Making homemade macaroni and cheese is definitely at the top of the list for Instant Pot recipes. This recipe makes a creamy, rich and delicious macaroni and cheese that is an absolute new favorite for all of us!
Making mac and cheese in instant pot is so easy
Your Instant Pot to make the entire mac and cheese recipe. No need to use a pot to boil water, a strainer, or a casserole dish. Everything thing takes place in the magic of your favorite pressure cooker. And when you’re done, there’s only only dish to clean – your Instant Pot.
Salt the water first for delicious mac and cheese
One of the most important steps to cooking delicious pasta is to salt the water before cooking the pasta. This allows the pasta to absorbs the salt and gives it a flavor that cannot otherwise be achieved. When cooking pasta the traditional way with boiling water, we might use a tablespoon of salt. For cooking pasta in an Instant Pot, we’ll use less since we’re not draining the water. One teaspoon should be perfect. Please don’t skip this step.
Extra sharp cheddar and gouda cheese are the perfect combination
To make a creamy, full flavor cheese sauce, we’ll start with the perfect combination of cheese – extra sharp cheddar and gouda. These two cheese provide deep cheese flavor with rich boldness and extra creaminess. To get the best results, grate your own cheese. Cheese that is already shredded contains an ingredient to prevent the cheese from clumping in the package and this will affect the end result. Grating your own cheese will always make a homemade mac and cheese recipe much better.
The hot sauce does not make it hot, it brings out the flavors
Looking at the ingredients you may be thinking that the hot sauce will make the whole dish too hot! In fact, it does not at all. Restaurants use hot sauce all the time in their macaroni and cheese recipes to bring out the full flavors of the cheese.
Print
Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese
- Total Time: 10 mins
- Yield: 8 servings
Description
This homemade Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese is cooked to perfection with a rich and creamy cheese sauce that the whole family will love. The ultimate comfort food that will have everyone digging in for more.
Ingredients
- 1lb (16oz) elbow macaroni
- 4 cups water
- 8oz extra sharp cheddar cheese
- 4 oz gouda cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 12oz can evaporated milk
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon Frank’s Red Hot Sauce
Instructions
- Add water and salt to Instant Pot. Add the macaroni and stir well so it’s all submerged in the water. Secure lid and use manual (pressure cook) for 4 minutes with vent sealed.
- When cooking time is up, press cancel, remove lid and use a spatula with mix the macaroni and stir in the butter, evaporated milk, ground mustard and hot sauce.
- Press the saute button and then slowly add the cheese, a handful at a time and continue to mix it in until melted. This should take a couple of minutes.
- Once all the cheese is melted, press cancel to stop the saute mode and you’re ready to enjoy!
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
Kaitlin
Do you think Siracha can be used not hot sauce if I have the other ?
RecipeTeacher
You certainly can.
Judy
I detest evaporated milk. Would milk or half & half be ok? Which one would work the best?
RecipeTeacher
Hi Judy, I have another Instant Pot mac and cheese recipe you might like… it’s actually my favorite!
https://recipeteacher.com/best-damn-instant-pot-mac-and-cheese/
Glenda moser
Thanks, I appreciate you looking into it! Update to my initial comment… I made this Mac n cheese along with your best damn boneless pork chops last night, and they were both top of the line delicious! Thanks for sharing your expertise with us, I’ve never been impressed with boneless pork chops, always dry and tough if you don’t eat them while they are hot enough to burn your tastebuds off! Hats off to you! I’m a fan for life 🙂
★★★★★
RecipeTeacher
Awesome, I’m glad you liked them both, Glenda. Thanks for being a fan!!
Glenda moser
Rating this a 5 but haven’t tried it yet, it’s bound to be delicious! Going to make it with your best damn boneless pork chops. However, why can I not print the recipe without also printing all of the advertising? Most websites eliminate the ads in their print functionality. Maybe I am missing something but hopefully you can advise me. Thanks
★★★★★
RecipeTeacher
Hi Glenda. I will definitely look into the printing issue.
Sharon
MIne came out kind of watery. Was I supposed to drain it before adding the ingredients?
RecipeTeacher
Hi Sharon. No need to drain, but it will thicken up quite a bit when all the ingredients are added. And you can always put it on sauté mode for a few minutes to reduce it as well.
Ladydee
This recipe was so easy ! I made it with all cheddar because I had no Gouda, also used yellow mustard-my new go too!
RecipeTeacher
Thanks, Ladydee!
Joan Fairman
The very best creamy mac and cheese recipe per my family.
★★★★★
katherine e parsley
natural release or vent?
RecipeTeacher
Quick release
Ann
An this recipe be doubled
RecipeTeacher
Yes indeed
Stephanie M
I think this recipe would have been PERFECT if there wasn’t so much ground mustard! It should be titled as Mustard Mac n Cheese! Other than the mustard flavor overpowering it all, it was exceptional in texture and quality.
RecipeTeacher
Thanks for the feedback, Stephanie. Upon reading it all I could think of is “but it’s only 1 teaspoon”. I see however, I had 3(!) listed. The correction has been made. Lol! But glad you enjoyed the texture and quality none the less. 🙂
★★★★★