• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Katie's Cucina
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Me
    • FAQS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Collaborate
  • Recipes
    • Appetizer
    • Asian
    • Breakfast
    • Bread
    • Comfort Food
    • Dairy Free
    • Dessert
      • Cookies
      • Ice Cream
    • Drinks
      • Smoothie
    • gluten free
    • Greek
    • Grilling
    • Holiday
      • Christmas
      • Halloween
    • Instant Pot
    • Italian
    • Katie Original
    • Main Dish
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Pork
      • Sausage
      • Turkey
      • Pizza
    • Mexican
    • One Pot Meal
    • Polish
    • Salad
      • Dressing
    • Sandwich
    • Seafood
      • Shrimp
    • Side Dish
    • Slow Cooker
    • Soups and Stews
    • Vegetarian
  • Travel
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About Me
  • Contact
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About Me
  • Contact
×
Katie's Cucina » Recipes » Instant Pot

Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese

Published: Oct 18, 2018 · Modified: Nov 11, 2022 by Katie · This post may contain affiliate links

171 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • Threads
  • WhatsApp
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Top view of a dish of macaroni and cheese with recipe title and logo on corner for Pinterest.
Spoon holding mac and cheese over an Instant Pot with recipe title text on image for Pinterest.
Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese
Close up of elbow macaroni's in cheese sauce with recipe title text on image for Pinterest.

Belly-up to a comforting bowl of creamy mouth-watering Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese that is made in under 10 minutes. Perfect weeknight meal that can be paired with a store bought rotisserie chicken!

oval bowl of white macaroni and cheese in front of instant pot with title text.

If you are pressed for time, hopping from sports practice to sports practice my Instant pot mac and cheese recipe is going to be a new staple in your home. I spent months trying different ways to cook macaroni and cheese in the Instant Pot.

I’ve finally found the correct heat setting as well as the perfect combo of cheese and cream. I tested this Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese recipe so many times in a one month time span that my family was only willing to have a few bites toward the end of my testing. I was handing out containers full of macaroni and cheese to neighbors—none complained one bit!

Jump to:
  • Directions
  • FAQs
  • Tips & Tricks
  • What Goes Well with Mac and Cheese
  • Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese

Directions

top view of white macaroni and cheese being stirred with long metal spoon in instant pot.

People think I’m crazy when I tell them you can actually cook macaroni and cheese in the instant pot. You place an entire box of elbow macaroni in the Instant Pot plus the variety of spice combo I’ve created as well as water.

Turn the lid to the locking position and make sure the steam valve is closed. Then set the Instant Pot to “manual” mode for 4 minutes. That’s it! Easy as that!

It will take about 4-5 minutes to come to pressure. Once the Instant Pot beeps, carefully release the pressure. You will have a tiny bit of water in the Instant Pot and that is okay.

Stir the noodles and then stir in the heavy cream and half the cheddar cheese. Stir until melted, and then repeat again until all the cheese has been stirred in and melted. Taste the macaroni and cheese and add additional salt and pepper if needed. Then ladle into bowls and enjoy.

FAQs

side view of spoonful of macaroni and cheese held over instant pot in front of window.
How many people does this Instant Pot mac and cheese feed?

This recipe uses an entire box of elbow macaroni. This means it feeds a lot. You can expect at least 8, one cup servings from this recipe.

Heavy Cream verse Evaporated Milk

During my recipe testing I tried various methods of liquid. From whole milk, heavy cream, and evaporated milk. At the end of the day my family and I preferred the heavy cream. It yielded the creamiest macaroni and cheese. Some will argue that if you don’t use evaporated milk the cheese will clump and coagulate. Yes—that will happen to an extent using the heavy cream; however, we preferred the creaminess. We found with the evaporated milk it left a little bit of a tangy after taste that we didn’t prefer.

What type of cheese do you use in Macaroni and Cheese?

When it comes to macaroni and cheese the cheese is the second most important component to the recipe. I tested a variety of cheeses from sharp cheddar, mild cheddar, mozzarella cheese, Fontina, smoked Gouda, Gruyere, Parmesan and the list goes on.

At the end of the day I really liked the combo of sharp cheddar paired with a mild mozzarella. I also prefer Cabot cheese of all the cheddar’s. It’s the smoothest and melts the best. I’ve grated my own cheddar from a block as well as used the pre-shredded. I didn’t notice a difference, but every time I tested I used Cabot. So you might yield different results if you use another brand.

Can you freeze mac and cheese?

Yes, you can freeze mac and cheese; however, you will need to add more cream to the thawed mac and cheese when you reheat it.

Tips & Tricks

oval platter filled with white macaroni and cheese in front of instant pot and cabot shredded cheese.

Here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks when making Instant Pot Mac and Cheese.

  • Water – You will have a tiny bit of water in the Instant Pot and that is okay. No need to drain any excess water.
  • Keeping Warm – You can also keep the macaroni and cheese on the “warm” mode and wait to serve it for up to an hour. However, if you do this you might need to add additional cream. This recipe is perfect for entertaining with.
  • Toppings – Spice up the mac and cheese and add on some toppings like crispy bacon, pancetta, Grated Parmesan or Romano cheese., bread crumbs, mix in peas or even broccoli. The sky is the limit.
  • Storage – Store leftovers of mac and cheese in an air tight container in the refrigerator.

What Goes Well with Mac and Cheese

Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese

Here are a few of my favorite main dish entrees that I like to serve with mac and cheese.

  • Slow Cooker Ham
  • Pot Roast
  • Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
  • Roast Beef
  • Pork Tenderloin
  • Slow Cooker Roasted Whole Chicken

Craving more mac and cheese? Try these other recipes…

  • Creamy Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese
  • Carrot Macaroni and Cheese
  • Crabby Cheese with Mac and Peas
  • Stove-top Macaroni & Garlic Herb Cheddar Cheese

If you’re looking to simplify lunch or dinner or maybe looking to entertain and make a mac and cheese bar of your own. I hope you’ll give my Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese recipe a try.

If you make this Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese recipe, I would be honored and love for you to take the time to leave a star rating and comment! I spend hours developing and testing these recipes, and always love to hear feedback and user experience!

Don’t forget to FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram, and subscribe to my email list!

White oval dish filled with macaroni and cheese with Instant Pot in the background.

Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese

Belly-up to a comforting bowl of creamy mouth-watering Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese that is made in under 10 minutes. Perfect weeknight meal that can be paired with a store bought rotisserie chicken!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Save Saved! Rate
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Diet: Low Salt
Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 4 minutes minutes
Come To Pressure Time: 4 minutes minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 357kcal
Author: Katie

Equipment

  • Instant Pot
  • 1 Silicone Spatula

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Elbow Macaroni
  • 1 teaspoon Mustard Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
  • ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 4 tablespoons Salted Butter
  • ½ teaspoon Red Hot Sauce
  • 4 cups Water
  • ½ cup Heavy Cream
  • 1 cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
  • 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese

Instructions

  • Place the elbow macaroni, ground mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, butter, hot sauce, and water in a 6-quart Instant Pot. Close the lid, making sure the pressure valve is in the “sealing” position.
    1 pound Elbow Macaroni, 1 teaspoon Mustard Powder, 1 teaspoon Onion Powder, ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder, 1 teaspoon Salt, ⅛ teaspoon Black Pepper, 4 tablespoons Salted Butter, ½ teaspoon Red Hot Sauce, 4 cups Water
  • Set the Instant Pot to “manual” and cook for 4 minutes.
  • As soon as the Instant Pot beeps, carefully release the pressure from the pot. Remove the lid and stir the noodles.
  • Then stir in the heavy cream, cheddar cheese, and mozzarella cheese.
    ½ cup Heavy Cream, 1 cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese, 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese
  • Stir until melted, then serve immediately. 

Notes

  • Water – You will have a tiny bit of water in the Instant Pot and that is okay. No need to drain any excess water.
  • Keeping Warm – You can also keep the macaroni and cheese on the “warm” mode and wait to serve it for up to an hour. However, if you do this you might need to add additional cream. This recipe is perfect for entertaining with.
  • Toppings – Spice up the mac and cheese and add on some toppings like crispy bacon, pancetta, Grated Parmesan or Romano cheese., bread crumbs, mix in peas or even broccoli. The sky is the limit.
  • Storage – Store leftovers of mac and cheese in an air tight container in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Serving: 1c | Calories: 357kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 453mg | Potassium: 157mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 488IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @KatieJasiewicz or tag #katiescucina!
  • white bowl filled with elbow mac and cheese with two spoons laying on top of striped cloth.
    Macaroni and Cheese with Heavy Cream
  • 6 chicken wings on a white plate stacked next to celery slices.
    Instant Pot Chicken Wings from Frozen
  • Two white bowls stacked with beef and barley soup on a yellow cloth.
    Instant Pot Beef Barley Soup
  • White baking dish filled with toasted marshmallow casserole on a white and blue striped cloth with a silver spoon next to it.
    Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole

Disclosure: There are affiliate links present in this post. That means if you click on a link and purchase something. I will receive a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your continuous support of Katie’s Cucina!

« Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Pesto Bucatini with Shrimp and Grape Tomatoes »

About Katie

Katie is a busy mom of 2 children who loves to feed her family delicious meals that don't take hours to cook! She started her blog 15 years ago as a way to help others get cooking in the kitchen.

Reader Interactions

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

Did you make this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

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

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

I'm Katie Jasiewicz: home cook, food blogger, and recipe developer. A busy mom of two children who loves to feed her family delicious meals that don’t take hours to cook! My mission is to create easy-to-make modern comfort food for the busy family. (more)

Featured On

brand logos in collaage; food network, MSN, kitchenaid, country living, world market, etc

Most Popular Recipes

  • Glass baking dish filled with peach cobbler resting on a striped dish cloth.
    Old Fashioned Peach Cobbler
  • Broccoli Cheese Casserole spooned out of white baking dish
    Broccoli Casserole with Ritz Crackers
  • Female hand holding a tortilla chip over a bowl of queso dip.
    Velveeta Cheese Dip
  • Glass plate filled with an apple pie with powdered sugar.
    Apple Pie with Streusel Topping
  • White oval dish filled with creamed spinach on a blue and white striped towel.
    Steakhouse Creamed Spinach
  • Dried spaghetti on a countertop.
    KitchenAid Pasta Recipe

Grilling Recipes

  • Skillet filled with pasta, tomatoes, basil, and sliced chicken on a blue and white checkered cloth.
    Bruschetta Chicken Pasta
  • White plate with dots with 2 grilled chicken strips, rice, and green beans on a blue and white checkered cloth.
    Grilled Chicken Strips
  • Thinly slices of steak on a white plate with steak juice on plate.
    Grilled Flank Steak
  • Sliced pork with green beans, and mashed sweet potato on a white and blue checkered cloth.
    Grilled Pork Tenderloin

Footer

logos of places Katie's Cucina has been featured on; food network, KitchenAid, Stonyfield, Country LIving, Women's Health, etc.

COPYRIGHT © KATIE'S CUCINA 2009-2025
AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES.
PRIVACY POLICY · ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT · DESIGN BY GRACE + VINE STUDIOS

171 shares

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.