Instant Pot Road Trip Casserole–a hearty dish of ground beef, cubed potatoes, bell pepper and cheddar cheese. All made in one pot…your Instant Pot. With just a 2 minute pressure cook time this recipe could become a new family favorite!

Road Trip Casserole
We are so excited because today our friends are driving cross country to visit us. I’m sure when they are arrive they will be hungry and tired. This hearty casserole is a perfect dinner to serve up after a long day on the road. I loved the slight sweetness of the bell pepper and tomato paste incorporated with the beef and potatoes. I think you’ll love this fast and easy dinner!
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Lean ground beef–or ground turkey
- Diced onion–or shallot
- Garlic cloves–fresh, frozen or jarred
- Beef broth–or water and Better than Bouillon
- Kosher salt
- Paprika–sweet or regular (if you want to use smoked I would only use ¼ teaspoon)
- Pepper–black or white
- Italian seasoning
- Parsley
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Russet potatoes–or yellow or red potatoes
- Tomato paste
- Red bell pepper–or green, yellow or orange
- Cheddar cheese–or another type of cheese like colby jack
Steps
Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the beef and break it up. Add in the onion. Brown for about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic.

Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off Instant Pot.
Sprinkle in the salt, paprika, pepper, Italian seasoning, parsley, red pepper.

Then dump in the potatoes, tomato paste and bell pepper. Don’t stir.

Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 2 minutes. When time is up move valve to venting and remove the lid.

Gently stir in the cheese.
Serve and enjoy!

Notes/Tips
- Serve with a side of green beans or asparagus.
- This recipe is gluten-free.
- Use more veggies: I recommend adding in some fresh or canned green beans or some sliced carrots.
- Make it spicier: Feel free to double the amount of chili flakes
- 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 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Other recipes you can make with russet potatoes are Instant Pot 5-Ingredient Pot Roast Dinner (From Frozen) and Instant Pot French Onion Potato Bake.

More Instant Pot Beef and Potato Recipes…
Instant Pot Lucky Man’s Casserole
An easy-to-make dinner of beef smoked sausage and potatoes in a flavorful sauce.
Instant Pot Lisa’s Comfy Casserole
A creamy potato, ground beef and mushroom dish that is all made in one pot.
Needy Husband Casserole
Seasoned ground beef, sliced potatoes, dill pickles, bacon crumbles and cheddar cheese all made in your Instant Pot!
Instant Pot Hobo Casserole
Like hobo dinners you make when you are camping but way faster and in a the form of a family-style casserole. The ultimate comfort food!
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.


Road Trip Casserole
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
A hearty dish of ground beef, cubed potatoes, bell pepper and cheddar cheese. All made in one pot…your Instant Pot. With just a 2 minute pressure cook time this recipe could become a new family favorite!
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 cup diced onion
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp italian seasoning
- 1 tsp parsley
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 22 ounces of russet potatoes, peeled and diced (this was 4 medium russet potatoes for me)
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1 red bell pepper, large diced
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the beef and break it up. Add in the onion. Brown for about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic.
- Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off Instant Pot.
- Sprinkle in the salt, paprika, pepper, Italian seasoning, parsley, red pepper. Then dump in the potatoes, tomato paste and bell pepper. Don’t stir.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 2 minutes. When time is up move valve to venting and remove the lid.
- Gently stir in the cheese.
- Serve and enjoy!
- 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.
Very tasty! I used 3/4 can beef broth
And 10 small baby red potatoes cut in half. I used Mexican blend shredded cheese sprinkle it on top at the end did not stir it in. cooked 3 minutes and 2 natural release then sprinkled cheese. Family loved it made it 3 times now thank you for your recipes delish!
★★★★★
wow 3 times! That means it’s a winner! Thanks Veronica.
Delish! Not a bite left, thanks for your wonderful recipes!
★★★★★
Thanks Tara!
This is THE recipe that convinced me to not donate my Instant Pot to the thrift store!!! I made it two days in a row, the second time I doubled it. When I told my family I’m making it for my daughters birthday party they were very happy.
★★★★★
So glad you didn’t donate it! The IP is a great tool!
If I use a 8qt pot do I need to add more liquid in this recipe?
You may want to increase it to 3/4 cup to 1 cup to make sure it comes to pressure.
Can’t go wrong with meat and potatoes with my gang. We loved this. Super easy using the IP
★★★★★
can I have stove top directions since I don’t own a instant pot, let me know and thank you
Lots of recipes call for cubed potatoes, what if you use the simply potatoes cubed? How would you adjust time?
I haven’t tried those before. Are they partially cooked?
stove top or crock pot instructions please and thank you
Is it possible for you to have oven/stove top directions, due to the fact that not everyone has an Instant Pot? It would be greatly appreciated.
Or a crockpot❤️