Instant Pot Mac and Cheese - a super simple mac and cheese Instant Pot beginners will nail every time! It's perfectly cooked pasta in a creamy cheese sauce that's a quick, hands-free dinner the whole family will love!
Instant Pot macaroni and cheese is America's favorite comfort food made with simple pantry ingredients you probably have on hand. The best part is that pressure cooker mac and cheese is a toss-and-go recipe. This means you toss everything in the pot and go do stuff, because it's virtually hands-free, just like Alfredo Chicken and Tuna Pasta.
Key ingredients
Get ingredient amounts in the full printable recipe below.
- elbow macaroni - feel free to use any pasta shape for mac and cheese (see recipe footnotes for cooking time variation)
- pasta cooking liquid - use broth (chicken or vegetable) or water to cook your pasta in Instant Pot.
- butter - you can substitute oil, if preferred
- salt and pepper - feel free to add these to taste
- milk - use any variety (I usually use 1% milk)
- cheese - for this recipe, I use a combo of cheddar and Jack, but you can use other cheeses. Just be aware that this changes the consistency.
How to make mac and cheese in the Instant Pot
Get the full printable recipe below.
Step 1: Add ingredients (except milk and cheese) to the Instant Pot.
Step 2: Close the lid and pressure cook on high for 2 minutes. Allow a 10-minute natural pressure release (NPR). Carefully turn the pressure valve to release any remaining steam.
Step 3: Open the lid and stir in the milk.
Step 4: Stir in the cheese. Add a splash of milk to loosen the consistency.
Step 5: Serve and devour!
Recipe tips
Feel free to replace elbow macaroni with rotini spirals or medium shells such as the ones used in Beefy Taco Pasta.
You can make mac and cheese with chicken broth or vegetable broth instead of water. I recommend a reduced-sodium broth and adding salt to taste.
I like to shred block cheese such as Cheddar, Gruyere, Gouda, etc. for this recipe because it melts more smoothly and is more economical than pre-shredded cheese.
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese with cream cheese is a game changing cook's secret. Cream cheese adds an irresistible rich and creamy texture to mac and cheese. Simply add about 4 oz cream cheese per every one pound of macaroni.
Make Instant Pot mac and cheese with Velveeta using my recipe below. Just replace the jack cheese with cubed Velveeta. You may need to use the "Saute" function to assist melting the Velveeta, stirring as needed.
Turn mac and cheese into a complete meal by adding cooked proteins like ham, bacon, shredded pork, shredded chicken, seasoned beef, or Kielbasa.
Try these Instant Pot recipes
What to serve with Instant Pot mac n cheese
- Greek Lemon Roasted Chicken Thighs
- Pan Fried Pork Chops
- Southwest Baked Chicken Wings
- Baked Chicken Legs
- Garlic Butter Baked Chicken Breast
- Broiled Salmon
- Garlic Butter Grilled Salmon
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 16 oz Uncooked Macaroni Noodles, * see footnote about pasta type
- 4 cups Broth or Water, chicken broth or vegetable broth
- 2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter, cut into pieces
- 1/2 tsp Sea Salt
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
- 2/3 cup Milk, or heavy cream
- 8 oz Cheddar Cheese, shredded (same as 2 cups)
- 8 oz Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded (same as 2 cups)
RECIPE VIDEO
Equipment
- stirring utensil
- cheese grater
- measuring cup and spoons
Instructions
- Add MACARONI, BUTTER, BROTH, SALT, and PEPPER to the Instant Pot. Push pasta under the water to submerge it.
- Secure lid and turn pressure valve to "Sealing".
- Select "Manual" or "Pressure Cook" on HIGH for 2 minutes. Yes, you heard that right...only 2 minutes.
- When cook cycle completes, allow cooker to sit undisturbed for a 10-minute natural pressure release (NPR). Do not cut this time short...the pasta is still cooking.
- Safely turn pressure valve to "venting" position and release any remaining steam.
- Open the lid and stir in MILK.
- Stir in CHEDDAR and JACK cheese until creamy.
- Serve warm (optional sprinkle of parsley).
Mac and cheese storage and reheat instructions
- Refrigerate in an airtight container up to five days.
- To reheat mac and cheese, add a splash of broth or milk to moisten the macaroni and reheat on the stove over medium heat, or microwave on medium-high, stirring as needed.
Traci's Notes
- Thicker pasta (elbow macaroni, penne, rotini, bowtie, etc) gets 2 minutes + 10 minute NPR.
- Thinner pasta (shell pasta, spaghetti noodles) gets 1 minute + 10 minute NPR.
Nutrition
Nutrition data provided as courtesy estimates using unbranded ingredients from a nutrition database. Please consult preferred resource for precise data.
Jessica says
Has anyone tried to triple this recipe before? Do I need to increase the cooking time?
The Kitchen Girl says
Hi Jessica, you'll probably need at least an 8qt pot to triple this. I would not change the time. Let me know if you have any other questions. Enjoy!!
Jua says
I’ve tried quite a few instant pot Mac and cheese recipes but I think by far this is the best daily recipe to go with. Easy, quick and my kids like it. I don’t have time to put bread crumbs and make it fancy. This recipe works for me. Yes yes yes.
The Kitchen Girl says
Yay! That's exactly what I was going for with this recipe ... simple, no frills, and lovable 🙂 Thanks SO much for the feedback! I love knowing you and your family enjoyed it.
Chaz says
Made this yesterday with my Grandsons, although I tweaked it a bit... After it was done, first I tasted it, because I wanted to taste the base recipe, and it was awesome! Then I took it a bit further and tweaked it a bit, just because I like to experiment...
I dumped it into an aluminum pan, crumbled three strips of cooked bacon over it, and shredded about a cup of pepper jack and sprinkled it over the top. Then poured about a half cup more heavy cream over it, and took it out to my smoker and smoked it over cherry and mesquite for a half hour at 225. Your recipe and my experiment = Best Mac & Cheese I've ever had!
The Kitchen Girl says
Lol well I must say my mac and cheese gets the job done ... but your experiment ... straight fire! That sounds ah-mazing! Thanks for sharing ... and for the review 🙂
Ashley says
Any idea how this would work with gluten free pasta?
The Kitchen Girl says
Hi Ashley, I've had a few people say to use 0 minutes of pressure cook time, but I haven't tested that myself. I do know it's very easy to overcook Instant Pot mac and cheese with GF pasta. I think you have to experiment and find your fav brand 🙂 Hope that helps!
Emily says
I'm new to the Instant Pot world and was a little skeptical anything could beat the mac & cheese I grew up with (which involves things like making a white sauce, boiling pasta, washing a substantial pile of dishes afterwards etc).
This is stupidly easy and incredibly fast and the most complicated part of cleanup is disassembling the IP lid.
I'm hooked.
P.S. you left out the last step, which is "stand over the IP after putting away the leftovers and scrape out the last of the cheese sauce with a spoon" 🙂
The Kitchen Girl says
Lol what a great review, Emily! You're too kind ... and hilarious I'm so glad you enjoy this mac and cheese as much as I do 🙂 Thanks again for the kind words. Cheers!
Jeffrey says
This mac and cheese in Instant Pot is my new favorite IP recipe. One pot, all-in, no draining, stir in milk and cheese, basically hands free. Oh, and perfect every time! I love love this with your pulled pork. Heaven in a bowl.
Jamie says
I love how this can be made in the instant pot! I'm always looking for hearty meals that can be made for dinner and this is it!
The Kitchen Girl says
Thanks, Jamie! Yep, quick and easy ... our favorite 😉
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
This is the ultimate comfort food and looks so fulfilling and delicious! I can't wait to give this a try.
The Kitchen Girl says
Thanks, Bintu! Glad you can enjoy mac and cheese in the Instant Pot 🙂
Jersey Girl Cooks says
This is a quick way to make creamy mac and cheese for my family!
The Kitchen Girl says
Yes! You got that right! Mac and cheese is suuuper family friendly 🙂
Marie-Charlotte Chatelain says
I love mac and cheese - cannot wait to try the Instant Pot Version! Sounds super easy and it looks soooo cheesy
The Kitchen Girl says
Thanks! Yes, this mac and cheese is definitely cheesy ... so irresistible 🙂
Noelle says
This was so easy to make, my whole family loved it! Perfect dinner idea
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome, Noelle! So glad to hear it's family-approved in your house 🙂 Thanks!
Soniya says
Oh my goodness this looks and sounds incredible .... Can't wait to make this for dinner tonight.. I have all the ingredients!
The Kitchen Girl says
Yay Soniya! Hope you love it like we do. Our leftovers last about a day with this mac and cheese recipe
Amanda Wren-Grimwood says
Perfect comfort food and this version is so easy to make too.
The Kitchen Girl says
Thanks, Amanda! Glad you think so 🙂
Patricia @ Grab a Plate says
The IP is such a magical appliance, right?! This looks so good - so creamy!
The Kitchen Girl says
Thanks, Patricia! It is so so creamy ... everyone's fav! 🙂
Amanda says
I love that this cooks in the Instant Pot! It made it so convenient. We really loved the sauce as well.
The Kitchen Girl says
Glad to hear it, Amanda! Mac and cheese in Instant Pot really is convenient. Thanks!
whitney says
I love making mac & cheese in the instant pot! It tastes so much better homemade. I'll have to try some of those add-ins you listed!
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome, Whitney! Glad you can enjoy this mac and cheese...thanks!