Creamy Macaroni & Cheese Instant Pot® Recipe (15 Minutes, 8 Ingredients) Instant Pot Recipe High Protein Recipes Budget Recipes Side Dishes Pasta Low Sugar Recipes Dinner Lunch

Macaroni and cheese is a family favorite. While scrolling through Facebook, one of those enticing, draw-you-in food videos popped up in my feed for an Instant Pot® macaroni and cheese recipe. After quickly surveying my kitchen, the realization that not all the ingredients were accounted for started to sink in. What to do? Improvise!

The result was a creamy high-protein mac and cheese, another successful Instant Pot® endeavor and ... food coma. To make this budget-friendly creamy macaroni and cheese recipe you will need a bag of elbow macaroni, butter, heavy cream, ground mustard, cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese and Parmesan cheese. 

Pro Tip: Freshly grated cheese melts so much better than pre-packaged shredded cheese. If you have time, shred it yourself. It really goes make a difference.

Turn the macaroni and cheese into a complete dinner by adding chopped brisket, sausage or ham. Diced jalapeno, onion and bacon would also not be frowned upon.

Serve this food coma Instant Pot® recipe for lunch or a vegetarian dinner, or as a side dish with dinner. This mac and cheese would be a great addition to your Thanksgiving menu (it doesn't take up oven space!). 

Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 10

Ingredients

• 16 ounces elbow macaroni
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 cups water
• 1 cup heavy cream, evaporated milk or whole milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground mustard
• 8 ounces cheddar cheese, grated
• 8 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, grated
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Here's how to make it:

1. Put the noodles, butter, water, cream and mustard in your Instant Pot®. Add salt and pepper, to taste, and stir to combine.
2. Cook on the steam sitting on high pressure for 4 minutes.
3. Quick release after 4 minutes and open lid.
4. Add the cheeses and a few shakes of Tabasco sauce, if using. Stir well. (Tabasco sauce adds just a little heat and flavor to this mac and cheese.)
5. Taste and add more salt and pepper, if needed. Serve. Store the mac and cheese in an airtight container in the fridge and reheat in the microwave.

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. Any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

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