Instant Pot Beef Lombardi–ground beef with Rotel and tomatoes, egg noodles, sour cream and cheese. A random combination that tastes so good all together. Try making this casserole all in one pot, your Instant Pot. Easy dinner and easy clean up!

Instant Pot Beef Lombardi
I came across a casserole recipe called beef lombardi. I clicked on it because it intrigued me. What is beef lombardi and where did it get its name? Turns out beef lombardi is a noodle dish with ground beef, Ro-tel (diced tomatoes and green chiles), egg noodles, sour cream and cheese. According to what I could find on the internet the recipe originated in Mississippi and got its name from the caterer who created it in the 90s because he “liked how it sounds.” I also like how it sounds. Although when I said beef lombardi to my son he thought it had something to do with football lol.
- I used my 6 Quart Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer* for this recipe. I used the sauté setting to brown the ground beef, the pressure cook setting to cook the noodles and then the bake setting with the air fryer lid to cook the casserole and melt the cheese for a few minutes at the end. If you don’t have an air fryer lid you can still make this recipe. After you have sprinkled the cheese on top place the normal lid on top and just let the warm air circulate and melt the cheese for 5-10 minutes.
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or ground pork, if you’d rather.
- Try using a different type of noodles like elbow macaroni or penne pasta. I would increase pressure cooking time to 5 minutes instead of 3 for sturdier types of noodles.
- Try using a combination of cheddar, mozzarella and parmesan cheeses in the place of Colby Jack.
- Ro-tel is the brand name of a line of canned tomatoes and green chili. There are different varieties of Ro-Tel in varying degrees of hotness and spiciness. If you don’t like spicy foods then choose the mild variety.
- If you don’t have a can of Ro-tel add a can of green chiles in with your crushed or diced tomatoes.

More Instant Pot Recipes You’ll Love…
Instant Pot Million Dollar Casserole
Instant Pot Jo Mama’s Spaghetti

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Instant Pot Beef Lombardi
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes (plus 5 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Ground beef with Rotel and tomatoes, egg noodles, sour cream and cheese. A random combination that tastes so good all together. Try making this casserole all in one pot, your Instant Pot. Easy dinner and easy clean up!
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 cups beef or chicken broth
- 8 oz egg noodles
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced or crushed tomatoes
- 1 (10 oz) can Rotel (diced tomatoes with green chiles)
- 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
- 1/4 tsp garlic salt
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1–2 cups shredded colby jack cheese
Instructions
- Turn Instant Pot to sauté setting. When the display says HOT add in the beef and break up. Drain excess grease. Stir in the kosher salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder.
- Stir in the broth and scrape the bottom of the pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off Instant Pot.
- Sprinkle in the egg noodles. Dump the tomatoes, Rotel and tomato paste evenly over the top of the noodles. Sprinkle with garlic salt.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 3 minutes. When time is up let pot sit 5 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
- Stir well. Stir the sour cream and the cornstarch together. This will prevent the sour cream from separating. Spoon the sour cream over the top on the noodles and spread into a layer. Sprinkle the cheese on top.
- Use an air fryer lid on bake setting at 350° F for 5-7 minutes to melt the cheese and warm the sour cream layer.
- Serve and enjoy!
- Category: Beef
- Method: Instant Pot/Air fryer lid

*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.
First time trying this and it was good but think next time I will only use half the sour cream cause it was a little overpowering cause I don’t like sour cream that much.
★★★★★
Thanks for the 5 stars!
I’ve made this dish a few times now, and we love it! I make no changes to the recipe except just add a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of cheese to each plate instead of to the whole dish at the end of cooking, as I don’t have an air fryer lid. It’s the perfect dish for fast, cold weather comfort food (it’s winter here in Australia). Thanks Karen! .
★★★★★
So glad to hear it! Thanks Katie.
This was yummy 😋and soooooo quick and easy!!
I don’t eat red meat so I used ground turkey and all the seasoning in the recipe in addition to All Purpose seasoning, and used a bit more than the recipe recommended. Also, I did not have diced tomatoes with green chiles so use fire roasted diced tomatoes instead and mixed 3 oz of tomato paste ( that is all I had) with 3 oz tomato soup so that I had 6 ounces total. I also use plant-based sour cream since that’s what I had on hand.
I love my instant pot and your recipes, thank you for sharing💝
★★★★★
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the 5 stars 🙂
It is sort of bland. I only added a half of the tomato paste but it is too tomatoey. I know that’s not even a word. I might try it again but leave out the stewed tomatoes and paste. More meat and maybe a packet of ranch dressing mix?
★★★
good ideas! Give it a shot!
Very good! I agree with one of the other comments; I’d consider omitting the tomato paste next time or at least reducing the amount to 1/2 can (3 oz). I don’t have an air fryer lid and didn’t want to heat the oven, so topped with the sour cream (minus cornstarch), sprinkled shredded cheese on top, and then replaced the lid for 5 minutes or so. That worked fine to finish it off, but I can see where the air fryer lid or a quick bake in the oven would make it even better.
★★★★★
Thanks for your tips Bonnie!
Made this tonight for dinner. I made 7-up biscuits to go with it. Love it! I’ve had my IP for several years. A year or so ago I bought a separate air fryer so really only need the air fryer lid. Do you have an affiliate link I can use if/when I decide to get the lid?
★★★★★
Sure! https://amzn.to/3mOtAKN
Thanks!
Like your son I thought of football too. lol This was so easy and delicious. Will definitely make many more times.
★★★★★
Haha! I’m glad you liked it 🙂
This had a very strong tomato taste. I would leave out the tomato paste if I ever make it again. Also, it would be good to use ground Italian sausage in place of the beef. The egg noodles cooked down to mush so I would try macaroni or rotini next time.
★★★
Oh shoot! Sorry it didn’t work well for you. I do like the idea of Italian sausage!
I’m going to make this dish tonight MS. Karen. With the help of others I too am going to leave out tomato paste. My concern is noodles. We love egg noodles but not mush. Any suggestions on keeping noodles from mushing??
The short cooking time is perfect…they don’t get mushy!
Super easy and super tasty!
★★★★★
Thanks for the 5 stars Amy!
No air fryer lid…..how do would you finish?
If you don’t have an air fryer lid you can still make this recipe. After you have sprinkled the cheese on top place the normal lid on top and just let the warm air circulate and melt the cheese for 5-10 minutes.
This is awesome! My husband ate 2 helpings!! Do you think it would freeze well?
★★★★★
I’m not so sure…with the sour cream I wonder how it would reheat??
Could you make this in a slow cooker crock pot? Sounds like something my family would enjoy.
I haven’t tried this one in the crockpot. I think it is not a good candidate because you’d have to brown the ground beef separately. Then the noodles don’t do great in the crockpot.
Ok, thanks. I think I’ll try making beef n noodles separately n putting it in a casserole dish in the oven. Hopefully, it will work out.
Like Lisa, I, also, do not have an Air Fryer Lid. How would you finish this dish?
If you don’t have an air fryer lid you can still make this recipe. After you have sprinkled the cheese on top place the normal lid on top and just let the warm air circulate and melt the cheese for 5-10 minutes.
Does this have a similar flavor to spaghetti?
Not really. It is different with the green chiles and the sour cream layer.
I also do not have an air fryer lid. How do you recommend finishing the casserole? It sounds delicious.
If you don’t have an air fryer lid you can still make this recipe. After you have sprinkled the cheese on top place the normal lid on top and just let the warm air circulate and melt the cheese for 5-10 minutes.
I would’ve said “football” also!!
LOL!
No air fryer…..how would you finish?
If you don’t have an air fryer lid you can still make this recipe. After you have sprinkled the cheese on top place the normal lid on top and just let the warm air circulate and melt the cheese for 5-10 minutes.
Hi Karen,
I have question about the inner pot. I know you use a 3 qt for the pot in pot method sometimes in your 6 qt IP.
Do you think a 6qt pot would fit in the 8 qt okay and get the same results? I’ve looked at the questions and comments on Amazon but can’t find any info. I thought maybe you would know.
As always thanks for all you do!! Love your site!
★★★★★
No sorry. The 6 quart will get stuck in the 8 quart. Too bad!!
This sounds great! Any suggestions for a family who doesn’t like Rotel or chunks of tomatoes?
Hmmm, I’d use a jar of marinara/spaghetti sauce in the place of tomatoes and rotel and tomato paste.