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–+ servings
Three pink ramekins full of mac and cheese topped with bacon and green onion
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5 from 5 votes

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

This Instant Pot Mac and Cheese is so quick and easy to make - plus it tastes amazing! The sauce is cheesy, creamy perfection! 
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time13 minutes
Total Time18 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cheese, Macaroni and Cheese, Pasta
Servings: 8
Calories: 379kcal
Author: Kelsey Crist

Equipment

  • Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

Ingredients

  • 1 pound elbow pasta
  • 3 1/2 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder optional
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 2 1/2 cups shredded cheese see post for the best types of cheese
  • 1/2 cup whole milk or to taste

Instructions

  • Add the pasta, water, and oil to the Instant Pot. Gently press the noodles below the water without stirring.
    Mac and Cheese
  • Sprinkle salt and pepper (to taste) over noodles. (Optional: Sprinkle garlic powder over noodles.) Cover the Instant Pot and turn the valve to sealing. Cook on the Manual setting on high pressure for 3 minutes. When the timer goes off, immediately quick release the pressure.
    pasta with spices in an instant pot bowl
  • Once the pin drops, remove the lid and add the butter. Stir until butter is melted. Add the cheese. Stir until combined. Add up to 1/2 cup of milk, a little bit at a time. Top with more salt and pepper if desired and serve immediately.
    An instant pot full of mac and cheese

Video

Notes

Instant Pot Note: We use a 6-quart Instant Pot brand pressure cooker that we bought in 2016. Different or newer versions may be more sensitive to the "BURN" notice. If you are concerned about the burn notice, please refer to this article: "What Does 'Burn' Mean on My Instant Pot?"

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 379kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 272mg | Potassium: 178mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 393IU | Calcium: 210mg | Iron: 1mg