Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
on Jun 20, 2021, Updated Sep 18, 2024
This homemade Instant Pot Mac and Cheese recipe is made in just 10 minutes. This easy recipe is sure to be a family favorite!
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese is Delicious!
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese is the recipe that turned me from an instant pot skeptic to a big fan.
This is one of my favorite pressure cooker recipes because it is just SO FLAVORFUL and easy to make.
I make this recipe for many holidays. My kids love it and it’s great for saving oven space!
This recipe is one of our faves. Everyone loves this creamy and cheesy homemade mac and cheese. So delicious, so simple, and so little clean up!
“I make this at least once a month and everytime we have house guests staying. So easy and always a crowd pleaser.” -Andy
Find the full recipe and instructions at the bottom of this post.
Ingredients & Notes
- Elbow macaroni noodles: this recipe has not been tested with another kind of noodle, you will need to research cook times if you change the type of pasta.
- Vegetable broth: or chicken broth
- Water
- Butter
- Freshly grated cheese: bagged shredded cheese is not a substitute
- Heavy cream
- Seasonings: salt, pepper, garlic powder
What kind of cheese can I use?
For this recipe, I use good quality freshly grated sharp cheddar and parmesan cheese for best creaminess and taste.
We love this flavor combination for mac and cheese, but you can also use all sharp cheddar cheese. You can experiment using different cheeses for new flavors, I just suggest using a quality cheese that you grate yourself for best results!
I do not recommend using bagged shredded cheese for this recipe. The stabilizing agent used in bagged cheese will not melt as well as when it is freshly grated from a block.
How to make Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
- Add the uncooked macaroni noodles, vegetable broth, spices, and water to the instant pot.
- Cube the butter and stir it in
- Place the lid on, set the valve to sealing, and set the instant pot to manual for four minutes. Once the 4 minutes are up, do a quick release.
- Once the quick release is finished and the pin has dropped, safely open the lid and stir in the heavy cream and shredded cheese until creamy.
We have made this instant pot mac and cheese for a Thanksgiving side dish which cut down on cook time and was a breeze to throw together.
It’s great for quick meals or a side dish that you can have ready in minutes!
Does the cook time double if you double the recipe?
No, doubling the recipe will not affect the cook time. It will just take the mixture a little bit longer to come to pressure before it begins the 4 minute count down.
How do you keep mac and cheese warm in the Instant Pot?
After the macaroni and cheese has finished cooking, switch the Instant Pot over to the “keep warm” mode until you are ready to eat. Note that this should only be used for a short amount of time, or it could cause the pasta to dry out.
Storing
- Storing: Store leftover mac and cheese in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheating: To reheat, either microwave the pasta or place it in a sauce pan with a small amount of milk to help loosen the cheese sauce up.
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni noodles
- 2 cups vegetable broth , or chicken broth
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 tablespoons butter, cut into cubes
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Add the uncooked macaroni noodles, vegetable broth, water, butter, garlic powder, pepper, and salt to the Instant Pot.
- Place the lid on the pot and set to sealing. Cook on manual function for 4 minutes.
- Once the 4 minutes is up, do a quick release. Allow the pin to drop completely before safely removing the lid.
- Add the heavy cream and cheese and stir until melted and creamy
Slam dunk! This was universally loved by my family. Only problem was NO leftovers. I will double the recipe next time and see if that works out.
I’m so glad it was a hit! I have doubled it myself and as long as you have a 6 Qt or larger IP it works like a charm!
If I need to double the recipe, would I add time to the cooking?
Nope! Just double all ingredients but keep the cook time the same.
Can you add ground beef?
I have a 3 quart instant pot. Would I half all of the ingredients ?
Yes, you could do that!
Is it possible to substitute the heavy cream for something else? Like more milk? Thinking of making this tonight and dont want to run to the store
I have not tried it, but it might work. The only issue might be the sauce being a little runnier. Let me know if you try it!
I just used whole milk only and medium cheddar because that’s what I had on hand. It’s a little runnier than it should be, but I’m going to just cook some of the liquid out, and it should be perfect! So excited to find this because I cannot make Mac and cheese! And I’ve tried many, many recipes over the years. This would actually bake up nicely with some breadcrumbs, so I might do that.
So glad you made it work for you!
You can make a slurry which is a tablespoon of corn starch or flour add it to about1/2 cup of water or Chicken stock or whatever you have on hand. Make sure the flour or corn strach is dissolved and than stir it in your mixture. That will ticken it up. I hope this helps.
just made this, it is so easy! i am not a huge fan of sharp cheddar, I’m thinking next time i may just use a different cheese, but its great!
Any cheese will work!
Hello, Would you increase the cook time if you double the recipe?
I do not think so. Maybe someone else has tried it and can verify?
Delicious! I doubled and it worked out great!
So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Did you add more cooking time?
Just confirming that you don’t drain the noodles after cooking?
Correct! They absorb most of the liquid when cooking, and the rest becomes part of the sauce.
Quick question – when you do a quick release does it spray starchy steam everywhere? I read other posts that said that making noodles in the instant pot is messy. I am planning making this tomorrow for super bowl but want to prepare myself Thank you!
Would you need to change cook time.if you use a different noodle, such as rotini
Yes, just research your specific noodle and search the internet for instant pot cook time. Hope that helps!
Take the cook time from the package and cut in half
By the way, gouda with sharp cheddar makes a very good cheese flavor! This recipe was great!
Could I double this recipe in the intsapot?
It would depend on the capacity/size of your instant pot. You can check online for your specific model!
What size instant pot did you use for the recipe?
I used a 6 quart.