Jurassic Park Mashed Potato Volcano

If your kid is in their dinosaur era (or you just rewatched Jurassic Park for the hundredth time), this mashed potato volcano is the dinner that gets everyone to the table without a single complaint.

Mashed potatoes piled into a mountain, dino nuggets climb up the sides, broccoli trees pop up around the base, and right before you serve it, warm brown gravy gets poured over the top so it runs down like lava. This is SUCH a fun dinner!

What You Need To Build The Volcano

Before you start scooping potatoes, take a minute to think through your setup. Prep is very important or you are going to end up with cold food by the time you are done.

A large platter. Mine was an oblong platter that measured about 10 inches by 15 inches. Make sure whatever platter you grab actually fits on your table before you start building on it.

A tall drinking glass. This is what gives the volcano its shape. I used a glass that was 5 inches tall. Wrap it in aluminum foil first, then turn it upside down on the platter. The shape ends up looking a lot like a high top shoe once it is wrapped, which is exactly what you want.

An angled icing knife. This is the easiest tool for spreading mashed potatoes up the sides of the glass and smoothing everything out. A regular butter knife works too, but the angled icing knife makes the job a lot faster.

Ingredients

• 1 head fresh broccoli, cut into florets, keeping some stems a little long so they look like trees
• Dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets, cooked according to package directions
• 10 servings prepared mashed potatoes (instant potatoes plus salt, butter, water, and milk)
• 1 packet (0.87 oz) brown gravy mix, plus water to prepare it
• Aluminum foil

A quick note on the potatoes: use 10 servings from back of the box, not 8, even though the volcano shape only looks like it needs 8. The back side of the glass eats up more potatoes than you’d expect, and running short means you end up with foil peeking through in spots. Ten servings gives you enough to fully cover the glass with potatoes left over to build the lake and surrounding ground.

If you would rather skip the instant potato box and make a batch from scratch, my cream cheese mashed potatoes recipe makes a big, creamy batch that holds up just as well for shaping.

How To Make A Mashed Potato Volcano

Steam the broccoli. Add your broccoli to a steamer basket with water and steam for about 4 to 6 minutes, until it is slightly crisp tender. Set it aside and keep it warm.

Cook the dino nuggets. Follow the air fryer directions on the box. Mine called for 400 degrees for 6 to 7 minutes, with no need to preheat. Keep them warm until you are ready to build.

Set up your base. Place your large platter on the table or counter where you plan to build. Add a small dollop of mashed potatoes to the platter and spread it out a bit.

Build the volcano frame. Wrap your drinking glass in aluminum foil and turn it upside down onto the dollop of potatoes. Press down gently so the glass sticks to the platter and will not slide around while you work.

Cover the mountain. Add dollops of mashed potatoes around the glass, working your way up the sides to cover the foil completely. Use your icing knife to smooth everything and blend it into a mountain shape. Spread more potatoes around the base to create the surrounding ground and a small lake area near the front.

Add the texture. Use the icing knife to carve a groove or trough running down the side of the volcano and into the lake area. This is what makes the gravy flow naturally once you pour it on top.

Add the dinosaurs and trees. Press the dino nuggets gently into the sides of the mountain and around the base. Tuck the broccoli florets in around the nuggets so they look like little trees growing on the mountainside.

Pour the lava and serve. Prepare the brown gravy according to the package directions. Pour it slowly over the top of the volcano so it runs down the groove you carved, then serve right away.

Tips For The Best Dinosaur Volcano

This is a recipe where the small details make a big difference, so here is what I learned from making it.

• Stick with 10 servings of mashed potatoes, not 8. You want enough to fully cover the back of the glass, even the side that is not facing the camera or facing your guests.
• This dish is best eaten quickly. Everything holds heat for a good while, but the texture and taste are best when it is still hot, especially the potatoes and gravy.
• If you want extra crispy nuggets, air fry your frozen chicken nuggets instead of using the microwave or oven. They hold their shape better when you press them into the potatoes.
• Want a richer gravy instead of the packet version? My homemade chicken gravy recipe comes together in about the same amount of time and pours just as well over the top.