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Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

Instant Pot· Lunch· Main Dishes· Pasta· Side Dish

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This Instant Pot Mac and Cheese is creamy and delicious and only takes 5 minutes to make in the instant pot.

The large elbow noodles cook perfectly and taste a million times better than the box version.

Your family will love this quick and easy homemade cheesy pasta dish.

It sure to become your family’s favorite comfort food for dinner.

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

I made an instant pot believer out of my husband with this mac n cheese recipe.

At first, my husband was skeptical of me cooking macaroni and cheese in the instant pot he thought the noodles would turn out mushy or undercooked.

He was quite surprised how the noodles cooked perfectly and took less time than cooking the noodles on the stove.

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

This recipe is my new favorite side dish to cook in the instant pot. I will never go back to cooking stovetop mac and cheese again.

My pasta always turned out horrible cooked on the stove.

Once you have the noodles perfected in the instant pot you can change up the way it tastes by using different seasonings and cheeses.

My Instant Pot is an 8 quart and it only took 5 minutes to cook the noodles.

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

Additionally, we used sharp cheddar cheese and pepper jack cheese in our mac and cheese recipe.

Although, I have known other people to add different kinds of cheese like Velveeta cheese, cream cheese, mozzarella, parmesan, fontina, or gruyere cheese to their instant pot macaroni noodles.

Honestly, how you make your mac and cheese taste is really up to you.

Macaroni and Cheese

Creamy Mac And Cheese

My Instant Pot Mac and Cheese recipe use heavy whipping cream to give it a creamy consistency.

Though, I have seen others use half and half, milk, or evaporated milk and add chicken broth instead of water.

Again, I think it depends on your tastebuds.

Also, you could top the mac and cheese with a topping and make instant pot mac and cheese with broccoli or instant pot mac and cheese with bacon. Bacon sounds yummy!!!

How would you make your easy mac and cheese recipe?

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

This cheesy creamy pasta makes the perfect side dish or meal paired with your favorite main dish.

More Instant pot recipes

Also check out my Southern Style Green Beans recipe and my Creamy Coleslaw.

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 8 minutes

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese is creamy and delicious mouth watering good classic comfort food. 

Ingredients

  • 1- 16 oz bag large elbow noodles
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 4 cups water 
  • 3 tablespoon butter
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  •  2 teaspoon sea salt or to taste ( personally I like more salt but, my family doesn't)
  • 1 teaspoon pepper or to taste 
  • 3 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese (we shredded block cheese)
  • 1 1/2 cup pepper jack ( or favorite cheese) (we shredded block cheese)
  • optional: cajun seasoning

Instructions

  1. Empty bag of noodles into inner pot in the Instant pot. 
  2. Pour water in the Instant Pot.
  3. Stir in butter, sea salt, pepper, and paprika. 
  4. Close lid and lock. Set to manual 5 minutes. Carefully do quick release once timer goes off. 
  5. Drain any water from the Instant Pot. Slowly stir in heavy whipping cream a little at a time and add cheese. 
  6. Add more seasoning if needed. Serve the mac and cheese with your favorite toppings. 

Notes

 Use real butter not margarine. Also, I sprinkled a little Cajun seasoning on my bowl of mac and cheese.

We shredded block cheese. We found pre-shredded cheese doesn't work as well. 

If using ramekins instead of regular size bowls you'll get more servings of mac and cheese. 

Use the amount of salt you prefer. We used a little bit of salt due to my husband having to limit his salt intake. 

Mac and Cheese will thicken more as it cools down. 

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 0Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g
© Kim Seghers
Cuisine: American / Category: Side Dish

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Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michele says

    Just made this and the texture is terrific. Felt like it needed some dry mustard maybe? I did hold back on the salt a bit. Might try it with Gouda next time. Anyone made those changes?

    Reply

    • Kim Seghers says

      Hi Michele!Thank you so much for this great feedback. Glad you liked the texture. I have never added dry mustard before to it but, will have to try it next time. I have tried Gouda instead of the other cheeses and its delicious. Let me know if you try it with Gouda. Try a little smoked paprika too …yum! Thank you again for taking the time to comment. Have a great Friday, Kim

      Reply

  2. Dawn says

    I’m not a big fan of cheddar it usually comes out griddy did you freshly grate it? What would a cheese be similar to American?

    Reply

    • Kim Seghers says

      Hi Dawn! Yes I used freshly grated cheddar and it didn’t come out griddy. Watch my video on the post you can see all the ingredients and how I made it. Honestly the closest thing to American cheese would be cheddar either a mild or sharp. Maybe try gouda, monterrey Jack, pepper jack, or any grated cheese you love. I hope that answers your question. Have a great weekend, Kim

      Reply

  3. Blynke Bloodlust says

    Wow! My first attempt at Instant Pot Mac and Cheese and I am SO glad that this is the recipe I tried first. Cream cheese is in a lot of the others and it just didn’t sound that great. Fortunately, I had heavy cream on hand in addition to all of the other ingredients, so this was easy! And omg, so good! I’m never making mac and cheese from a box again! Pepperjack! Who woulda thunk it? DELICIOUS! Thank you for this recipe!

    Reply

    • Kim Seghers says

      Thank you so much you made my day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m so glad you like this recipe. And, thank you for taking the time to let me know you enjoyed this recipe. Have a lovely weekend, Kim

      Reply

    • Kim Seghers says

      Hi Nicole! I know I should cook better recipes and more keto friendly. My mom lost 15 pounds and my oldest son lost 30 on the Keto diet. Me 0!! Anyways maybe I’ll try some Keto recipes in the Instant Pot I love my Instant pot!!! Enjoy your weekend, Kim

      Reply

    • Kim Seghers says

      Hi Jasmine! I know the Instant Pot cooks quick and the slow cooker takes all day. Personally if I’m gone all day and need dinner when I get home I like to use my slow cooker. The Instant Pot is great to make quick meals but you can’t leave it and run off. I love my Instant Pot but will never give up my slow cooker! Have a great weekend, Kim

      Reply

  10. Beth Pierce says

    If my kids could pick one food to eat all day, every day, it would be mac and cheese! This looks delicious; I will have to whip this up for them-and me too!

    Reply

  13. Stacie says

    I LOVE making mac and cheese for the family. I don’t do it that much because it takes so long. Not anymore! This is why I love the Instant Pot.

    Reply

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