Try This Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese Recipe For Your Kids’ Delight
This super easy instant pot macaroni and cheese recipe is the best version you’ll ever eat! It’s delicious and can be made healthier by adding vegetables and ham. Kids and adults love it – your children will be begging for this yummy instant pot mac and cheese for dinner every night.
We love homemade macaroni and cheese at our house, but making the sauce from scratch always was a bit of a pain.
Not anymore!
One of our top ten instant pot recipes is this super easy instant pot mac and cheese. No stirring, no boiling, and no warming up the stove!
This instant pot mac and cheese recipe has become a huge favorite at our home, and it’s a much healthier alternative to boxed macaroni and cheese!
(It’s easier than boxed macaroni and cheese because you don’t have to keep the noodles from boiling over!)
Ingredients for Instant Pot Mac & Cheese
Here’s the list of ingredients you’ll need for Instant Pot macaroni and cheese.
- 4 cups water
- 16 oz macaroni noodles
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 1 cup whole milk
- 16 oz shredded cheese
- diced ham, little smokies, or sliced hot dogs
- bag of frozen vegetables
Instructions
Prepare the Instant Pot:
Pour 4 cups of water into the Instant Pot, making sure it covers the macaroni completely for even cooking and flavor absorption.
Add Butter (Optional):
For extra richness, you can put in a tablespoon or two of butter. Just be careful—adding butter might cause steam during a quick release. A pressure cook or slow cooker with completely melted butter gives the dish a smooth texture and a bit of flavor.
Stir Pasta:
Gently stir the pasta to ensure even cooking and help prevent it from sticking together. It promotes uniform absorption of flavors and ensures a consistent texture throughout the dish.
Pressure Cook:
Select ‘Manual’ mode on the Instant Pot for four minutes. After cooking, release pressure quickly, but be cautious—steam is hot. Before draining the macaroni, save some pasta water or use chicken broth in case you want to adjust the cheese sauce later.
Add Cheese:
After releasing the pressure, add 4 oz of cream cheese and 16 oz of pre-shredded cheese to the cooked macaroni. You can try different cheese flavors based on your taste. The cream cheese gives a tangy richness, and the pre-shredded cheese melts into a tasty sauce.
Make it Creamy:
Pour in 1 cup of whole milk or evaporated milk. For additional flavor, add extra Kosher salt, black pepper, and more cheese to taste. Stir well with a wooden spoon until the shredded cheese melts completely, ensuring the sauce covers the macaroni evenly in the Instant Pot for a creamy and flavorful result.
Customize with Additions:
Make your mac and cheese recipe extra special by adding fresh herbs like parsley or chives for color. For a healthy boost, toss in pre-cooked frozen veggies like broccoli or carrots. If you’re craving something heartier, mix in diced ham or hot dogs. These additions add flavor and nutrients, making these cheese recipes even more delicious.
The Short Version
Here’s the quick-reference version of this instant pot macaroni and cheese.
- (+ little smokeys or hot dogs if desired)
- (+ diced ham if desired)
And if the Instant Pot feels a bit overwhelming, give these easy Air Fryer recipes for beginners a try!
Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 1 lb elbow macaroni
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 16 oz shredded cheese
- 1 cup milk
- 1 bag frozen broccoli (or broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot mix)
- cubed ham (or hot dogs or little smokies)
Instructions
- Put the water and macaroni into the Instant Pot (along with hot dogs or little smokies if desired)
- Cook on high pressure for 4 minutes, with a quick release at the end.
- Stir in cream cheese, shredded cheese, and milk
- Add vegetables and ham as desired.
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