasoning are gluten free
How to store leftovers?
Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Can I make this with rice instead of cauliflower?
Yes you can. Use 1 cup of long grain white rice and 1 ¼ cups of broth in the place of the cauliflower and broth listed in the recipe card. Pressure cook for 5 minutes with a 5-10 minute natural pressure release.
What is a zero minute pressure cooking time?
When you set your pressure cooker for zero minutes the Instant Pot will get up to pressure, then immediately switch off (it will switch to the keep warm function and start counting up). Just because it says zero minutes on your display doesn’t mean the food is not going to get cooked. The food starts cooking while the pot is building pressure (and while it releases pressure). Certain types of foods (like cauliflower rice) will be fully cooked just as the pot reaches pressure.
Can I make this without an Instant Pot?
Yes you can. Here’s how:
- Cook cauliflower rice as stated on packaging.
- Cook beef in skillet until brown. Drain excess grease. Stir in the taco seasoning, Rotel, green chilies and cauliflower.
- Add mixture to a baking dish and sprinkle cheese on top.
- Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees until cheese is melted.
More Low Carb Instant Pot Recipes…
Instant Pot “Eggcellent” Drop Soup
Instant Pot Bacon Ranch Chicken
Instant Pot Garlic Chicken Alfredo
Instant Pot Starbucks Egg Bites
Instant Pot Bacon Parmesan Spaghetti Squash
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc. Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.
Want More Tried And True Instant Pot Recipes?
- Sign up to receive daily Instant Pot recipes (it’s FREE)
- Join the 365 Days of Instant Pot Recipes Facebook group
- Subscribe to my YouTube channel
- Buy the 365 Days of Pressure Cooking Cookbook
Instant Pot Quarantine Casserole
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minute pressure cook time
- Total Time: 8 minute
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
With only a handful of ingredients and a few minutes you can make this low carb easy taco beef casserole.
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 3 Tbsp taco seasoning
- 3/4 cup chicken or beef broth
- 1 (12 oz) bag frozen riced cauliflower
- 1 (10 oz) can Rotel tomatoes
- 1 (4 oz) can green chiles with juice
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (colby jack, cheddar or taco cheese)
- For topping: sour cream, green onions and/or sliced avocaodos
Instructions
- Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the beef and break it up. Brown for about 5 minutes. Drain off excess grease. Stir in the taco seasoning and stir to coat the beef.
- Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off Instant Pot.
- Dump the cauliflower on top. Then dump the Rotel and green chilies on top. Don’t stir.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 0 minutes (yes zero minutes). When time is up move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
- Stir. If there is excess liquid then you can thicken with cornstarch, if desired, or you can spoon off some of the liquid.
- Stir in the cheese.
- Scoop onto plates and enjoy topped with a dollop of sour cream, green onions or some sliced avocados.
- Category: Beef
- Method: Instant Pot
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
If I use brown rice, how do I modify the instructions?
Use 1 cup of long grain white rice and 1 ¼ cups of broth in the place of the cauliflower and broth listed in the recipe card. Pressure cook for 22 minutes with a 5-10 minute natural pressure release.
And what about brown rice instead of cauliflower rice or white rice?
Use 1 cup of brown rice and 1 ¼ cups of broth in the place of the cauliflower and broth listed in the recipe card. Pressure cook for 22 minutes with a 5-10 minute natural pressure release.
Very good recipe. Next time I will substitute rice for the cauliflower
Good plan!
Hi Karen!
Love your site! Just discovered it
I am working to create a blog for folks, like me, with later stage Kidney Disease. I’ve been looking for a site that is well displayed, easy to read, particularly the recipes.
Many of potential kidney disease readers are older, so an easy to read recipe section is important; and hard to find!
>>> Would you mind sharing the WordPress, Elementor or Divi template you use? Or whatever template used. It’s the template layout that’s so good. I’ll use different colors, etc. I would truly, truly appreciate. On a learning curve here.
Sincerely appreciate! Have a wonderful weekend!😎
Scarlett
★★★★★
This looks amazing and perfect since I’m trying to eat healthy!! Thanks!
From a very long time follower!
Thanks for being here Jackie!!!
Can regular rice be used instead?
★★★
Can I Make This With Rice Instead Of Cauliflower?
Yes you can. Use 1 cup of long grain white rice and 1 ¼ cups of broth in the place of the cauliflower and broth listed in the recipe card. Pressure cook for 5 minutes with a 5-10 minute natural pressure release.
My instant pot can not be set to zero minutes, the lowest is 1 minute. Do I just wait till it starts and hit cancel to achieve the zero minute cook time?
yes that’s what I would do!
Can you use fresh cauliflower rice?
yes you can
What can I use other than cauliflower? Ugh!
Use 1 cup of long grain white rice and 1 ¼ cups of broth in the place of the cauliflower and broth listed in the recipe card. Pressure cook for 5 minutes with a 5-10 minute natural pressure release.