Mindy’s Casserole

Mindy’s Casserole–an easy pasta casserole with cheese, tomatoes, garlic and panko topping. Make it fast in your Instant Pot!

Pin this recipe for later!

Mindy’s Casserole

Today’s recipe is my take on a recipe I found on cookingprofessionally.com. The article said, “Thanks to Mindy for creating this dish… and for sharing the recipe with us! Now we can enjoy Mindy’s Tomato Pasta Bake, her distinct twist on mac and cheese, anytime! The creamy, tender, homespun goodness of mac and cheese is mixed with bright tomatoes, tangy sour cream, and herbaceous basil.” I do have to agree! This is like amped up mac and cheese with the shallot, tomatoes, worcestershire, smoked paprika and breadcrumb topping. I made this as our main dish but it can also serve as a side dish. Feel free to add in any meat you like (ground beef or turkey, rotisserie chicken, etc.).

Ingredients/Substitution Ideas

• Olive oil–or butter
• Shallot–or a half cup of finely diced onion
• Garlic–or 1 tsp of garlic powder
• Chicken broth–or water and Better than Bouillon chicken base
• Elbow macaroni–or penne
• Diced tomatoes–or fire roasted tomatoes
• Worcestershire sauce
• Kosher salt
• Pepper
• Smoked paprika
• Dried basil
• Cheddar cheese–I like sharp cheddar grated off the block
• Sour cream–or plain yogurt
• Milk
• Panko breadcrumbs
• Melted butter

Steps

Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the oil and shallot and saute for 3 minutes. Add in the garlic and saute for 30 seconds. 

Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off Instant Pot. 

Evenly sprinkle in the macaroni, tomatoes, worcestershire, salt, peper, paprika and basil.

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 cheese, sour cream and milk. Salt and pepper to taste. 

Optional step: sprinkle the panko on top and then drizzle with melted butter. Use air fryer lid to toast the panko (about 3 minutes at 375 degrees). Serve and enjoy!

Notes/Tips

• You can serve this as a main dish or as a side dish to chicken, pork chops, steak, etc.
• Add in some protein! Try browning some lean ground beef in the pot on the saute setting before you add in the shallots. Season the ground beef a bit with salt and pepper.
• Try using 1 tablespoon of fresh chopped basil instead of dried basil. Add it in after the pressure cooking time is up.
• I used my Duo Crisp 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 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
• Other recipes you can make with panko are Daddy’s Comfort Casserole and Grandpa’s Firehouse Chicken.

Pin this recipe for later!

More Instant Pot Pasta Casseroles…

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. 

Pin this recipe for later!

Print

*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.