Dylan’s Casserole–an easy Instant Pot pasta dinner with ground beef, macaroni, and a tomato sauce with hidden veggies like carrot and zucchini. It’s finished off with a sprinkle of Parmesan.
Dylan’s Casserole
Today’s recipe is an easy, one-pot, family-friendly dinner. It’s got some sneaky veggies in in that add a bit of nutrition and color. The Instant Pot makes it a mostly hands-off cooking experience which we can all get behind. You’ll love this beefy pasta…it delivers classic flavors everyone loves. (This recipe is adapted from Dylan’s Mom’s ‘Easiest Casserole Ever’ on Today.com.)
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Lean ground beef–or ground turkey
- Onion
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Chili powder
- Italian seasoning
- Beef broth–or water and Better than Bouillon beef base
- Elbow macaroni–or cavatappi
- Crushed tomatoes
- Tomato sauce
- Carrot
- Zucchini
- Parmesan cheese
Steps
Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the beef and break it up. Add in the onion, salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder and Italian seasoning. Brown for 5 minutes.
Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off Instant Pot.
Sprinkle in the macaroni. Dump crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce evenly over the top. Add carrot into the pot.
Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 4 minutes. When time is up let pot sit for 5 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
Stir in the zucchini and let it sit for a few minutes.
Scoop onto plates and top with a bit of parmesan cheese.
Notes/Tips
- Serve with garlic bread and roasted green beans.
- Don’t stir after adding pasta and tomatoes. This helps prevent the burn notice.
- Don’t pressure cook the zucchini. The heat from the pasta will gently steam the zucchini, softening it without overcooking or making it mushy.
- I used my 6 quart Instant Pot*. You can also make this in a 3 or 8 quart pot.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Other recipes you can make with carrots are Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup and Instant Pot Hobo Casserole.
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.
Dylan’s Casserole
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 minutes (plus 5 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 24 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Description
An easy Instant Pot pasta dinner with ground beef, macaroni, and a tomato sauce with hidden veggies like carrot and zucchini. It’s finished off with a sprinkle of Parmesan.
Ingredients
- 16 ounces lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 2 tsp italian seasoning
- 2 cups beef broth
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni
- 1 (15 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 medium carrot, shredded
- 1 medium zucchini, shredded
- Parmesan cheese, for topping
Instructions
- Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the beef and break it up. Add in the onion, salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder and Italian seasoning. Brown for 5 minutes.
- Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off Instant Pot.
- Sprinkle in the macaroni. Dump crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce evenly over the top. Add carrot into the pot.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 4 minutes. When time is up let pot sit for 5 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
- Stir in the zucchini and let it sit for a few minutes.
- Scoop onto plates and top with a bit of parmesan cheese.
- Category: Beef
- Method: Instant Pot
More Instant Pot recipes with zucchini…
Instant Pot Chicken Pesto and Vegetables
Tender bites of chicken, zucchini, cherry tomatoes and potatoes enveloped in flavorful basil pesto sauce. An easy one pot meal that you can make in minutes in your electric pressure cooker.
Instant Pot Zucchini Linguine
Al dente pasta is stirred together with fresh zucchini, tender chicken bites, yogurt, garlic and cheddar. A simple summer recipe that is so delicious and can be made quickly in your electric pressure cooker.
Instant Pot Sesame Beef with Zucchini
Tender chunks of beef with bites of zucchini in an easy stir fry sauce.
Instant Pot Chocolate Chip Zucchini Banana Bread
A moist quick bread (cake?) that is a cross between banana and zucchini bread. The bonus is that it’s got mini chocolate chips too and it’s made in your electric pressure cooker.
*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.
Do I increase the pressure cooking time if I double this recipe?
no, keep the same cooking time
Thanks. I love your recipes!
Don’t we all, Patricia? At this house we love, love, love them!
😊