Quick, Comforting & Delicious: The Best Instant Pot Mac and Cheese Recipe Ever! 2025

Let’s cook something creamy, cheesy, instant pot mac and cheese today. If you don’t have much time or you don’t know what to make, then this recipe can be prepared in only 15 minutes. We don’t need any extra ingredients for this; it is easily made with just some basic ingredients like cheese, macaroni, butter, and milk. Kids will love this recipe, even everyone likes it, whether you want to make dinner or weekend plans, or you are craving at night, or you want to treat someone. This instant pot mac and cheese is just perfect for any time of day.

Why You’ll Love This instant pot mac and cheese Recipe

• Made with instant, basic ingredients
  
• Ready in just 15 minutes
  
• Extra cheesy and creamy without any processed cheese
  
• Kid-approved and adult-loved

Add Your Own Twist to instant pot mac and cheese

• You can simply sprinkle certain additional flavors in your mac and cheese to make it more entertaining. A bit of roasted garlic, some jalapenos, more finely chopped, or even a touch of truffle oil will give it some zest. Ok, feeling adventurous? Sprinkle a teaspoon of cayenne pepper and chipotle seasoning, stir well, or add pesto to get a fresh herby flavour.

•  You may also use creamy Havarti, tangy goat cheese, nutty parmesan, or smoky Gouda. These are cheeses that will include an extra supplementary taste in the mac and cheese.

• Add in stir-fried and shredded rotisserie or smoky chorizo or grilled tofu to provide you with protein energy.

• Roasted cherry tomatoes, caramelized onions, and peas or diced bell peppers can be added to add color and crunch of vegetables–it all depends on what veggie lovers have on hand.

• To give your mac that finishing touch, sprinkle your topped mac with dried sesame seeds (toasted) or crushed crackers.

Ingredients 

• 1/2 pound uncooked elbow pasta (or any short pasta like shells, rotini, cavatappi, or penne)
  
• 2 cups water
  
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
  
• 1 1/2 tablespoons butter, cut into small cubes
  
• 1 1/4 cups shredded cheese (cheddar + Italian blend recommended)
  
• Up to 1/4 cup whole milk (add slowly as needed)

Best Cheese Combinations for instant pot mac and cheese

The cheese you choose makes more creamier!
Try:

• Sharp cheddar + Italian blend
• Gouda or Fontina for a rich flavor
• It is wonderful to use Monterey Jack or Gruyere as they melt easily and turn the sauce into a creamy form.
• It is better not to use either mozzarella or provolone, as they melt in a string-like form and do not provide that smooth, creamy effect.

Optional Toppings to Level It Up, for instant pot mac and cheese

Want to take your mac and cheese over the top? Try adding:

• A pinch of black pepper
  
• A splash of hot sauce
  
• Crumbled crispy bacon
  
• More cheese on top (because why not?)
  

Instructions

1. Cook the Pasta: Pressure cook the pasta in water. Add salt to it. Cook it in the cooker for 4 minutes by applying pressure so that it boils well and becomes a little fluffy. Be careful not to overcook while boiling pasta, or else the macaroni pasta will become extra soft and chewy. 

2. Add the Creamy sauce

Now we will make a creamy sauce. Add melted butter to the hot pasta in the pressure cooker. For this, we will add shredded cheese and a little milk. Mix everything well so that the sauce becomes creamy. If you want a thinner consistency of the sauce, then add a little more milk. That is up to you, as you like it 

3. Let It Rest (Just a Bit)

For more richness and creaminess, let rest to the sauce be thick, then let the mac and cheese rest for 10 minutes before serving.

The Magic of Making Mac and Cheese in the Instant Pot

Let’s be real – some recipes just hit better in the Instant Pot Mac and cheese. This mac and cheese is ultra creamy and dreamy, thanks to the pressure-cooked pasta and cheesy goodness all stirred together in one pot.
No boiling, no draining, no baking. Just 15 minutes to cheesy instant pot mac and cheese with perfection.

When To Make This Recipe

• Weeknight dinners
  
• Lazy weekends
  
• Kids’ lunch
  
• Quick potluck side
  
• Midnight cravings
  

Pro Tip: Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

To add creaminess without cheese, use an extra spoon of cream cheese or some pasta water when serving. Want a health boost? Add steamed broccoli or spinach at the end – sneaky greens, no one will notice!

When to cook this recipe – anytime!

This Instant Pot Mac and Cheese can be made almost anytime during the day or any event. It is the recipe to use when you are in the mood for a meal on a weeknight, a lunch meal on Sunday, and you feel lazy, or simply a meal that is going to satisfy your cravings when you get home after a long day. When it is packed as lunch boxes, children enjoy it, and when served as a side dish during a potluck event and game nights, or family gatherings, it is good.

Midnight under the weather and wanting something cheesy and hot? This is the recipe that will come to the rescue. It is an ideal recipe when you want something quick, filling, and simply fantastic to eat, and you only need to prepare it in 15 minutes with very easy-to-find ingredients

FAQS of Instant pot Mac and Cheese

1. Does Instant Pot Mac and Cheese use any pasta?

Yes! As much as elbow macaroni is standard, there is a chance that you might like some other variation of short pasta, i.e., shells, rotini, cavatappi, or penne. All one has to do is keep in mind how the pasta is supposed to be cooked in terms of its size and the time required to cook in order to avoid being overcooked.

2. Can I double the recipe in the Instant Pot?

Yes, you only need to avoid stuffing the pot beyond half-full with the pasta and water cooking process. No need to increase the cooking time twice- keep this time.

3. Can one prepare this recipe without milk?

Why not? Yes, you can! But, in case you don’t use milk, use unsweetened almond milk, oat milk, or even the water you cooked the pasta in. Remember that full-fat milk provides the best creaminess.

4. Which cheeses are the best to use in instant mac and cheese?

Italian touch uses parmesan and provolone work well. You may as well experiment with melting cheeses such as Gouda, Fontina, 

5. I want to know whether it can be made in advance.

Mac and cheese can be prepared ahead of time – yes, however, it will be best when it is fresh. When you are going to reheat it afterwards, all you have been needing to do is add a touch of milk or cream to restore the thickness before you serve it.

6. Is this child-friendly?

Absolutely! It is prepared using actual, simple ingredients and also possesses a rich, cheesy taste that both children and adults enjoy. This instant mac and cheese recipe.

7. What is the best way to put up leftovers?

Leftover mac and cheese, you may store it in an air-tight container for up to two days. You can reheat it and add some milk, and heat it up on the stove when you desire to eat.

8. Can it be gluten-free?

Yes, wanna make it gluten-free. Use cheese and milk products that are also gluten-free. Remember, Pasta made without gluten cooks too fast. 

9. What are some of the toppings that I can put on to gain some flavor?

Yes, add garlic, sautéed fresh herbs, bacon, bites, American corn, baby corn, or boiled pepper chicken for extra flavors.

Nutritional                        Amount

• Calories:                     400–450
  
• Protein:                      15g
  
• Carbohydrates:      40g
  
• Fat:                               20g
  
• Calcium:                    High (thanks to the cheese!)

Recipe      Details

PREP TIME:     5 minutes

COOK TIME:    15 minutes

CATEGORY:     Dinner

METHOD:         Instant Pot

CUISINE:           American