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Instant pot boxed Macaroni and cheese Mac & Cheese held on a fork. #TexasHomesteader

Instant Pot Boxed Mac & Cheese

This recipe uses 2 boxes of macaroni & cheese. A one-pot meal that it cooks in only 4 minutes with no risk of pasta boil-over. And there are lots of fun add-in's too! #TexasHomesteader

Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword instant pot, Macaroni and Cheese, one pot meal, pasta
Prep Time 1 minute
Cook Time 4 minutes
Natural Release Time 1 minute
Servings 6 cups
Author www.TexasHomesteader.com

Ingredients

Ingredients

  • 2 7.25-oz boxes Macaroni & Cheese, remove & set aside cheese powder packets
  • 2 ¼ cups Broth or Water divided
  • 3 Tablespoons Butter
  • 1 cup Milk

Instructions

Instructions

  1. In bottom of instant pot inner liner pour 1 ¼ cup of the broth or water.

  2. Remove & set aside dry cheese powder packets. Spread pasta from both boxes of Mac & Cheese evenly along the bottom, DON’T STIR.

  3. Top with 3 tablespoons of butter and the other cup of broth/water. DON’T STIR.

  4. Top pressure cooker with lid, lock into place, place lever on ‘sealing’ and cook on high pressure for 4 minutes.

  5. Allow 1 minute natural release and then do a quick release of remaining pressure. Stir pasta to separate.

  6. In small bowl stir together 1 cup milk and the 2 dry cheese packets, blending thoroughly.

  7. Pour cheese sauce over pasta and stir to combine. Serve hot. (Note, pasta continues to soak up moisture as it cools)

Recipe Notes

Fun Add-In’s

If you want a different flavor than macaroni & cheese, or you want to make it more hearty to use as an entrée instead of a side, here are some fun add-in's to consider:

  • ¼ cup chopped seeded roasted hatch chile for a spicy twist.
  • Drained cans of tuna & peas/carrots.
  • Stir in a can of chili for chili mac flavor.
  • Frozen or steamed broccoli and cooked cubed chicken.
  • Chopped kielbasa sausage.
  • Sliced cooked hotdogs - a favorite for the kids.
  • Browned Taco-Seasoned ground beef (or taco-Tuesday meat leftovers!)
  • Mozzarella cheese & sliced pepperoni for a pizza flavor.
  • Chunks of smoked ham & steamed broccoli.
  • Hot sauce or salsa (the hotter the better for me!).