Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

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This is the best Instant Pot Mac and Cheese recipe with hidden veggies– it’s a fan favorite kid friendly meal around here. Easy homemade mac n cheese recipe ready in 5 minutes! Woot woot!

The Best Instant Pot Mac and Cheese recipe!

You guys I love my Instant Pot. You know this, right? And I must declare there is no better/easier/simpler way to make macaroni and cheese than to make this creamy cheesy recipe in your instant pot.

OH M GEE.

It literally will change your life, especially your meal prepping life… or weeknight dinner game.

How to make easy mac and cheese in the instant pot?

Making mac and cheese in the instant pot is so easy and only takes 5 minutes! I don’t know if I’ll ever stovetop mac again. Because I legit hate boiling water, adding noodles and then starchy noodle film overflowing on my stove. HAPPENS. EVERY. TIME.

Is this just me or you too?

But ugh, what a mess.

I made this IP mac and cheese with hidden veggies at a cooking demo this week and everyone loved it (even the kids)!

This is no surprise to me because my kids love this recipe too and they don’t know that I add veggies to it. Hey, I’ll take any wins I can get.

Ingredients foreasy homemade mac and cheese recipe:

Instant Pot
Broth or Water
Elbow Mac (Regular- don’t use gluten free in this recipe!)
Butter
Favorite shredded cheese
Milk
Pureed veggies (carrots, butternut squash, pumpkin, cauliflower, etc.) Shredded zucchini could also work nicely in this recipe, if you don’t mind a little green color.

The first time I made mac and cheese in the instant pot, I was amazed at how all you have to do is add broth, butter and macaroni noodles to the IP and cook them for 5 minutes on high pressure. WHAT????!

And the cool part is you don’t need to drain anything… this recipe absorbs almost all of the liquid while cooking and leaves you with a little starchy pasta water that’s perfect for blending in the cheese and veggies.

Stir in a little extra milk and BAM!

Oh and about that gluten free noodles part, don’t do it! I’ve tried GF noodles in this recipe and only cooked them for 1 minute and it was mush.

The gluten free noodles I’ve tested in this recipe didn’t work well under pressure. FYI. You’ve been forewarned. And if you do find a remedy for the GF pasta option in the IP, LMK… pretty please?

Super easy homemade mac and cheese.

I’m so in love.

This is one of those recipes I’ll make on a weeknight when the kids are in that hairy hour right before bath time. I have been doing a little routine of getting on my Peloton bike right after nap time and letting them veg out to the TV for a bit while I ride and then quickly prep dinner before bath time.

It’s like a golden hour but can also be super fussy for them too. SOOO I need fast recipes which is why I just adore my instant pot.

Instant pot mac and cheese FTW.

More Kid Friendly Instant Pot Recipes

Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice

Instant Pot Chicken Tacos

Instant Pot Chicken and Yellow Rice

★★★★★5 from 4 reviews

Author: Kristina LaRue, RD, CSSD
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 7 minutes
Yield: 8 servings 1x

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Scale

Ingredients

16 oz macaroni noodles
4 cups bone broth (or regular)
2 tablespoons butter
Freshly ground pepper
1 cup puréed pumpkin, butternut squash or cauliflower
3 cups shredded cheddar or favorite cheese
1 cup milk

Instructions

Place noodles, broth, butter and pepper in instant pot. Cover and cook on manual, high pressure for 5 minutes; quick release.
Stir noodles and stir in puréed veggie. Stir in cheese until fully melted and stir in milk.

Notes

Nutrition calculated based with bone broth, canned pumpkin, and 2% milk.

Category: Dinner
Method: Instant Pot
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/8 recipe
Calories: 400 calories
Sugar: 5g
Sodium: 265mg
Fat: 15g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 47g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 21g
Cholesterol: 49mg

Keywords: Instant Pot, Mac and Cheese, Veggies, Easy, Healthy, Pumpkin, Cauliflower

Kristina LaRue, RDN

Hi I’m Kristina LaRue, RD (registered dietitian nutritionist), Peloton addict and mama to two active and hungry boys. On Love & Zest, you’ll find healthy-ish recipes that fuel the whole family. I’m all about veggie-filled breakfast, meal prep recipes, healthier sweets, and easy weeknight dinners made in the Instant Pot or sheet pan.

Did you make one of my recipes?? Leave a review in the comments and tag @loveandzest #loveandzest on Instagram!

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