Pressure Cooer Mac and Cheese is my go-to Macaroni and Cheese technique. I make it in my Instant pot for weeknight dinners, and as a side dish for potlucks. 4 minutes at high pressure cooks the noodles, then it's time to stir in the cheese. That's right, homemade mac and cheese that didn't come from a packet in a blue box, ready in about a half an hour.
Would you like to save this recipe?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Jump to:
For years I made the mac and cheese from Pam Anderson's The Perfect Recipe. Then I read Ideas in Food; their recipe was similar to Pam's, stripped down to the basics.
Both recipes use evaporated milk as their secret weapon. Evaporated milk replaces the flour and milk béchamel sauce, and all the whisking that entails. I mashed the two recipes together, and that's what I've been using ever since.
Now, even with the evaporated milk shortcut, this was a stretch to make on a weeknight. Especially if I want a toasted bread crumb topping. And if I'm making macaroni and cheese, it must have a bread crumb topping.
That's why I jumped when I saw the pressure cooker macaroni and cheese in Pressure Cooker Perfection. They pressure cook the pasta and spices in a small amount of water, treating it like a risotto. This trick really speeds up the recipe - no waiting for a pot of water to boil, no draining, and one (pressure cooker) pot to clean. Weeknight macaroni and cheese is now within my reach. 1
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried elbow macaroni
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
- 1 tablespoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt or 2 teaspoons table salt
- 4 cups water
- 1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk
- 16 ounces shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese
- 6 ounces shredded parmesan cheese
Bread Crumb Topping (optional)
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
How to Make Pressure Cooker Mac and Cheese
Pressure cook the pasta for 4 minutes with a quick release
Stir the macaroni, butter, mustard, hot pepper sauce, salt, and 4 cups water in the pressure cooker pot. Lock the lid on the pressure cooker and cook on high pressure for 4 minutes in an electric PC or stovetop PC. (For an Instant Pot, use Manual or Pressure Cook mode, and set the time to 4 minutes.) When the cooking time is done, quick release the pressure and remove the lid.
Stir in the evaporated milk and cheese
Turn the heat under the pot down to low (or turn the electric pressure cooker to sauté-low or keep warm mode), and stir in the evaporated milk. Test a piece of pasta by taking a bite - it should be al dente, but cooked through. If the pasta is still tough in the middle, simmer it for a few minutes, until it is tender. Stir in the cheese one handful at a time, stirring constantly and waiting for the current handful to melt before adding the next handful.
Top with breadcrumbs and broil
Optional step, if you like a toasted bread crumb topping: Pour the macaroni into a 3 quart broiler-safe dish, patting it down to level out the surface. Sprinkle the panko over the macaroni and cheese in an even layer. Broil the macaroni and cheese on high until the bread crumbs are toasted, about 5 minutes. Check the bread crumbs often - they go from pale brown to burnt in a flash.
Quick Tips
Ratio of 1 cup of water to 4 ounces of pasta
4 cups of water is just enough to cook 1 pound (16 ounces) of pasta. No draining is necessary; the water will be absorbed by the pasta. If you have a smaller box of pasta - 12 ounces and 13.25 ounces are common sizes of whole wheat pasta - cut the water back to 3 cups. (Everything else can stay the same.)
Serve with a bottle of hot sauce at the table.
I like Frank's Red Hot, or the smoky flavor of chipotle hot sauce.
Watch the bread crumbs under the broiler
I have burned a lot of bread crumbs in my day. I set a timer for 1 minute intervals while I'm broiling, in case I get distracted. (By a homework meltdown…just to pick a hypothetical example). I have the timer to remind me - "Oh no! The breadcrumbs!"
Storage & Reheating
I save leftover mac and cheese in 2-cup containers. It will last in the refrigerator for a few days, or in the freezer for months. (Mac and cheese freezes well). I reheat 2-cup containers of mac and cheese in the microwave - it takes about 2 minutes to reheat from the refrigerator, or 6 minutes from frozen. (Your microwaving time may be different, depending on how powerful your microwave is.)
Print
Pressure Cooker Macaroni and Cheese
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
Pressure Cooker mac and cheese - quick, easy, and better than the dreaded blue box.
Adapted from: America's Test Kitchen Pressure Cooker Perfection
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried elbow macaroni
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
- 1 tablespoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt or 2 teaspoons table salt
- 4 cups water
- 1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk
- 16 ounces shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese
- 6 ounces shredded Parmigiano cheese
Bread Crumb Topping (optional)
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
Instructions
- Pressure cook the pasta for 4 minutes with a quick release: Stir the macaroni, butter, mustard, hot pepper sauce, salt, and 4 cups water in the pressure cooker pot. Lock the lid on the pressure cooker and cook on high pressure for 4 minutes in an electric PC or stovetop PC. (For an Instant Pot, use Manual or Pressure Cook mode, and set the time to 4 minutes.) When the cooking time is done, quick release the pressure and remove the lid.
- Stir in the evaporated milk and cheese: Turn the heat under the pot down to low (or turn the electric pressure cooker to sauté-low or keep warm mode), and stir in the evaporated milk. Test a piece of pasta by taking a bite - it should be al dente, but cooked through. If the pasta is still tough in the middle, simmer it for a few minutes, until it is tender. Stir in the cheese one handful at a time, stirring constantly and waiting for the current handful to melt before adding the next handful.
- Top with breadcrumbs and broil: Optional step, if you like a toasted bread crumb topping: Pour the macaroni into a 3 quart broiler-safe dish, patting it down to level out the surface. Sprinkle the panko over the macaroni and cheese in an even layer. Broil the macaroni and cheese on high until the bread crumbs are toasted, about 5 minutes. Check the bread crumbs often - they go from pale brown to burnt in a flash.
Equipment
Buy Now → - Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Weeknight Dinner
- Method: Pressure Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Would you like to save this recipe?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 Cups of Mac and Cheese
- Calories: 660
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 1499.1 mg
- Fat: 30.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 62.3 g
- Protein: 33.5 g
- Cholesterol: 79.2 mg
Video: How to make Pressure Cooker Macaroni and Cheese (5:13)
Video: Pressure Cooker Macaroni and Cheese [YouTube.com]
What do you think? Questions? Other ideas? Leave them in the comments section below.
Related Posts
Instant Pot Chili Mac
Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo
Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
Pressure Cooker Beef Shank Osso Bucco
Pressure Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage
Instant Pot Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup
Instant Pot Collard Greens
Instant Pot Baked Ziti
Click here for my other Instant Pot and Pressure Cooker recipes
Enjoyed this post? Want to help out DadCooksDinner? Subscribe to DadCooksDinner via email and share this post with your friends. Want to contribute directly? Donate to my Tip Jar, or buy something from Amazon.com through the links on this site. Thank you.
monica says
i was quite skeptical, and the only reason i made it is because i've seen it referenced in numerous places and always with the highest praise.
it is hands down the easiest mac n cheese to make. and it is delicious. it's a perfect base recipe. great texture. i didn't have my normal 5 cheeses on hand that i would usually use, so i used sharp and pepper jack. i added smoked paprika and cayenne pepper. can't wait to make it again to see what else i can do with it.
one of my kids, who never ever makes food noises (you know the ones) and never ever closes her eyes in joy, did just that. she eats just about anything but has very little outward show of enjoyment. this blew her away!
thanks for a wonderful recipe!
Mike V says
You're welcome - glad to know we got a picky eater convert.
Pam says
Made this tonight. Delicious! I had to buy the hot sauce, and found some with a bacon/smoky flavor and used it based on a comment above. How can I halve or even quarter this recipe?
Lisa Jones says
Love this recipe. But mine tasted powdery? I don't know why but this is not the first time I've had this issue. It makes no sense. Make mac n cheese with powdered cheese. Tastes fine (at least no powdery taste) but homemade then I get this powdery taste. Weird. Any ideas?
Mike V says
I'm sorry - I don't have any ideas. Maybe try shredded velveeta? I know it sounds weird, but it is designed for melting.
Sara says
Did you by chance use pre-grated cheese? Cellulose (yes, from wood pulp) is added to pre-grated cheese to keep it from clumping. Apparently the amount used industrially is going up. Could be some brands have more filler than others. Maybe try a different brand or grate your own?
Robyn says
Hi, I made your Mac n Cheese tonight and it was absolutely delicious! I was wondering if you have ever added the butter melted. The reason I ask is when I released the pressure the steam seemed to be mixed with butter . Do you think melting it first would prevent that? Thanks, love your blog:)
Mike V says
No, I don't think that will help - the butter is melted by the time it comes up to pressure.
Paula says
I want to add fresh broccoli..Should I add with the noodles in the beginning?
Mike V says
I don't know - when do you add it in a regular Mac and cheese recipe? It feels like pressure cooking it will overcook it to me.
Trish Farano says
I have not added broccoli to mac 'n cheese because I haven't made mac 'n cheese yet. (I will tonight though, using this recipe.) However, when I make beef and broccoli or add peas to anything, I add at the very end because otherwise you will have khaki colored mush. (That's khaki as a color, not a fabric or pants style!) If you are concerned it won't cook enough, toss it in the microwave for 1 minute before you stir it in.
Linda says
Can I make this in a stove top pressure cooker? What would change, if anything?
Mike V says
Yes, you can make this on the stovetop. Don't change anything - it works fine in a stovetop PC.
Patty says
Has anyone tried stirring in extra proteins like crab meat or bacon? Any advice? I am thinking about just following the recipe as described, and once cheese is melted stirring it in?
Mike V says
That's what I would do - stir it in at the end.
Patty says
Thank you!
Vicki says
I added tuna fish to make a tuna casserole.
KG says
I made this tonight. The first time using my Instant Pot. I only used 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Figuring the cheese has a lot of sodium and we try to watch our intake. The only pasta I had was made out of chick peas. Not hubby's fav. Used the cheese I had on hand. 3 year aged cheddar, colby jack, cheddar jack and a little pepper jack. Once all the cheese was melted I added some petite diced tomatoes. Was easy and pretty good for a first time. I will definitely try with regular pasta next time. Thanks for the recipe.
Ck says
Well. I am giving this a go. Spaced out and added the evap mil to the 4 cups water so I added a bit more macaroni. My family will laugh at me if it does not come out so I will report back!
Amy B says
First time I made pasta in the Instant Pot and I was a little nervous. I hit 'steam' to cook the pasta. It took more than 4 minutes to release the pressure. But, it turned out really well, I added bacon and ground beef to the dish. Thank you for the recipe!
Jane says
This comes out just like the homemade versions that take so much longer. This is a great recipe!!
Rachel E. says
This came out amazing!! I substituted different cheese using Sharpe cheddar with parmesan cheese. Made it for the kids to eat on christmas. Definitely a hit. It was so easy to make when we can out I just made another batch!! Very easy and will make this version from now on!
Nathaly says
Hello, I really want to do this recipe, but the problem is that I live in Venezuela... so at this moment some of products are really difficult to find in a grocery or market, so what can I use to replace the evaporated milk? If I can replace of course, thank you so much, and sorry about my english 😀
Sherry says
Nathaly, I would think that you could use heavy cream or even regular milk. It might affect the texture just a little bit, but probably not the overall taste.
Patty says
Hi Nathaly!
Can you get dry milk (powdered milk)? If you use a 2:1 ratio, or double the normal amount of dry milk to water it should work. Cheers! Evaporated milk is simply milk that has some of the water "evaporated" or taken out. Another option could be to boil milk until it reduces in half. Whole milk (fat content is 3.5%) and half and half (fat content about 18%) may be combined in a 3:1 ratio, so 3 parts whole milk to one part half and half.
Lisa Easterling says
That is great information, Patty. Thanks! 🙂
Sissy Sproles says
Absolutely the easiest, quickest and delicious mac and cheese ever! And in 4 minutes! This recipe could be dangerous to any mac and cheese lover! Amazing!
melanie says
Hi, when the pasta is finished cooking is there liquid left over to be drained or is all 4 cups of water used up? thanks!
Mike V says
No need to drain; the little bit of water remaining becomes part of the sauce.