Instant Pot Macho Nacho Casserole—fully loaded nachos in casserole form, made fast and easy in your Instant Pot.
Instant Pot Macho Nacho Casserole
Macho nachos! Ever heard of them? They’re basically layered nachos with chili and all the toppings you love like cheese, olives, jalapenos, sour cream, etc. They are nachos to feed a hungry crowd. Today’s recipe is a spin-off of macho nachos. It’s a casserole type of recipe made in the Instant Pot (of course) that has seasoned beef, chili beans, rice and cheese. The casserole is then finished off with all the tasty toppings and consumed in about 2 minutes flat.
A few notes about ingredients:
- Beef–I like to use lean or extra lean ground beef so that I don’t have to drain any grease. You can also use ground turkey for this recipe. I like this hamburger chopper tool* to break up ground meats.
- Tame Jalapenos–I discovered jarred pickled tame (mild) jalapenos and they are the best thing ever! They give salads a pop. And are perfect for dishes like this to give a bit of flavor without too much spice. Look for them next to the pickles (usually they are found on the top shelf).
- Rice–I used brown rice (22 minute pressure cook time). You can also use long grain white rice or parboiled/converted rice as well (5 minute pressure cook time).
- Corn–I used canned corn but frozen corn would work just fine as well!
- Cheese–I used medium cheddar (what I had on hand). But other choices would be a Mexican blend, pepper jack, monterey jack or colby jack. If you have a jar of queso on hand you could drizzle it on top and it would be amazing.
- Tortilla Chips–use white or corn tortilla chips or another good choice is using Fritos. Fritos and corn tortilla chips are both gluten free.
- Ranch style beans–these are seasoned pinto beans in a tasty sauce. If you can’t find them look for chili beans.
More Ground Beef Instant Pot Recipes…
Instant Pot Beef Nachos Casserole
Instant Pot 5 Ingredient Beef Enchiladas Casserole
50+ Ways to Use Ground Beef in the Instant Pot or Slow Cooker
Instant Pot Macho Nacho Casserole
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5-22 minutes
- Total Time: 37 minute
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Fully loaded nachos in casserole form, made fast and easy in your Instant Pot.
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean or extra lean ground beef
- 1 cup diced onions
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1/2 cup uncooked white or brown rice
- 1 (14.5 oz) can ranch style beans (sometimes called chili beans), undrained
- 3 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1 (4 oz) can green chilies
- 1 (14 oz) can corn, drained
- 1 cup grated cheddar
- 2 cups crunched up tortilla chips
- Toppings: pickled tamed jalapenos, sliced black olives, diced tomatoes, sour cream, diced green onions, salsa, extra cheese, guacamole
Instructions
- Turn Instant Pot to the sauté setting. When the display says HOT add in the beef and break it up. Add in the onions, garlic powder, salt, chili powder, cumin and pepper. Brown the beef for about 5 minutes. Turn off the Instant Pot.
- Pour in the broth and scrape the bottom of the pot so that nothing is sticking.
- Sprinkle in the rice and gently press to submerge in the liquid.
- Layer the beans, tomato paste, green chilies and corn on top without stirring.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 5 minutes for white rice and 22 minutes for brown rice. When the time is up let the pot sit for 10 minutes and then move the valve to venting. Remove the lid.
- Stir. Add in the cheese and tortilla chips on top. Let the cheese melt.
- Serve with desired toppings.
Notes
I used my 6 quart Instant Pot Duo 60 7 in 1*. Make in the 3 quart with no changes. For 8 quart pot increase liquid to 1.5 cups.
- 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.
Love all the comments by 80+ year olds. I’m not quite that old (76) and I love using my Instant Pot and the Air Fryer Lid. Just jump right in and try something. Karen’s recipes are great for timid beginners because she is so thorough in her instructions, tips and substitutions. Soup might be a good first recipe as the IP is great for making soups and it’s that time of the year (almost December).
You are awesome Jeanie! Keep up the great work!
Thank you. I think one reason I am so unsure is that I remember being at my grandmother’s once while she was making blackberry jam (or jelly). I must have been about 10/11 years old. She was the best cook in the world and had done what she was doing that day 100 times or more. Something happened, and the pot blew the lid off. Blackberries covered every inch of her walls and ceiling around the stove. I will never forget what she said, “Well, little miss, we won’t do that again, will we.” I have canned many things through the years, and I can’t believe I am letting this process get the best of me.
That’s why the electric pressure is so great because it has so many safety mechanisms that this will never happen! I think you’ll be surprised at how easy it is.
We have been experimenting with cauliflower rice (frozen) – if I substitute frozen cauliflower rice in this recipe, would I use the same timing as the white rice or (in your opinion) should I adjust the time?
I’d cut the time down to 1 minute for cauliflower rice!
This recipe looks good – I love nachos and adding meat and beans and rice to the dish sounds amazing.
I have cooked black beans in my freezer (made in the Instant Pot) which I often use in nachos. Would they be good in this dish instead of buying a can of chili beans? Thank you!
Yes I bet they’d be great! If needed add a bit more seasonings to taste at the end.
Yum! We can’t do the beans—any recommendations to get that flavor in without them, since you specify them being in a sauce? Thanks!!
I’d just bump up the seasonings!! Increase by a quarter teaspoon or so
I am amazed at the extent to which you go with each recipe to make me believe I can do it. This seems so simple, but then I get out the IP, which I have never used, and my excitement goes out the window. I cannot understand why this pot is so intimidating to me. I have been cooking for over 60 years, but this pot intimidates me. I assume it is because I have to turn the control over to a pot instead of being in control myself. I’ve wanted to do pinto beans since I bought it and have soaked beans overnight, only to end up cooking them on the stove. Is there a magic wand to help me get started? I live alone and believe the IP would help me eat better meals.
don’t be afraid of your insta pot. It’s totally different from the old gauge pressure cookers. The extra steam has a vent to escape, it will NOT blowup.I love my electric pressure cookers, have 4 different sizes. Just set and forgetm I do set my own times because I know they don’t overcook.
Nancy – You and I must be about the same age. I feel your pain with the IP. I got one last year at Christmas (at a really good price) and it has taken me months to use it. My best advice is to start off with something really simple – like chicken breasts. You can shred them and use them for so many things, and they are delicious. I just made a cheese cake (which I love)- it turned out great but now I have decided I really don’t like graham crackers. I tolerate them when they have been baked, but in an IP they really are not good – I will be trying ground ice cream cones, or Oreos, soon. Just try something easy – if it screws up – so be it. As they say – nothing ventured, nothing gained. It’s really easier than it looks – Good luck, I’m pulling for you.
Thx for your comments. I’m 81, and a month from tomorrow will be 82, so I keep telling myself I’m too old to learn new tricks. I’m not afraid of most things,(snakes excluded) but for some reason, this has gotten to me. I bought chicken breasts yesterday. Sounds like a good start, but I’ve said that before.
Go for it, Nancy. I’m with you on snakes – we live in Texas and it has taken me a long time to accept the fact that all snakes are not bad. The biggest thing I’ve had to learn is to not immediately let the steam off and open that puppy up. I screwed up pork chops doing that. They were close to bricks. I remember my mother using a pressure cooker. She swore by it and I have the book that came with one of hers. When it says let it sit for 10 or 15 minutes – that’s critical. Good luck.
Nancy, I’m 85 and just purchased an IP and an Airfryer, I really like them, go for it.
I’m 83, just got an instant pot a month ago and have used it at 8 times. I love it. Nothing to be afraid of. Good luck and God Bless.
Nancy, I believe in you! Watch this video to get feeling more comfortable: https://youtu.be/EJd6dC5d62U
The video is awesome. Thank you and all the others who commented. Surely if an 85 year old can do it I can, too. Karen, you have a delightful following.