Easy Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
Super creamy mac and cheese in just 15 minutes? The Instant Pot makes it happen. This Easy Instant Pot Mac and Cheese recipe skips the extra pots and delivers classic homemade mac and cheese with minimal effort. Perfect for those busy weeknights!
Servings: 5
Ingredients
- 5 cups macaroni noodles
- 6 cups water
- 1 tsp salt plus more to taste
- 1 ¼ cups heavy cream
- ¼ cup cream cheese
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 tbsp butter
- cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In your Instant Pot/pressure cooker, combine uncooked noodles, water, and salt.
- Put the lid on and slide it into the locked position. Turn the vent to the SEALED position, and set the pot to MANUAL or PRESSURE COOK on HIGH for 5 minutes.
- Turn the valve to VENT position and remove the lid once the float valve drops.
- Drain excess water from the pot, then stir in the heavy cream and the cream cheese, followed by the cheese until it has all melted. Stir in the butter, and season to taste with cracked black pepper, and a little more salt if needed. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Drain excess water before adding dairy! A little starch is great, but too much liquid can thin out the sauce. Draining any excess water ensures your mac and cheese stays creamy instead of soupy.
- Add the cheese gradually and stir gently. Dumping all the cheese in at once can lead to clumps or uneven melting. Stirring it in slowly helps everything melt smoothly and evenly.
- Serve right away for the best texture. Mac and cheese thickens as it sits, especially once it starts to cool. For the creamiest results, plan to serve it immediately after mixing in the cheese and butter.
- Season at the end. Cheese adds saltiness, so it’s best to taste and adjust seasoning once everything is fully combined. A little cracked black pepper goes a long way here, too!
Nutrition
Calories: 818kcal | Carbohydrates: 82g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 25g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 124mg | Sodium: 836mg | Potassium: 345mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1485IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 404mg | Iron: 2mg
