6-Ingredient Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
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This easy Instant Pot Mac and Cheese recipe takes just 6 main ingredients and 18 minutes from start to finish, dirties only one pot, and tastes creamy and delicious! Plus, it’s made with all real food ingredients (see ya, Kraft).
About This Recipe
It was 5:30 p.m. and my kids were starving. I was finishing up a work project and hadn’t even given dinner a thought when I began hearing the low-grade whines from the next room. “I’m hunnngrrrreeee!”
The Instant Pot to the rescue. I happened to have some whole wheat pasta in the pantry, along with the other few ingredients in this recipe. Dinner was done in 18 minutes flat and everyone was happy about it.
Ingredients Needed
Woo hoo, this recipe only requires 6 main ingredients! That means this dinner is cheap, easy, and fast. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Whole wheat elbow pasta – I prefer whole wheat because it’s healthier but the kids will never know.
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Yellow mustard – Just a little bit for a background flavor that makes you go “hmm, what is that?” (in a good way).
- Butter
- Milk – I tested this with 2% milk.
- Half and half
You’ll also need some salt and pepper out of the pantry and water from the tap.
Cooking Tip
If you shred your own block of cheese, it will melt more evenly than the pre-shredded kind from the store. Here’s how to shred your own cheese
Instant Pot Cooking Times Chart
After testing hundreds of Instant Pot recipes, we have honed in on the best timing and methods for cooking different types of meals in the Instant Pot.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add pasta, butter, mustard, salt, pepper, and water to the pot and stir.
- Lock and seal the lid. Cook at high pressure for half the pasta cooking time on the package, minus 1 minute. (So, if the directions say 6 minutes: Half is 3 minutes, minus 1 minute, means you’ll cook it for 2 minutes total.)
- Use a quick release of the pressure when cooking time is through. Be sure to cover the spout with a dish towel to minimize splatters.
- Stir in the milk and half and half. Then, slowly stir in the cheese 1 handful at a time. Taste and adjust salt and pepper amounts, if needed. Enjoy!
What to Serve with Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
Serve up some of these simple, healthy, and kid-friendly dishes with your mac for a well-rounded dinner.
You might also like a simple green salad with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette, veggie sticks with hummus, or cut up fruit.
Recipe FAQs
Our readers who have tried this recipe with gluten-free pasta have not had good results. It’s turned out mushy. If you try a specific brand and have good luck, please let us know!
The traditional cheese (I’m talking about real cheese, not Velveeta) for mac and cheese is cheddar. However, feel free to try other shredded cheeses that melt easily, such as Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, Pepper Jack, and Gruyere cheese (so decadent!).
This mac n cheese is best eaten fresh, but leftovers aren’t too bad! Just store leftovers in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Warm in the microwave. Add a splash of milk if it gets dry when rewarming.
I’ve tried freezing this in small batches for lunches. While it technically works, the pasta is noticeably more mushy. To warm, thaw completely in the refrigerator first and then warm it up.
We Know Instant Pot Recipes!
Did you know that our second cookbook, From Freezer to Cooker, is filled entirely with Instant Pot and slow cooker recipes?! We tested 100s of recipes over the years and can confidently say that you can trust this mac and cheese recipe, along with all our other Instant Pot recipes on Thriving Home.
More Easy Instant Pot Recipes You’ll Love
If you like this simple recipe, we think you’ll love these other recipes…
- Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan Sliders
- Instant Pot Beef Stew
- Instant Pot Tomato Soup
- 4-Ingredient Instant Pot Spaghetti
- Instant Pot Potato Soup
P.S. If you’re wondering the best way to clean your pot after making this dish, follow these instructions from Clean Mama.
This super easy recipe is a perfect, no-fuss weeknight meal and makes enough to serve an army. Plus, it’s a little healthier than traditional mac and leftovers make a Great Packed Lunch Idea for Kids!
Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
This mac and cheese recipe takes just minutes to pull together, dirties only one pot, and tastes creamy and delicious!
Ingredients
- 1 pound whole wheat elbow pasta
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 cups water
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 1/3 cup half and half
- 3–4 cups shredded Colby Jack or Cheddar cheese (or Gruyere for something fancier!) (Here’s how to shred your own cheese.)
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- Add pasta, butter, mustard, salt, pepper, and water to the pot and stir.
- Lock and seal the lid. Cook at high pressure for half the pasta cooking time on the package, minus 1 minute. (So, if the directions say 6 minutes: Half is 3 minutes, minus 1 minute, means you’ll cook it for 2 minutes total.)
- Use a quick release of the pressure when cooking time is through. Be sure to cover the spout with a dish towel to minimize splatters.
- Stir in the milk and half and half. Then, slowly stir in the cheese 1 handful at a time. Taste and adjust salt and pepper amounts, if needed. Enjoy!
Notes/Tips
- If you shred your own block of cheese, it will melt more evenly than the pre-shredded kind from the store. Here’s how to shred your own cheese
The Instant Pot jizzed all over my kitchen
But the food was delicious
★★★★
Hi Kait! Sorry to hear you had a mess to clean up, but so glad to hear it was delicious!
Hey – Can we do this in the crock pot? Obviously I would cook the pasta prior but then can I add everything else into the crock pot on low for a few hours?
Hi Kristen. I haven’t tested this in the crock pot, so I’m not sure. Let me know if you try it and how it goes.
So simple, fast, and DELICIOUS. Kids are begging me to make this every night.
★★★★★
Yay!! This is such an easy one for a busy mama. 😉
I’m just about to make it for our daughter Cassie.. we do not have half /half so please keep your fingers crossed .. will be using almond milk though 🫣🤞🫶❤️
★★★★★
How did it turn out with the almond milk Lydia?