You know what’s good? Dreamy, creamy macaroni and cheese. You know what’s even better? Dreamy, creamy Instant Pot macaroni and cheese.
Yep, your trusty Instant Pot can not only do amazing beef stew and tomato soup, it’s actually pretty good at pasta! And this five ingredient Instant Pot macaroni and cheese is no exception to the rule.
And as usual, the Instant Pot cooks things up in a hurry, and with a minimum of tending. No pasta-draining, no extra pot for the cheese sauce, no oven. Suppertime bliss!
You’ll need the following ingredients for this kid-friendly supper…
- Elbow macaroni
- Butter
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Milk
- Salt
Oh, and water. So technically 6 ingredients! That’s all that stands between you and cheesy dinnertime happiness.
Pro Tip: I always set my Instant Pot right next to my stovetop, so when I do the pressure release I can flip on the stove vent and all that steam gets whooshed right out.
Here’s How To Make Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese!
- Put 16 ounces of elbow macaroni, 4 cups of water and a teaspoon of salt into your trusty Instant Pot.
- Press the manual button and set it for 5 minutes under high pressure. When the 5 minutes are up, do a quick release and open the pot.
- Stir in 4 tablespoons of butter until it is melted and well mixed in.
- Add 16 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese and stir. Now start drizzling a half cup of milk a little at a time until the cheese is melted and everything is as creamy and dreamy as you like.
- Taste, add salt and pepper as needed, and dish it out!
More Tips for Making Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese!
Cheddar is the classic, but you can also use shredded Monterey Jack, or even that old fave Velveeta (cut it up into chunks, as it doesn’t come shredded).
You can – it won’t be as rich, but it will be just fine.
When our kiddo was little, the Southern husband would always add in chopped up hot dogs. You can also add chopped ham, shredded chicken, cooked baby spinach – pretty much everything goes with mac and cheese! Bring your mix-ins to room temperature and stir them in after the mac and cheese is done.
I mean, I ask you – is there anything happier than a nice full bowl of macaroni and cheese?
Ladies and gentlemen, start your Instant Pots!
Want to round out your meal? This recipe pairs well with...
Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese
Prep Time: 10 minutes- Pressurizing Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
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Pin RecipeDescription
This easy recipe for Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese cooks up the extra creamy, super cheesy mac and cheese of your dreams, all in one pot!
Ingredients
- 16 ounces elbow macaroni
- 4 cups water
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 4 tablespoons butter, room temperature
- 16 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup whole milk
Instructions
- Put the elbows, water and salt into your trusty Instant Pot. Press the manual button and set it for 5 minutes under high pressure. When the 5 minutes are up, do a quick release and open the pot.
- Stir in the butter until it is melted and well mixed in.
- Add the cheese and stir. Now start drizzling the milk a little at a time until the cheese is melted and everything is as creamy and dreamy as you like.
- Taste, add salt and pepper as needed, and dish it out!
Notes
Need to add something to your kitchen equipment to make this recipe? Below are some of the items we used in the Framed Cooks kitchen to help cook this up. These are affiliate links to things we use and love, which helps to pay for all that bacon I keep buying (without any extra cost to you)! Thanks for using them to keep our kitchen cooking…xoxo!
OTHER MAC AND CHEESE RECIPES WE LOVE!
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 This fun recipe for cheeseburger macaroni and cheese is a sure-fire crowd-pleaser! Two great supper tastes in one bowl. |
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