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Home » Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

By Kristina LaRue, RDN 5 Comments

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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!

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. 

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!

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. 

mac n cheese instant pot

Ingredients for easy 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!

overhead shot of mac and cheese with pumpkin

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. 

how to make 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.

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!

More Kid Friendly Instant Pot Recipes

Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice

Instant Pot Chicken Tacos

Instant Pot Chicken and Yellow Rice

Easy Instant Pot Crack Chicken and Broccoli

And if you love cauliflower, check out my recipes on MyFitnessPal. 

Print
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!

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese


★★★★★

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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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

  1. Place noodles, broth, butter and pepper in instant pot. Cover and cook on manual, high pressure for 5 minutes; quick release.
  2. 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

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @loveandzest on Instagram and hashtag it #loveandzest

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!

If you’re a modern mama– I’d love for you to join my Facebook group A Modern Motherhood Collective!

www.loveandzest.com

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Filed Under: dinner, grains, Instant Pot, pizza & pasta, sides, weeknight Tagged With: cauliflower, cheese, pasta noodles, pumpkin

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Comments

  1. Sara Welch says

    June 24, 2019 at 3:59 pm

    What a great family favorite recipe! So cheesy and delicious; the perfect comfort food!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  2. Emily says

    June 24, 2019 at 3:50 pm

    This looks so easy. I’m going to give it a try tonight. Thanks for posting it!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  3. Jessica Formicola says

    June 24, 2019 at 3:42 pm

    I’ll never make the boxed stuff again after trying this Instant Pot version!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  4. Tara says

    June 24, 2019 at 3:11 pm

    Delish and so easy! Who needs that boxed stuff?

    ★★★★★

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 8 Quick Dinners Made In Your Instant Pot (In 30 Minutes Or Less!) - Samantha Flaget says:
    February 4, 2020 at 8:00 pm

    […] 5 Minute Mac’n’Cheese […]

    Reply

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Thanks for stopping by Love & Zest. I’m Kristina LaRue, RDN (registered dietitian nutritionist), Peloton addict and mama to two active and hungry boys. Here on L&Z, I share healthy-ish recipes that fuel the whole family. I'm a fan of adding veggies to everything and recipes that make mom life easier.
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