An Instant Pot Mac And Cheese recipe that’s made with Velveeta cheese for the creamiest mac n cheese ever.
Make this mouthwatering one-pot recipe in under 15 minutes.
Macaroni and cheese in our home is like the canned or frozen corn debate I talk about in my Famous bowl recipe.
Some of us like the boxed and some of us like homemade. However, we all agreed that this is the best Instant Pot macaroni and cheese recipe.
How To Make Mac And Cheese In The Instant Pot
Let’s start by adding water into the inner pot of your Instant Pot. I used my 6-quart but the size of your pressure cooker will not matter for this recipe.
You can easily make this recipe in an 8 quart Instant Pot.
Add the elbow noodles into the water and sprinkle with a dash of salt. I like to stir the noodles around a bit and push them down so the water is covering the noodles.
Place the lid on to your IP and make sure the steam release valve is set to sealing. That is if your Instant Pot doesn’t have a self-sealing lid. I talk about this in How to set up an Instant Pot Duo Nova.
Press the pressure cooker button making sure it’s set to high pressure, then adjust the cooking time using the – + buttons to 4 minutes.
I have been remembering this recipe kind of like the 5-5-5 method for hard-boiled eggs. Except its more like 4- cups noodles, 4- cups water, 4- minutes to cook.
Making Macroni and Cheese With Velveeta
Once the 4 minute cooking time is done you will want to do a quick release. However, the starch from the pasta will make it spit more causing a mess.
I like to release the steam in burst so this means I’ll release a little of the steam from the valve. Then I’ll close the valve for a second and then open it back up. Continuing to do this until all the steam is released.
I have also placed a towel over the steam release valve to help stop the spitting mess, but Instant Pot doesn’t recommend doing this.
So if you choose to do this please be careful the towel will get steamy hot.
Once all the steam is released and you remove the lid to your IP add the milk into the noodles.
I have tried many ways to make Mac and Cheese in the Instant Pot but I hadn’t found a way that I liked it until I made it with Velveeta cheese, the Velveeta makes it so creamy.
Using a 16-ounce block of Velveeta I cut it into chunks then added into the inner pot with the elbow noodles.
Giving everything a good stir. The noodles will seem like they are stuck together but with stirring they will loosen up.
Place the lid of your Instant Pot back on and leave it on for 5 minutes. Please don’t turn your IP back on it will cause that dreaded burn notice.
Let the heat from the inside of the Instant Pot melt the Velveeta.
Once the five minutes are up, come back and remove the Instant Pot lid and see all the melted goodness.
What Goes With Mac And Cheese
Give everything another good stir until all the elbow noodles are coated with cheesy goodness.
So now you are probably wondering what can be served with this mac and cheese recipe, right? How about our Sloppy Joe’s or our Gumbo burger recipe.
Or how about having the macaroni and cheese as the main dish then serving a salad and bread with it. I have also heard people add diced ham into the macaroni and cheese.
When I ran the in-home daycare we use to have hot dogs along with it. Some of the kids liked their hot dogs cut up and mixed into the mac and cheese.
I say the sky is the limit as to what you can serve with macaroni and cheese. But this recipe is by far the best Instant Pot mac and cheese I have had yet.
Answering the question “what’s there to eat” ~ Jen
Other My Creative Manner recipes you may enjoy are:
- Instant Pot Whole Chicken
- Instant Pot Egg Bites
- Cheeseburger Macaroni~ Instant Pot
- Twice Baked Potatoes
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Instant Pot Mac And Cheese
Quick and easy recipe for cremy macaroni and cheese that is made in the Instant Pot.
Ingredients
- 4 Cups Water
- 4 Cups Elbow Noodles
- Dash Salt
- 1 Cup Milk
- 16 Ounces Velveeta Cheese Cut into small cubes
Instructions
In the inner pot of your Instant Pot add the water.
Pour into the water the elbow noodles and dash of salt. Stir the noodles and salt together. Press the noodles down so they are covered by the water.
Place the lid on the Instant Pot. Make sure the release valve is set to sealing.
Set the pressure cook button to high and adjust the cook time to 4 minutes.
Once the cooking time is finished do a quick release. See notes for tips on how to do a quick release with pasta.
Remove the lid from the Instant Pot then add the milk.
Add the cubed up cheese and stir ingredients together.
Place Instant Pot lid back on for 5 minutes. Don't turn the Instant Pot on, just place the lid on to help melt the cheese.
After the 5 minutes is up remove the lid and stir the melted cheese into the noodles.
Serve and enjoy.
Recipe Notes
I like to release the steam in burst so this means I’ll release a little of the steam from the valve. Then I’ll close the valve for a second and then open it back up. Continuing to do this until all the steam is released.
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