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Instant Pot® Three-Cheese Macaroni and Cheese

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  • Prep 15 min
  • Total 30 min
  • Ingredients 13
  • Servings 8
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We love this baked mac and cheese Instant Pot® side dish, ready in 30 minutes. Tender macaroni with 3 melted cheeses is under a warm and comforting blanket of garlicy bread crumbs. Mmm, mmm! It’s a winner perfect as a Thanksgiving side (no needing to take oven space here) or a kid-friendly weeknight dinner.
By Pillsbury Kitchens
Updated Nov 10, 2023
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How Should I Serve Instant Pot® Mac Baked Mac and Cheese?

This baked mac and cheese Instant Pot® recipe is great along side any cooked meat or poultry. It can also stand on its own as the main event, paired with a vegetable like cooked broccoli and fruit, like sliced apple.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups water
  • 1 box (1 lb) uncooked elbow macaroni
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 8 oz Kraft Velveeta® original cheese product, cut into small cubes
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (4 oz)
  • 1 cup shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese (4 oz)
  • 2 tablespoons butter

Topping

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/2 cup Progresso™ plain panko crispy bread crumbs
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Steps

  • 1
    Spray 6-quart Instant Pot® insert with cooking spray. Add water, macaroni and salt to insert; stir.
  • 2
    Secure lid; set pressure valve to SEALING. Select MANUAL; cook on high pressure 5 minutes. Select CANCEL. Set pressure valve in VENTING position to release pressure. Add milk, mustard, pepper, cheeses and 2 tablespoons butter. Carefully stir until cheeses are melted.
  • 3
    Meanwhile, in 8- or 10-inch skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Stir in bread crumbs and garlic powder. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until lightly browned. Sprinkle over macaroni and cheese before serving.

Tips from the Pillsbury Kitchens

  • tip 1
    We use preshredded cheese in this recipe, but you can shred your own from block cheese, which yields a smooth, creamy texture.
  • tip 2
    For a little spicy heat, swap some of the sharp Cheddar cheese for shredded pepper Jack cheese, if desired.
  • tip 3
    To serve in a casserole dish, first transfer the macaroni and cheese mixture to serving dish, then top with the breadcrumbs.
  • tip 4
    If you substitute another shaped pasta for the macaroni, it may cook differently (either more or less time) than the elbow macaroni. Since it’s difficult to add time to a multicooker recipe, we suggest sticking with the elbow macaroni
  • tip 5
    Why 3 cheeses? They all contribute not only flavor, but just the right amount of cheesy goodness we love in mac and cheese.
  • tip 6
    To serve the mac and cheese in a casserole dish, first transfer the macaroni and cheese mixture to the serving dish and then top with the bread crumbs. You’ll need a 1- to 1 1/2-quart size dish.

Frequently Asked Questions

What other ingredients can I add to this recipe?

Yes, this Instant Pot™ baked mac and cheese recipe is easily adaptable. Have any adds like sliced pepperoni, cooked and crumbled sausage, sliced olives, chopped tomatoes or your other favorite ingredients prepped and ready to add so you can toss them in right after stirring in the butter. Then immediately top it with the bread crumbs and serve, so all the yumminess will be warm when you eat it.

Can I omit the topping?

Yes! While we love the textural difference the topping adds to this Instant Pot® mac and cheese and how the buttery garlic bread crumbs add another layer of flavor. But leaving it off lets you get to the deliciousness of eating the mac and cheese faster (and save those calories for dessert) by omitting the topping.

Nutrition Information

520 Calories, 22g Total Fat, 22g Protein, 58g Total Carbohydrate, 5g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: About 1 Cup
Calories
520
Calories from Fat
190
Total Fat
22g
33%
Saturated Fat
12g
62%
Trans Fat
1/2g
Cholesterol
65mg
22%
Sodium
900mg
38%
Potassium
210mg
6%
Total Carbohydrate
58g
19%
Dietary Fiber
3g
11%
Sugars
5g
Protein
22g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
15%
15%
Vitamin C
0%
0%
Calcium
40%
40%
Iron
15%
15%
Exchanges:
2 1/2 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 2 High-Fat Meat; 1 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
4
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

More About This Recipe

  • The Instant Pot® comes through, for this family-favorite dish that can be made in 30 minutes without turning on your oven If you’re looking for other dinner time recipes that can use this appliance, Check out other multicooker recipes.
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