These Instant Pot Lentil Tacos are quick and easy to make! Whether you serve them mild or spicy (yes please!) they’re sure to rock your weeknight dinner routine and even taste great the next day!
Freeze leftover filling or pop it in the fridge to use in tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and more!
These Instant Pot Lentil Tacos have been rocking our world this week!
I’ve been making stove top lentil tacos for my family for ages now, but the fact that I can just toss lentils and a few extra ingredients in the pressure cooker and have a flavorful taco filling with hardly any effort… hello game-changer!
I don’t have to babysit the pot and can completely walk away or spend the lentil’s speedy cook time prepping my tortillas and taco toppings.
No Instant Pot? No problem! Try my recipe forVegetarian Lentil Tacoswhich are made in a pot on the stove. You could also make these IP lentils the conventional way by first cooking/boiling your lentils and then seasoning them after draining.
what tortillas should I use for lentil tacos?
Since these Instant Pot lentils are hearty and saucy, plain soft corn tortillas will need a little reinforcement to stay together. You can double up on tortillas or simply use one and sear it first in a hot pain with a spritz of oil. The pan-fried tortillas will be much sturdier and are the option I used for the tacos in the photos.
Craving a crunch? You can 100% use hard crunchy taco shells for these lentil tacos. In fact, I do this for myChipotle Lentil Tacosand love the combo! The tender lentils pair perfectly the crispity crunch of the tortillas.
As for flour tortillas, they work excellent as well! Warm them up in the microwave or on a skillet and fill them to the brim with your lentils and toppings.
tasty taco toppings
There are so many amazing topping options for these lentil tacos. Choose your favorites or set out a bunch so everyone can build their own taco.
If your vegetarian, feel free to add some cheese and sour cream or keep it vegan with the tasty toppings below!
salsas
- corn salsa
- black bean salsa
- salsa verde
- restaurant-style salsa
- pico de gallo
veggie toppings
Feel free to add tomatoes,jalapeños,pickled jalapeños, lettuce,cabbage, slaw,diced white onion,guacamole, chopped or sliced avocado,minced red onion,pickled red onion, and/orsliced olives.
Easy Instant Pot Lentil Tacos
The lentil taco filling can be made in advance for an easy weeknight taco night or a party/potluck with friends. Not only is it make-ahead, but the taco filling can even be frozen for later! They’re great right away and fantastically flavorful the next day.
While these saucy lentils are great as tacos, you can also use them as a filling for quesadillas, burritos, and more! I even made a lentil crunch-wrap the other day and it was so tasty I ate it straight out of the skillet like an animal.
#noregrets
Instant Pot Lentil Tacos
These Instant Pot Lentil Tacos are quick and easy to make! Whether you serve them mild or spicy (yes please!) they’re sure to rock your weeknight dinner routine and even taste great the next day!
5 from 11 votes
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Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Mexican, Vegetarian
Keyword: Instant Pot Lentil Tacos
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Time to build pressure in IP: 5 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 16 servings
Author: Jenn Laughlin - Peas and Crayons
Ingredients
- 2 cups dry lentils (green or brown)
- 1/2-1 cup finely diced white onion
- 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
- 2 cups water
- ½ cup salsa
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
- 1 cup enchilada sauce (plus extra 1/2 cup if desired)
SERVE WITH...
- corn or flour tortillas (crunchy or soft)
- pico de gallo
- shredded lettuce
- fresh chopped cilantro
- sliced avocado
- sliced jalapeño
- hot sauce or salsa
- sour cream or Greek yogurt (skip if vegan)
Instructions
Add lentils, onion, broth, water, salsa, and spices to your Instant Pot, saving the enchilada sauce for the very end after cooking (to prevent mixture from being to thick/sticking).
Give the ingredients a little stir to combine and lock the lid. Ensure the valve is set to sealed position and set to manual (high pressure) for 15 minutes.
It should take the IP 5-10 minutes to come to pressure, followed by the 15 minutes active cooking time. While you wait, you can either sit back and let your IP do all the work or prep your tortillas and taco toppings.
When the lentils have finished cooking the timer will beep. Carefully switch the sealed valve to venting and step back as the steam releases for a "quick release."
When the pin has dropped, safely remove the lid and stir in enchilada sauce. Give the filing a little taste and add any extra seasoning/spice your heart desires. They're totally customizable and can be made as spicy or as mild as you'd like.
Spoon filling into your choice of tortillas and top with all your favorite vegan or vegetarian taco toppings!
Notes
The lentils require a set liquid-to-solid ingredient ratio to properly cook in the Instant Pot as there is an auto-shutoff/burn notice for recipes too thick to cook. If you're skipping, swapping, or adding extra ingredients, this will need to be accounted for. If you have questions,- feel free to ask if it'll work beforehand so I can guide you! xoxo
Try the toppings from the list above or see the blog post for a full list of topping options! Add a few, or load 'em up! Anything goes when it comes to toppings.
The filling can be made in advance for an easy weeknight taco night and leftover lentil taco filling can even be frozen for later!
Nutrition Facts below are estimated for the filling using an online recipe nutrition calculator and will vary based on tortilla choice and toppings. Adjust as needed and enjoy!
Nutrition
Calories: 98kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 311mg, Potassium: 267mg, Fiber: 8g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 275IU, Vitamin C: 1.9mg, Calcium: 19mg, Iron: 2.1mg
Did you make this recipe?I want to see! Tag @peasandcrayons on Instagram and Facebook!
Lentil recipe adapted from Tastes Better From Scratch
If you get a chance to try these tasty vegetarian Instant Pot lentil tacos, let me know!
Leave some love in the comment form below or tag your photos with @peasandcrayons on Instagram so I can happy dance over your creation. I can’t wait to see what you whip up!
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About The Author:
Jenn Laughlin
Hi! I’m Jenn and I’m here to help you eat your veggies! It'll be fun, painless, and pretty darn delicious as I teach you to plan your meals around fresh, seasonal produce with a little help from healthy freezer and pantry staples.
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