This flavorful Instant Pot Mac & Cheese is a classic comfort food that comes out creamy and delicious in under 30 minutes, with just 7 simple ingredients.
There is almost nothing more comforting than a hot bowl of creamy mac and cheese. This simple Instant Pot mac and cheese recipe is everything you want it to be: rich, cheese, and packed with flavor. By adding chicken broth and mustard powder, there is more flavor in the pasta itself rather than just the cheese sauce.
Why You’ll Love It
- Simple: In less than 30 minutes, you can make this easy bowl of mac and cheese. It is a great way to treat yourself after a hard day of work.
- Easy clean up: There is much less clean up than cooking it on the stove!
Debra says: 
Delish! The kids devoured it.
Ingredients You Need
- Dried Elbow Macaroni: We recommend pastas that can hold the sauce like elbow, shell, or fusilli.
- Low Sodium Chicken Broth: Using chicken broth instead of water will add an extra layer of flavor, but you can also use a vegetable broth to make it vegetarian-friendly.
- Butter: We use salted butter, but you can use unsalted butter if you’re trying to cut back on sodium.
- Mustard Powder: the acidity in the powder adds a brightness to the sauce.
- Milk or Half and Half: Stick with one of these two for the fat content to keep it creamy.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Shred your own cheese as pre-shredded does not melt as well in the mac & cheese. Feel free to add in other cheeses, just make sure they melt well.
- Velveeta or Cheese Slices: Velveeta melts beautifully and gives the mac and cheese a whole new level of creaminess. If you are using cheese slices, each slice is an ounce so you will want to use 6 slices.
Helpful Tips
- Stick with shredded cheese in this recipe rather than cubed. Cubed cheese takes longer to melt into the pasta. Instead of getting a smooth sauce, you may get clumps.
- Shred your own cheese rather than buying pre-shredded cheese. Pre-shredded cheeses usually have cornstarch on them which prevent them from melting well in the sauce.
- Depending on what pasta you use, the cooking time will differ. Read the box’s directions and cut the time of “al dente” in half. The instant pot cooks much faster than boiling it on the stove.
How to Make Instant Pot Mac & Cheese
Step One: Cook the pasta
Toss the dried pasta, chicken broth, butter, salt, and mustard powder into the Instant Pot. Make sure to add enough broth that the pasta is completely covered. Not using enough liquid will leave you with under boiled pasta.
Lock the lid and set the vent to sealing (if necessary on your model). Cook on high pressure for 6 minutes. After 6 minutes, do a quick release to let out the pressure. Be careful at this step, because sometimes the hot pasta water sprays out and can burn you. We recommend wearing an oven mitt to protect your hand from the steam and hot water.
Carefully remove the lid. There will still be water in the pot, but leave it in. This gives the pasta moisture and will make everything much creamier.
Step Two: Add in the cheese
Pour the milk (or half and half) into the pot, and slowly stir in the cheese. If you add the cheese in too fast, you may get melted clumps of cheese rather than a smooth sauce.
Stir until the mac and cheese is nice and smooth. Season to taste, and serve!
Storing and Reheating
To store homemade mac and cheese, allow it to cool to room temperature, then transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-5 days.
When reheating, place the mac and cheese in a microwave-safe dish, cover it with a damp paper towel to retain moisture, and heat in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until heated through. You can also add a little drizzle of milk to help with any clumping.
Alternatively, you can reheat it in an oven-safe dish at 350°F (175°C) for about 20-25 minutes, or until warmed to your liking.
Using a Traditional Pressure Cooker
Converting an Instant Pot Mac & Cheese recipe for use in a traditional pressure cooker is straightforward, with a few adjustments to account for the different cooking mechanics. Here’s how you can do it. Start with the same ingredients. The quantities don’t need to change. Traditional pressure cookers may require slightly more water than Instant Pots. The cooking time is also similar, though is generally about a 10% reduction in time.
Questions About the Recipe
Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
Unfortunately, no. Gluten-free pasta tends to get mushy in the Instant Pot.
What other kinds of cheeses can I use in this mac and cheese recipe?
It is best to stick with smooth cheeses with good meltability. Some good options beyond cheddar and Velvetta are gouda, Monterrey jack, or gruyere. You can also add cream cheese to make it extra creamy
If you want to add a little crunch to your mac & cheese, you can add toasted panko breadcrumbs, fried onions or bacon to the dish. I also like to grind on some fresh black pepper.
Shouldn’t I make a roux for mac and cheese?
You don’t have to make a roux for this mac and cheese recipe. A roux is usually used in baked mac and cheese recipes, but there is no need to make one for the Instant Pot.
What do I do if there’s liquid coming from the Instant Pot’s steam knob?
As I mentioned in the “How to Make” section, steam and liquid can come out of the steam knob. This usually happens when you cook starchy things in the instant pot. It is completely normal, so don’t worry too much. Having butter in the recipe will lessen the amount of liquid coming out, but some may still come out.
Put on an oven mitt or kitchen towel over the venting knob and switch between “sealing” and “venting” every 10 seconds. Having the steam release bit by bit rather than all at once can help the liquid or foam calm down.
Serving Information
- It is best to serve macaroni and cheese fresh. Making it ahead of time is not the best choice with this recipe. The creamy cheese will clump up overtime and not be as smooth and creamy.
- Have mac and cheese as your main dish, or as a side with BBQ chicken or pork!
More Pasta Recipes To Try
- Instant Pot Sausage Pumpkin Pasta
- Easy Instant Pot Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo
- Instant Pot Spaghetti
- Instant Pot Olive Garden Chicken Pasta
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Instant Pot Mac & Cheese
Note: Made in a 6-qt Instant Pot
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 ounces dried elbow macaroni
- 4 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- 3/4 cup milk or half and half
- 12 ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded from a block
- 6 ounces Velvetta or cheese slices
Instructions
- Add the dried macaroni, chicken broth, butter, salt, and mustard powder to the Instant Pot. Make sure the macaroni is fully submerged.
- Lock on the lid and set the vent to sealing. Cook on high pressure for 6 minutes. When the time is up, do a quick release. Be aware, it might spit pasta water so stand away as it releases pressure.
- There will be water remaining in the pot. Don’t drain. Add the milk to the pot, then add the cheese slowly, while stirring, until smooth and creamy. Season to taste.
Notes
- This is a starchy pasta, so it can spurt pasta water as it depressurizes. Place a kitchen towel over the release valve before releasing to catch any splatter.
- You can use whatever cheeses you like in this recipe. Sharp cheddar and Velvetta make a creamy, tangy flavor.
- There will be water remaining in the pasta once it’s cooked. Don’t drain the water. It helps to make a creamy outcome.
- The sauce will thicken as it sits, so if it seems a bit too runny, just let it sit for 5 minutes and it will thicken up.
- You also want to serve it immediately once it reaches your desired thickness, so the cheese is creamy.
Nutrition
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Angela is a talented home cook and an expert at creating delicious, nutritious meals that can be prepared quickly and easily using an Instant Pot.
What a quick and easy weeknight recipe! Love the flavor the mustard powder gives it!
Delish! The kids devoured it.
Mac and cheese is my favorite and this was so good! I love that it can be prepared in the Instant Pot.
Never making mac and cheese any other way!
A perfect savior meal for those heavy work days! Just love it!