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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes » Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese

    Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese

    January 23, 2021 by Tiffany Leave a Comment

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    Instant Pot macaroni and cheese with evaporated milk, white American cheese, and dijon mustard for seasoning. It’s incredibly easy to make and turns out so creamy and cheesy!

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    Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese on a plate with a fork

    Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese Ingredients

    • Elbow Macaroni
    • Water
    • Salt
    • White American Cheese or Cheddar
    • Butter
    • Can of Evaporated Milk
    • Dijon Mustard
    • Black Pepper, optional

    What is evaporated milk?

    Evaporated milk is the unsweetened version of condensed canned milk and has majority of the water removed from it. It also has no sugar added.

    To make evaporated milk at home, add 3 cups of whole milk to a sauce pan. Bring it to a simmer for 25-30 minutes until it is reduced by half.

    This allows the water content to be reduced and makes it more creamy.

    Another alternative to evaporated milk is half and half which will make the cheese nice and creamy.

    Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese in a bowl

    Instant Pot Pasta Rules

    Water Ratio

    Wondering how much water for macaroni in Instant Pot?

    The general rule of thumb for the water ratio is 8 ounces dry pasta to 2 cups water.

    Always be sure to press the pasta below the water level for even cooking.

    Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese in a bowl with a fork next to it

    Cook Time

    Cook times are determined by taking the lowest time on the pasta package directions, dividing it in half, and subtracting 2.

    If the lowest time on the package is an odd number, decrease by 1 to get an even number before dividing in half.

    Example: It says to cook the pasta 11-12 minutes.

    Since it is not an even number, decrease by 1 digit to get 10. Then divide in half to get 5, and subtract 2 minutes to equal 3 minutes total cook time.

    How to Make Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese

    • Add the elbow macaroni, water, and salt to the Instant Pot. Stir and then press the pasta underneath the water level in an even layer for even cooking.
    Uncooked macaroni in Instant Pot
    • Place the lid on top and close the vent on the lid. Use the Manual setting and set the timer to 4 minutes. Allow pressure to build for approximately 12 minutes, then it will begin counting down the timer of 4 minutes.
    • Once it is done cooking, quick-release the pressure on the lid by opening the vent. Press Cancel to stop any further cooking.
    • Remove the lid and gently stir the pasta to break up any clumps. Add butter, evaporated milk, dijon mustard, and cheese to the pot, then stir.
    Cooked macaroni in Instant Pot
    • Place the lid back on the Instant Pot and wait approximately 3-5 minutes for the cheese and butter to melt. Stir to combine.
    Macaroni and Cheese in Instant Pot

    What goes with Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese?

    • Air Fryer Breaded Pork Chops
    • Bacon and Cheese Stuffed Chicken
    • Honey Glazed Air Fryer Ham
    • Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Pork
    • Slow Cooker Pineapple Ham
    • Spinach Stuffed Chicken
    Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese with a wood spoon on a plate next to it

    Try these other delicious Instant Pot recipes!

    • Beef Stroganoff
    • Hamburger Helper
    • Jambalaya
    • Mashed Potatoes
    • Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches
    • Penne Rustica
    • The Best Spaghetti

    Enjoy!

    Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese

    Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese

    Instant Pot macaroni and cheese with evaporated milk, white American cheese, and dijon mustard for seasoning. It's incredibly easy to make and turns out so creamy and cheesy!
    No ratings yet
    Print Rate
    Course: Side Dishes
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 2 minutes
    Cook Time: 21 minutes
    Total Time: 23 minutes
    Servings: 6 Servings
    Author: Tiffany

    Ingredients

    • 16 ounces Elbow Macaroni
    • 4 cups Water
    • 1 teaspoon Salt
    • 1 pound White American Cheese or Cheddar, Approximately 3 cups
    • 3 tablespoons Butter
    • 1-12 ounce can of Evaporated Milk
    • 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
    • Black Pepper, optional

    Instructions
     

    • Add elbow macaroni, water, and salt to the Instant Pot and stir. Press pasta underneath the water in an even layer. Place the lid on top and close the vent.
    • Using the Manual setting, select 4 minutes. Allow pressure to build for approximately 12 minutes, then it will begin the timer.
    • Once it has finished cooking, quick release the pressure on the lid. Press Cancel to stop further cooking.
    • Remove the lid and gently stir the pasta to break up any clumps. Add butter, evaporated milk, dijon mustard, and cheese to the pot, stir. Place the lid on top and wait for approximately 3-5 minutes for the cheese and butter to melt. Stir to combine.

    Recommended Products

    Wooden Spoons
    Instant Pot Pressure Cooker, 6 Quart
    Ninja Foodi 8-Quart 9-in-1 Deluxe XL

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn referral fees from products I love and recommend at no extra cost to you.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 482 kcalCarbohydrates: 33 gProtein: 19 gFat: 30 gSaturated Fat: 18 gPolyunsaturated Fat: 10 gTrans Fat: 1 gCholesterol: 95 mgSodium: 1489 mgFiber: 1 gSugar: 8 g
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    Filed Under: Christmas Recipes, Easter Recipes, Fall Recipes, Instant Pot Side Dishes, Side Dishes, Thanksgiving Recipes

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    About Me

    Welcome, I'm Tiffany! My love for cooking began in the kitchen with my grandmother at the age of 5. Some of the recipes have been passed down to me and others I create as I go. Simply Happenings was created to share quick and delicious meals for your family highlighting air fryer and Instant Pot recipes. Enjoy! Read More…

    • Links in this post/page are Amazon Affiliate links to products I love and recommend. I earn a referral fee at no extra cost to you.

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