If you're looking for perfectly cooked boxed mac and cheese, this recipe is for you. These are cheesy al dente noodles that cook in just 4 minutes!
Now I know I sound crazy when I say this, but cooking your boxed macaroni in the instant pot has got to be the best way to do it.
There's ZERO water spilling over the edges of the pot as you look away during the boiling process.
There are no overcooked mushy noodles.
There's no pouring boiling hot water into a colander in the sink and fogging up your glasses (or steaming your face for those with better vision).
Seriously, I've never made boxed noodles this well in the pot, and now I only ask myself why I didn't run to my Instant Pot sooner! Instant Pot boxed mac and cheese is life changing and you only need water and the regular Kraft macaroni and cheese ingredients to do it.
For more mac and cheese recipes, be sure to check out my Mac and Cheese Quesadilla, 5 Ingredient Mac and Cheese, and Mac and Cheese Tuna Casserole.
Why This Recipe Works
- It's easy to make. Just add stuff to your Instant Pot, cook, and mix in the rest. Your noodles turn out perfectly cooked every time.
- It's great for any occasion. Too hot to cook? Use the Instant Pot. Don't have a working stove? Use the Instant Pot. Too many dishes in the sink to strain your noodles? Use the Instant Pot, and maybe wash a few dishes as it cooks.
- It's fast. Depending on your stove, you can sometimes be waiting up to 15 minutes for the water to boil before even starting the pasta. Even with the time needed to come up to pressure, this recipe is fairly quick.
🥘 Ingredients
Water- You will need some water to help cook the pasta in the instant pot, but you will not need as much as if you were to boil the noodles on the stove.
Milk- Adding milk to the noodles will make them creamier.
Butter- For added richness.
Boxed Kraft Mac- Use your favorite box of mac and cheese or some Kraft brand. I have tried this recipe with different varieties and had success every time.
For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.
🍽 Equipment Needed
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🔪 Instructions
Check out how to make Instant Pot Kraft mac and cheese with these simple step-by-step instructions:
Add your sliced butter, water, and dry pasta into the Instant Pot. Make sure that the butter is on top.
Close the lid and seal it shut. Set it to High Pressure for 4 minutes and then do a Quick Pressure Release.
Open the Instant Pot and with a sturdy wooden spoon, break up the noodle clump and stir in the milk and cheese.
The noodles will clump as you stir. This is okay. Just keep stirring to break them up.
Serve warm. Enjoy!
🍴 Recipe Tips
As you may already know there are several different varieties of Kraft Mac out there. This recipe is for the original elbow noodle looking ones shown in the pictures. You can try it with different varieties or even off-brand but your results will vary.
I have made this Kraft mac and cheese in Instant Pot with some store brands and with the name brand itself and have had success each time, but your results may vary.
To make this dish, we aren't using anything crazy or unusual. We are using the exact items requested on the back of your boxed mac, plus 1 cup of water instead of a large pot full) to cook the noodles.
If you would like your noodles softer, you can cook for 1 additional minute, but the difference is pretty huge and the noodles are MUCH more tender.
💭 FAQs
Absolutely! In fact, I double this pressure cooked macaroni and cheese almost every time I make it so that there's enough for leftovers. Just make sure to double all of the ingredients, including the water, and not add to the cooking time.
More great Instant Pot recipes to try
- Instant Pot Green Beans
- Instant Pot Zucchini Taco Boats
- Instant Pot Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Instant Pot Zucchini
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Kraft Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 cup Water ($0.00)
- 1 box Kraft Mac and Cheese (with cheese packet) ($1.00)
- 2 Tablespoons Butter, sliced ($0.16)
- ¼ cup Milk ($0.05)
Instructions
- Add your sliced butter, water, and dry pasta into the Instant Pot. Make sure that the butter is on top.
- Close the lid and seal it shut. Set it to High Pressure for 4 minutes and then do a Quick Pressure Release.
- Open the Instant Pot and with a sturdy wooden spoon, break up the noodle clump and stir in the milk and cheese.
- The noodles will clump as you stir. This is okay. Just keep stirring to break them up.
- Serve warm. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutritional Information
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