The Teal Bandit

| Family, Food, and Fashion

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • Meet Me
  • Shop
  • The Bandit Blog
    • Family life
    • Recipes
    • Fashion
    • Mental Health and Parenting
  • Link List
  • Contact Me

The Ultimate Instant Pot Mac and Cheese: our #1 favorite family dinner.

by Sam Leave a Comment

We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

The weather outside might be frightful, but your instant pot mac and cheese doesn’t have to be. Last year, or was it the year before? I don’t remember, but at some point, we got an electric pressure cooker from my in-laws. I was TERRIFIED to use this thing because I’ve only ever heard of stories of pressure cookers blowing up. We’ve all seen the memes so you gotta know what I’m talking about. Anyway, they gave us the Power Pressure Cooker XL. In many ways, it’s just like the InstaPot brand. If I say Instapot here, know that’s not the one I have I just forget it’s a brand name and not the whole thing (sorry, InstaPot).

this weeknight meal is perfect addition to your menu if you love Mac and cheese from an instant pot.

We love mac and cheese in our house. My six year old asks for it so often that I look for ways to change it up. So many recipes I have found for InstaPot mac and cheese used evaporated milk. While I don’t hate it, I don’t exactly love it either. I started playing around with milk (whole is what I use, but I’m sure you could use your preferred type). This recipe is so easy and so fast that it makes the perfect weeknight dinner for a busy family.

This is also so quick and effortless that you could easily make it as a side dish for your favorite meatloaf, burgers, or other dishes.  Make it a little more filling and add some cooked bacon, ham, peas, or broccoli to the mix.

What You Need

16 oz pasta (we like to use cellentani pasta or shells. Elbow is another excellent choice).
4 cups broth (chicken or vegetable)
3 Tablespoons salted butter
2 teaspoons hot sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 – 1 cup of milk

How to Make Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

  1. Combine the pasta, broth, butter, hot sauce, and seasoning in the pressure cooker. I choose to use broth because I feel like it adds more flavor than just using plain water. I also suggested the chicken or vegetable because sometimes we like to add broccoli to our mac and cheese. When I am adding that I go with the vegetable so if you are adding more, try to pair it up with your liquid of choice.
  2. This step is going to depend on the type of cooker you have. For the Power Pressure Cooker XL, you will use the rice/risotto option for 6 minutes. InstaPot people and other brand users, I have no idea. Sorry. Cook it for the 6 minutes and manual release the steam.instant pot Mac and cheese is ready in a flash making it the perfect weeknight meal.
  3. Give it a quick stir because why not. Add your cheeses and milk. I highly suggest starting with 1/2 cup of milk and working your way up to a cup. I don’t like runny mac and cheese and am usually golden after adding 3/4 cup.
  4. Mix it all up until its nice and smooth.
  5. Enjoy your instant pot mac and cheese!

this instant pot Mac and cheese is smooth and creamy. It is sure to be a family favorite dinner.

I hope you have enjoyed your mac and cheese. Make sure to subscribe to our blog for all the newest recipes sure to make your mouth water! If you made the recipe, make sure to tell us in the comments below what you thought and what your added to it because I would love to try your ideas out for our own dinners!  Make sure to head over to our other meal ideas like this bacon wrapped meatloaf or our party meatballs for recipe ideas the whole family is sure to love!

this instant pot Mac and cheese is smooth and creamy. It is sure to be a family favorite dinner.
Print

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

We love mac and cheese in our house. My six year old asks for it so often that I look for ways to change it up. So Many recipes I have found for InstaPot mac and cheese used evaporated milk. While I don't hate it, I don't exactly love it either. I started playing around with milk (whole is what I use, but I'm sure you could use your preferred type). This recipe is so easy and so fast that it makes the perfect weeknight dinner for a busy family.  

Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword instant pot, mac and cheese
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Total Time 11 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 380 kcal
Author Sam

Ingredients

  • 16 oz pasta (we like to use cellentani pasta or shells. Elbow is another excellent choice).
  • 4 cups broth chicken or vegetable
  • 3 tbsp butter salted
  • 2 tsp hot sauce
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded
  • 2 cups mozzarella shredded
  • 1/2 - 1 cup milk

Instructions

  1. Combine the pasta, broth, butter, hot sauce, and seasoning in the pressure cooker. I choose to use broth because I feel like it adds more flavor than just using plain water. I also suggested the chicken or vegetable because sometimes we like to add broccoli to our mac and cheese. When I am adding that I go with the vegetable so if you are adding more, try to pair it up with your liquid of choice.  

  2. This step is going to depend on the type of cooker you have. For the Power Pressure Cooker XL, you will use the rice/risotto option for 6 minutes. InstaPot people and other brand users, I have no idea. Sorry. Cook it for the 6 minutes and manual release the steam.  

  3. Give it a quick stir because why not. Add your cheeses and milk. I highly suggest starting with 1/2 cup of milk and working your way up to a cup. I don't like runny mac and cheese and am usually golden after adding 3/4 cup. 

  4. Mix it all up until its nice and smooth.

  5. Enjoy!

this instant pot mac and cheese is sure to be a crowd pleaser.  Quick, easy, and so good to eat you'll want to make it again and again for dinner.
Pin this recipe for later!
  • 9     
    9
    Shares

    Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: easy dinner, family dinner, instant pot, instapot, Mac and cheese, quick dinner, recipes, weekday dinner, weeknight dinner

    « Is It Ok to Ask if Someone is Having More Kids? Spoiler Alert, it’s 1 question that’s not.
    The Ultimate Party Meatball Recipe »

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    The Teal Bandit Newsletter

    Worried about missing the newest bandit updates, tips, and tricks? Sign up right here for our weekly newsletter and rest easy!

    What's talked about

    activities to do in summer vacation air travel children easy dinner family family dinner family holiday family travel family vacation flying holidays kid friendly kids mental health parenthood quick dinner recipes summer activities for families summer activities for kids summer vacation things to do in Boston things to do in new england travel weekday dinner weeknight dinner

    Share the fun

    9     
    9
    Shares

    Head to our Teal Bandit Den!

    Categories

    Archives

    Copyright © 2023 · Delightful theme by Restored 316

    Copyright © 2023 · Delightful Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in