Name: Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 4 min
Ingredients: 12 ounces elbow macaroni ((gluten free, Banza or regular pasta)); 4 cups chicken broth; 3 tablespoons butter; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 cup milk; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon paprika; 1/4 teaspoon ground mustard; ½ teaspoon black pepper; 1 1/4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese; 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese; 1 cup shredded colby jack cheese

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3 Cheese Instant Pot Mac and Cheese. The easiest, cheesiest macaroni and cheese around. An easy dinner ready in about 20 minutes.

My kids LOVE macaroni and cheese. And they come by it honestly. It is one of my favorite side dishes, too!

Macaroni and cheese couldn’t be easier when you make it in the Instant Pot. It takes only about 4 minutes of cooking time, but you’ll have to add to that the pot coming to pressure. You’ll be digging into this meal in under 20 minutes!

What is the best cheese for macaroni and cheese?

The best cheese for mac and cheese is a mixture of cheeses! Each cheese carries a different flavor, so when you combine cheeses, you get a really full bodied flavor.

We use:

sharp cheddar
colby
mozzarella

You can experiment with the types of cheeses you use. Feel free to switch it up!

Gluten Free Macaroni and Cheese

To make a gluten free version of this macaroni and cheese, you can easily swap out regular pasta for gluten free pasta. One of our favorite gluten free pastas is Banza pasta made with chickpeas. It is high in protein and fiber!

Banza pasta or gluten free pasta works great in the instant pot.

How to Make Macaroni and Cheese in the Instant Pot

Place macaroni noodles, broth, butter, and salt in the pot of your Instant Pot. Set the Instant Pot to high pressure cook for 4 minutes.
Do a quick release and remove the lid after all the pressure has been released. There will still be a little bit of water in the pot. Do not drain.
Pour milk, garlic powder, paprika, ground mustard and black pepper into the pot and stir until combined.

Slowly add the shredded cheese, stirring constantly until cheese is melted and mixed well.

You”ll end up with the creamiest macaroni and cheese. It’s so so good!

Can you use evaporated milk instead of milk in macaroni and cheese?

Yes! We normally use 2% milk in this recipe, but you can add evaporated milk instead to help make the macaroni and cheese just a little creamier. It’s a great substitution if you are short on milk!

A bowl of food, with Cheese and Macaroni

What can you add to mac and cheese?

This is a great base recipe for macaroni and cheese. You can stir in other add-ins to add protein, veggies or additional flavor:

ground beef
leftover turkey
rotisserie chicken
shredded pork
bacon
caramelized onions
sundried tomatoes
red pepper
jalapenos

What to Serve with Macaroni and Cheese

We love instant pot mac and cheese with homemade meatloaf, fried chicken and shredded pork.

Some other common side dishes are:

Need an Instant Pot? Here is the one we have.

A bowl of noodles with sauce, with Cheese and Macaroni

How to Reheat Mac and Cheese

If you have individual servings of macaroni and cheese, it’s easy to reheat them in the microwave.

If you have a large amount of mac and cheese to reheat, place it in an oven safe dish and cover with foil. Bake in a 350º oven for 25 minutes or until it is heated through. The exact time will depend on if the casserole is frozen and how much of it there is.

Can you freeze mac and cheese?

Yes! Because mac and cheese is a pasta dish, it freezes well. You can freeze it in individual containers and it makes great school or work lunches.

Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.