Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese

This easy 4 ingredient Instant Pot macaroni and cheese recipe is a family favorite! Just 8 minute cook time makes the perfect pressure cooker mac and cheese recipe you can load with bacon too. Great after school snack for kids or side dish for dinner. 

OH MY….this 4 ingredient Instant Pot macaroni and cheese is one of our favorite meals! I’ve made it in the slow cooker, stove top, and today made it in my new pressure cooker and seriously it was amazing + only took 10 minutes total! Yes we’ve made the boxed version a lot, and I think I had it at least twice a week this way growing up, but making it from scratch is just amazing! You only really need 4 ingredients + some water too, that’s a easy meal win in my book. 😉 It’s one of my kids’ favorite Instant Pot recipes.  (originally published 1/17, affiliate links present)

Oh yum is right huh??

It’s the best way to make homemade Instant Pot macaroni and cheese in less than 20 minutes flat I tell you……

Pressure cooking is the way to go. Period.

The only thing you’ll need to prep is:

• shred 3 cups of either cheddar (we like sharp), or a mixture of jack and cheddar
• boil your noodles in the Instant Pot for about 3 minutes, high pressure
  • adjust for gluten free pasta
• quick release, drain, and add the rest of your ingredients
• stir and enjoy

Can you use milk in a pressure cooker?

• Yes, for a short cook time
• For this dish we add it in after cooking the noodles so no worries

This is what you’ll need to make this easy homemade Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese

1. 1. Noodles – elbow macaroni or small shells work
   2. Water or chicken broth
   3. Evaporated milk – if you don’t have any you could sub. for whole milk
   4. Shredded cheese – we love sharp cheddar 
      1. some added parmesan cheese is good too
   5. Salt
   6. Butter
   7. With bacon or precooked sausage is optional

Here’s a video showing you how easy it is to make:

If you let it sit the sauce will thicken a bit more but we think it is perfect as soon as the cheese is melted and serve it immediately with a pinch of bacon bits on top. It serves the 5 of us just fine with a side of salad for dinner.

• Instant Pot mac and cheese is a great after school snack because it’s so quick and easy. 

Looking for more Instant Pot pasta recipes?

• Instant Pot pizza pasta
• The easiest Instant Pot spaghetti
• We have a lot of other cheap Instant Pot recipes to choose from here too!
• Add ground beef for a batch of pressure cooker cheeseburger macaroni

If you want to make boxed Kraft mac and cheese in a pressure cooker we have instructions for that too, as well as stovetop homemade mac and cheese!

What should I serve with macaroni and cheese?

1. You can make a whole chicken in your pressure cooker and serve side by side.
2. Our Instant Pot broccoli takes a whopping 1 minute.
3. Air fryer chicken nuggets are always a winner.
   1. With some beautiful roasted vegetables of course.

How do I reheat mac n cheese in the Instant Pot?

• Reheating inside a pressure cooker is possible on saute low, with a few tbsp. of milk
  • Stir until warm enough, remove immediately
• I like to put it in a bowl and add 1 tbsp of milk to the top
• Microwave for 30 seconds
• Then stir it and cook for another 30 seconds
• If you put a paper towel over the top to begin with it will keep in more of the moisture

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4.89 from 9 votes

Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese

This easy 4 ingredient Instant Pot macaroni and cheese recipe is the best dinner ever! Just 8 minutes to the perfect pressure cooker mac and cheese loaded with creamy cheeses and bacon too if you want. It's a great after school snack for kids and the quickest homemade macaroni and cheese recipe ever.

Course Entree, Main Course, Snack

Cuisine American

Keyword easy, instant pot, macaroni and cheese, pressure cooker

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 2 minutes

Total Time 16 minutes

Servings 4

Calories 649kcal

Author The Typical Mom

Ingredients

• 3 c noodles macaroni or shell are good
• 4 c water
• 3/4-1 c evaporated milk 1 cup if you don't want it quite as thick
• 2 c cheese can use more of course
• 3 tbsp butter

Instructions

• Add your water, macaroni noodles, and salt.  Put your Instant Pot or pressure cooker on manual, high pressure, for 2 minutes. (3 minutes if you prefer noodles on the softer side)
• Lock lid on and close pressure valve. 
• Do a quick pressure release when time is up, turn IP off. Carefully open the lid. Drain remaining water. 
• Set IP to saute low and add your butter (allow to melt), then your evaporated milk (add 3/4 c. then when cheese is melted add remaining 1/4 c if you want it not as thick) then your cheese allowing it to melt and stirring until all cheese is melted and your macaroni and cheese is the consistency you want. 
• To thin it out to your desired consistency add more evaporated milk, or regular milk. 
• Turn IP off. By now sauce should be a bit thicker and ready to serve. Best when eaten immediately!

Nutrition Facts

Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese

Amount Per Serving (4 oz)

Calories 649 Calories from Fat 369

% Daily Value*

Fat 41g63%

Saturated Fat 25g156%

Cholesterol 125mg42%

Sodium 668mg29%

Potassium 328mg9%

Carbohydrates 39g13%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 30g60%

Vitamin A 1230IU25%

Vitamin C 0.9mg1%

Calcium 756mg76%

Iron 1.3mg7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.