Napoleon Dynamite Casserole–Instant Pot beefy, cheesy, tater tot casserole with ultimate flavor!
Napoleon Dynamite Casserole
Napoleon Dynamite, the cult classic film, is one of my favorites! I have special ties to the film since the location of the film was in my mom’s hometown and there is a scene that was filmed on the farm she grew up on.
Today’s recipe takes a couple ingredients from the film, tots and steak (beef), and puts them together into an amazing dinner. “Napoleon, give me some of your tots!” “She said she doesn’t want you here when she gets back because you’ve been ruining everybody’s lives and eating all our steak.”
My husband said, “this is an all timer!” and my son said, “Dad wasn’t lying! This stuff is amazing.” So even though the combination might seem strange I think you’ll really love it!
You start this recipe by using your Instant Pot to get the most tender beef stew meat possible. By pressure cooking the stew meat it becomes melt-in-your-mouth tender. Then you’ll use your air fryer lid (if you have one) to cook and crisp the tots and melt the cheese. (Don’t worry if you don’t have an air fryer lid you can still make this recipe).
I’m pretty sure Napoleon, Uncle Rico and Kip would all love this dinner 🙂
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Olive oil–or vegetable, canola oil
- Beef stew meat–or rump, chuck roast, chuck steak cut into cubes
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion
- Ketchup
- Yellow mustard
- Tomato paste
- Low sodium soy sauce–or worcestershire sauce
- Beef broth–or water and better than bouillon
- Cornstarch
- Frozen sweet white corn
- Cheddar cheese–I used sharp
- Mini tater tots–or crispy crowns. I like ore-ida brand.
Steps
Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the oil and swirl it around. Add in the beef stew meat and brown on one side for 3 minutes and then flip over and brown for another 2 minutes.
Stir in the salt, pepper, garlic powder and onions. Saute onions for 2 minutes.
Then stir in the ketchup, mustard, tomato paste and soy sauce.
Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off Instant Pot.
Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 20 minutes.
If you don’t have an air fryer lid then cook the tater tots at this time in your oven according to package directions.
When pressure cooking time is up let pot sit for 10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
Stir the cornstarch together with cold water until smooth. Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. Stir the slurry into the pot until sauce thickens.
Stir in the corn until heated through. Turn off Instant Pot.
Sprinkle the cheese on top.
Add tater tots on top and use air fryer lid to air fry for 10 minutes at 400 degrees or until browned and crispy.
Serve and enjoy!
Notes/Tips
- Serve with a side of green beans and fruit salad.
- This recipe can be gluten free if you use gluten free tater tots and soy sauce.
- I used my Duo Crisp 6 quart Instant Pot*. This is the Instant Pot that has the air fryer lid included. You can also make this in a 3 or 8 quart pot. Another way that I love to cook tots is in my air fryer*.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. This recipe is best the first day because the tater tots are crispy. After they get refrigerated they will be a bit soggy.
- Other recipes you can make with frozen sweet white corn are Indiana Casserole or Rocky Top Casserole.
More Recipes with Tater Tots…
Rodeo Casserole
Rodeo Casserole has baked beans, rice, enchilada sauce, sour cream, cheese and tots. It’s like a cross between tex-mex and bbq and it tastes oh so good! Yee HAW!
Instant Pot Hillbilly Casserole
With only 5 ingredients this dish of beans, dogs and and tots comes together in a snap. Make in your Instant Pot with air fryer lid or in your oven.
BYU Casserole
BYU Casserole, also known as hotdish, is a fun family favorite! It’s got ground beef, tater tots and a creamy sauce. This version can be made in your Instant Pot with an air fryer lid or it can be baked in the oven.
Instant Pot Totcho Casserole
Tater tots meet nachos in this crowd-pleasing casserole. With layers of ground beef, fire roasted tomatoes, refried beans, cheese, tater tots and delicious toppings what is there not to love?
Instant Pot Tater Tot Casserole
The hot dish your mom used to make with ground beef, veggies and tater tots only it’s made in the Instant Pot instead of the oven.
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.
Napoleon Dynamite Casserole
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes (plus 10 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Instant Pot beefy, cheesy, tater tot casserole with ultimate flavor!
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 pound beef stew meat (my package was 1.12 pounds)
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 Tbsp ketchup
- 1 Tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp low sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch + 1 Tbsp cold water
- 1 cup frozen sweet white corn
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 cups mini tater tots
Instructions
- Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the oil and swirl it around. Add in the beef stew meat and brown on one side for 3 minutes and then flip over and brown for another 2 minutes.
- Stir in the salt, pepper, garlic powder and onions. Saute onions for 2 minutes. Then stir in the ketchup, mustard, tomato paste and soy sauce.
- Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off Instant Pot.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 20 minutes.
- If you don’t have an air fryer lid then cook the tater tots at this time in your oven according to package directions.
- When pressure cooking time is up let pot sit for 10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
- Stir the cornstarch together with cold water until smooth. Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. Stir the slurry into the pot until sauce thickens.
- Stir in the corn until heated through. Turn off Instant Pot.
- Sprinkle the cheese on top.
- Add tater tots on top and use air fryer lid to air fry for 10 minutes at 400 degrees or until browned and crispy.
- Serve and enjoy!
- Category: Beef
- Method: Instant Pot with 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.
Preston was my dad’s hometown too. I’ve been in/at many scenes from the movie too!!
All roads lead back to Preston Idaho I guess!
Wow! First Great Falls and now Preston, too? I had a guy from Preston work for me for years and could have been in the movie! I’ve recreated around Preston for years and live not too far from there in Utah.
It’s crazy how many people have ties to Preston Idaho!!! I love it!
What’s a good substitute for the beef? My husband doesn’t eat red meat (or pork or lamb), but he does eat poultry and fish. Would cubed chicken work?
you could do cubed chicken but only pressure cook 1 minute
I have indicated that I Want slow cooker recipes and you keep posting Instant pot recipes! Why?
How much are you paying Karen? Since apparently she works for you…
Thank you, Karen, for providing these recipes to us on your own time and on your own dime for ingredients and admin costs. The weight loss casserole was delicious and this one looks yummy also.
If you go to her “menu” button, she has a whole section for crock pot recipes. 🤷🏻♀️
HI Kathleen if you go here you can find all the recipes that can be made in the slow cooker: https://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/recipes/?fwp_method=slow-cooker
I do not know how I came across this recipe right here but it looks absolutely damn delectable. my question is can this recipe be adjusted to for use in a crock pot?
Hi Donald, this is how I would make the recipe in a slow cooker.
1. Optional but really encouraged step: brown the stew meat and saute onions in oil on the stove top then transfer to slow cooker.
2. Stir in the salt, pepper, garlic powder. Then stir in the ketchup, mustard, tomato paste and soy sauce.
Pour in the broth .
3. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours, or until beef is tender.
4. Cook tots according to directions on package.
5. Stir the cornstarch together with cold water until smooth. Turn slow cooker to high. Stir the slurry into the pot until sauce thickens.
6. Stir in the corn until heated through.
7. Sprinkle the cheese on top.
8. Add tater tots on top. Enjoy!