Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

Name: Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
Prep time: 16 min
Cook time: 4 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 16 ounces elbow macaroni; 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter; 3 1/2 cups water; 2 teaspoons salt; 12 ounces evaporated milk; 8 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese (2 cups); 4 ounces white American cheese from the deli counter (cut into small pieces); 1 ounce grated Parmesan cheese (¼ cup)

Created On: September 3, 2019 | Updated: October 15, 2022 | 50 Comments

7.42

1.24

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This Instant Pot Mac and Cheese recipe is an easy recipe made with macaroni, butter, evaporated milk, and 3 kinds of cheese. This recipe costs just $7.42 to make and $1.24 per serving!

Think back to your favorite childhood meals that your mom would make. Is one of your top five favorites involve memories of the best homemade macaroni and cheese? Us too! Did your mom spend hours in the kitchen putting the dish together? Ours too!

Enter the invention of the Instant Pot. Probably one of the best inventions ever, in our humble opinion! It is a staple in each of our kitchens that we simply cannot live without.

The instant pot helps make many of your favorite recipes in less time and only gets one dish dirty. Amazing, right? It is literally life-changing.

So, what happens when we take the instant pot and add in some mac and cheese? We will tell you what happens. Magic, that is what happens! It feels like magic because you get the best instant pot mac and cheese that is so easy! We promise that you need to make this instant pot mac and cheese recipe, yesterday because it is cheesy, creamy, and oh so delicious.

How to Make Instant Pot Mac and Cheese Recipe:

First, set the elbow macaroni, butter, water, and salt in the Instant Pot.
Next, lock the lid in place ensuring the seal is closed. Using the manual function, set the instant pot to high pressure and cook for 4 minutes.
Once it is finished, use the quick pressure release and take the lid off the instant pot after the steam has dissipated. Then, stir in the milk.
Finally, add in the cheese and stir until all the cheese is melted.

How to get the kids involved with this recipe:

Ages 2-3: Have them help you dump the ingredients into the instant pot.
4-5: Have them help you measure the ingredients, and stir the milk and cheese into the cooked macaroni.
6-8: Have them grate the cheese for you. Also, walk them through how to seal the instant pot and set it on high for 4 minutes.
9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.
12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe, unsupervised, while you do the happy dance in the corner!

Discover why we love getting the kids involved in the kitchen and more tips in our How to Get Kids Involved In Cooking article.

The Flavor Variations:

Homemade macaroni and cheese is so good on its own but it’s fun to mix it up every now and then. Our saying is bacon makes everything better! Throw in some cooked bacon to add a little crunch in there.
Feeling a little spicy? You can simply add some chopped green chiles, jalapenos or sriracha to take it up a notch.
To get your veggies in, throw in a couple of cups of steamed veggies after the mac and cheese is done cooking.
To make Chile Mac and Cheese, add 2 cups of chile when you add in the milk in the recipe below.
You can use other cheese in this recipe besides what’s listed below. A good substitute for American cheese is Havarti. Try substituting Colby, Monterey Jack, or Pepper Jack cheese instead of Cheddar. Also, you can use any other hard cheese like Manchego or Pecorino Romano instead of Parmesan.

Overhead picture of Mac and Cheese in a white serving bowl.

What to Serve with Instant Pot Mac and Cheese:

Steamed Broccoli: Something quick to serve alongside a filling dish like this instant pot mac and cheese is some simple steamed broccoli.
1 Hour French Bread: You can also whip up our 1-hour French bread recipe.
Simple Salad or Veggie Sticks: Do you need something even simpler? Grab a bag of salad or some veggie sticks. Simple and healthy! Yes!

More Main Dish Recipes using Pasta:

More Instant Pot Recipes:

How long is this good for:

Serve: As with most recipes with dairy products in them, you shouldn’t leave this mac and cheese out for longer than 2 hours.
Store: This will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
Freeze: The cooked and cooled mac and cheese will keep in a freezer storage bag for 2 months.

3 Cheese Mac and Cheese in a serving bowl.

How do you reheat instant pot mac and cheese?

To reheat your instant pot mac and cheese in a microwave-safe bowl. Then, add a little milk to the mac and cheese first. The mac and cheese will be a little dry as the noodles will suck up the liquid in the dish overnight. Adding the milk before you reheat it will help with this so you can enjoy your homemade macaroni and cheese the next day.

What is the manual function on instant pot?

The manual function is probably the button you will most often on your Instant Pot. The manual function makes it possible to pressure cook and gives you the flexibility to select the amount of time you want to cook your food instead of using the preset buttons.

How much will this Instant Pot Mac and Cheese cost:

RECIPE COST: $7.42

PER SERVING COST: $1.24

To find out more on how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained.

16 ounces elbow macaroni – $1.38
3 Tablespoons unsalted butter – $0.30
3 1/2 cups water – $0.00
2 teaspoons salt – $0.02
12 ounces evaporated milk – $1.14
8 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese – $2.56
4 ounces white American cheese from the deli counter – $1.52
1 ounce grated Parmesan cheese – $0.50

Cook’s Note:

Please shred your own cheese for this recipe. Pre-shredded cheese has other additives that will alter the texture of this mac and cheese.

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