Easy Instant Pot Mac and Cheese – 20 Minutes!

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese is going to rock your world – it is the ultimate comfort food, made even easier. ! This recipe is creamy and cheesy and will be a family favorite!

Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese

Over the years, I saw a lot of people talk about macaroni and cheese in the Instant Pot.

A lot of these people scared me away from making it – claiming that it turns out gummy and gross.

Well, I finally decided to reject that advice and try and make the best Instant Pot mac and cheese recipe.

I had many failed attempts, but this recipe is evidence of a lot of experimenting, and I really think it’s the best mac and cheese recipe.

It’s incredibly easy, full of flavor, and SO, SO creamy.

The ingredients are simple – I chose to make this Instant Pac and Cheese with evaporated milk. It’s important to add the milk AFTER you’ve gone through the cooking cycle.

You can easily dress this up with different seasonings, bacon, chicken, sausage, hot sauce…whatever! But as it is stands in the recipe, it’s pretty fantastic!

And I was right.

It was fun to experiment and I can say we came up with the perfect quantities of cheese and milk and this really is the best mac and cheese recipe you’ll find.

I am not a big fun of intense cheddar flavor, so I use one cup of mozzarella typically. However if you want a deep cheddar flavor, you may want to have all three cups of cheese be cheddar!

And it’s all been made easier by your instant pot!

So whether the pandemic is going on still or not- I suggest you add this to your weekly menu- you won’t regret it!

How to keep macaroni and cheese creamy

One of the most frustrating things is getting mac and cheese that’s too thick, too soupy, or that separates.

This recipe naturally is very creamy and delicious. The key is to not overheat it as you stir in the evaporated milk and cheese and to not go too quickly. It will look soupier in the beginning, but the longer you heat it over saute in the Instant Pot, the more thick and creamy it will become.

Here is a great post about how to make the creamiest mac and cheese.

How can I re reheat macaroni and cheese?

Here is a great post about how to reheat mac and cheese.

How much macaroni and cheese for 50, 75, 100, etc.

In general, for the main dish, you can expect around 4-5 ounces of dry pasta per person.

Can I Freeze this Mac and Chees?

Yes, you can. Be sure to store it in an air-tight, freezer-safe container, and it should last for a few months.

Can I make this macaroni and cheese be made the day before?

You can – just be aware that it may taste a little thicker and less creamy if it’s not eaten fresh. Be sure to follow our reheating instructions above!

What is the best cheese to use in Mac and Cheese?

We are personally big fans of some kind of cheddar blend – we often will get triple cheddar from Tilamook or Kraft.

I often will throw in some mozzarella (as pictured below) to mellow out the cheddar flavor if we are using more of a medium or sharp cheddar.

You can experiment with different cheese though – we have good luck with Cheddar Jack, and it would be really yummy to try some gruyere.

What Should I Serve Mac and Cheese with?

It can be served with all sorts of items.

It makes for a great side dish for meats and BBQ foods, and it also makes for a great side dish.

• Steamed broccoli
• Rotisserie Chicken
• Baked Potatoes
• Salad
• Cheese burgers
• Ham
• Cole Slaw

Here are a few of our favorite recipes we love to pair it with to give you some inspiration.

• Instant Pot Carolina BBQ Pulled Pork
• Turkey Breast and Gravy
• Slow Cooker Shepherd’s Pie
• Air Fryer Pizza English Muffins
• Dutch Oven Pizza
• Copy Cat Papa Murphy’s Garlic Chicken Pizza
• Garlic and Bacon Mashed Cauliflower
• The Best Quick Dinner Rolls

Ingredients

• 1 lb macaroni noodles
• 12 ounces evaporated milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 3 tbsp salted butter 
• 3 cups triple cheddar blend, grated (for a more mild cheddar, do two cups of the cheddar blend and 1 cup of mozzarella)
• 1/2 cup water

Instructions

1. Add 4 cups of water, salt, pepper, ground mustard, paprika, and dry macaroni noodles to the Instant Pot. Stir to combine.
2. Put the lid on and set for manual high pressure for four minutes.
3. When the timer goes off, quick pressure the pressure and remove the lid.
4. Quickly stir in the evaporated milk, 1 cup of water, and butter.
5. Slowly stir in the cheese and stir until everything is well-combined. If it doesn’t seem to be melting, you can turn the Instant Pot to saute while you stir.

Total Cooking Time: About 20 minutes (including getting up to pressure)

What are some variations?

There are lots of things you do to this recipe to mix it up a little bit:

• Use different kinds/blends of cheese
• Add freshley grated parmesan cheese to it
• Add a protein – bacon, chicken, or chicken sausage are our favorites
• Add some spinach shortly before cooking
• Add some garlic powder
• Use a different kind of noodle
• Add some hot sauce

Is macaroni and cheese gluten-free?

I did not make this macaroni and cheese gluten-free, however, it easily can be. Just select your favorite gluten-free elbow pasta.

Can you make this recipe on the stove top?

You can, but we don’t exact instructions for that using this recipe. Feel free to check out this yummy classic mac and cheese recipe.

Can I Make this Mac and Cheese in the Slow Cooker?

It can be adapted for use in the slow cooker, but I’m not sure of the exact times. You may enjoy our delicious slow cooker mac and cheese recipe, though!

Is this macaroni and cheese vegan?

This recipe has many dairy ingredients, which makes it not vegan-friendly. You could certainly try to use dairy-free cheeses and butter in this recipe, but I cannot guarantee results. I would suggest researching to see what the most meltable vegan cheese is.

Other Mac and Cheese Recipes You May Enjoy

• Costco Mac and Cheese Recipe
• Copycat Longhorn Mac and Cheese
• Classic Homemade Mac and Cheese

The search for the perfect Instant Pot Mac and Cheese recipe is over! Sit back, relax, and in no time, you’ll have the best macaroni and cheese you’ve ever eaten!