How To Make Instant Pot Easy Mac
Making Kraft mac and cheese in an Instant Pot is beautifully simple, but you wont be completely following the Kraft mac and cheese instructions on the box.
Instead, combine the water and noodles straight into the Instant Pot, then cook on manual high pressure for 3 minutes with a 3-4 minute natural pressure release not a quick release.
Open the lid, and give the noodles a stir. Youll need to break up the noodles a tad and let them absorb the remaining water for a minute or two.
Add the called-for amounts of milk and butter, and youre done!
I actually recommend using heavy cream or half and half in place of the milk for an even creamier Kraft mac and cheese made in the pressure cooker!
Instant Pot Mac And Cheese
Now, I lovehomemade mac and cheese with no less than 4-5 quality cheeses and a fun, artisan noodle shape to eat. I top mine with extra sharp cheddar cheese and butter tossed panko breadcrumbs.
YUM.
But if I made that for my family, Brett and the kids would not eat it. When we go out and order mac and cheese, my son literally always asks for normal mac and cheese if its not Kraft. How did we get here, son?!
My favorite boxed mac and cheese is Annies White Shells, but no one here will eat those either. So Ive just grown accustomed to throwing that Costco-sized box of Kraft into my cart every other month with no shame. It took awhile for me to get over it, but I pick my battles and I dont think it tastes bad, either.
To save time, I make our Kraft mac and cheese in our Instant Pot! Ive found that making Instant Pot Kraft mac and cheese turns out the same as Kraft Easy Mac. Its easy, its delicious, and my kids love it.
How Do You Make 2 Boxes Of Kraft Mac And Cheese
NO Problem!! We do this all the time. You will want to double the amount of water added into the pot. Add your two boxes of noodles, close the lid and set to the SAME pressure cook time as 1 box. DO NOT double the cook time.
When it is done dont drain the water as stated in the recipe card below. Add twice the amount of butter, stir.
Dump in both of your dry cheese packets from the 2 boxes. Stir and add milk to thin it out to the consistency and thickness you want.
- Serve with salt and pepper to taste!
- Cheesy chili mac is always a winner of a dinner too.
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Kraft Dinner Mac N Cheesey Tuna Casserole
Add butter and onions to the pot. Cook the butter until melted and onions are soft. Add in the tuna and stir to break up the chunks. Mix in the milk and cheese packet until well mixed. If using canned cream of mushroom soup, add it in at this point. Stir the noodles and peas. Cook for 1 minute longer until the dish feels warmed throughout. Serve.
Recipe 856 Macaroni and Cheese Tuna Casserole 1 16oz. bag mixed frozen vegetables 1 14oz. box Kraft deluxe macaroni and cheese dinner 3/4 cup milk 1/4 cup Italian dressing 1 12oz. can white albacore tuna 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes. Drain and return macaroni to pot. Step 3 Stir 1/4 cup butter, 1/4 cup milk, and powdered cheese from envelope into the cooked macaroni. Stir cream of mushroom soup, tuna, and 1/2 cup milk into the macaroni and cheese.
Instructions. Prepare Mac & Cheese according to directions on box. Mix together the prepared Mac & Cheese, cream of celery soup, tuna and peas in a bowl. Put in a 9×13 inch glass baking dish. Sprinkle with bread crumbs. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Something everyone will smile about. From on-the-go microwavable snacks, to our signature blue box dinners, theres a Kraft Macaroni & Cheese to comfort you at any time of day. Blue Box products. Learn more. Microwavable products. Learn more. Deluxe products.
Ingredients For Instant Pot Mac And Cheese
For specific ingredients amounts, please check the printable recipe below..
- Pasta: Macaroni noodles or a short pasta like small shells.
- Butter: Unsalted or salted. If using salted butter you can reduce the amount of salt you add to the recipe.
- Seasonings: Salt, ground black pepper, ground mustard and garlic powder.
- Milk: I like to use whole milk or half and half for a creamier mac n cheese.
- Cheese: I use sharp cheddar and medium cheddar. You can use only one type of cheddar cheese if you prefer but I like this mix. Freshly shredded from a block of cheese is best.
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Kraft Macaroni And Cheese Archives
Its time to clone Americas best-selling brand of instant macaroni & cheese. This Kraft mac and cheese copycat recipe is for the Deluxe variety of this popular productthat is, the one that comes with an envelope of thick cheese sauce, rather than the dry, powdered cheese. I think the Deluxe version is the better tasting of the two.
This macaroni Instant Pot recipe is well worth adding to your regular meal rotation. You can make this easy Instant Pot pasta recipe slightly different each time for brand new flavour combinations. Let me know if you try out this Instant Pot creamy macaroni and cheese. This is an easy Instant Pot pasta recipe that the whole family will LOVE.
With just 5 minutes cooking time , this lush and creamy macaroni and cheese recipe is made with 100% real cheese and couldnt be easier or faster to make in the pressure cooker.Plus, Im sharing 5 more recipe ideas for jazzing up this old-fashioned family favorite for adults and kids alike, especially when its time to party.
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese is the easiest way to prepare homemade creamy, cheesy macaroni and cheese. Ready in less than 30 minutes, this simple recipe for Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese is sure to become a family favorite. This recipe for Instant Pot Mac and Cheese is so easy to make, it is often a go-to recipe for a quick lunch at our house.
Making Any Brand Of Boxed Mac And Cheese In The Instant Pot:
You can make any brand of boxed mac and cheese in the Instant Pot. Though, since different brands have different size boxes, you will need to adjust the water and milk measurements accordingly.
Here are the measurements needed for different size boxes:
- For 6.25 box: ¾ cup water + ¾ cup milk
- For 7.25 oz box: ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons water + 1 cup milk
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What Goes With Mac And Cheese
If you serve Instant Pot mac and cheese as a main dish , I like to serve it with a simple fresh green salad or Caesar salad. Another option is to serve this cheesy pasta with a nice vegetable side dish like Sautéed Green Beans or Blanched Green Beans with sea salt, Sautéed Peas with Prosciutto, Sautéed Mushrooms or Roasted Carrots.
If serving Instant Pot mac and cheese as a main dish, the possibilities are endless! Any main protein goes well with homemade mac and cheese. Some of my favorites are Pressure Cooker Baby Back Ribs, Baked Chicken Breast, London Broil Recipe, Baked Pork Chops and Oven Baked Beef Ribs.
How Do You Make Macaroni In Instant Pot
There are a couple of key tips to making boxed macaroni and cheese in the Instant Pot:
- Use a good quality product. I trust the old standard Kraft, so my recipe is specifically for Kraft mac and cheese in the Instant Pot.
- Dont skimp on the water.
- After several experiments, I found that 4 minutes pressure and 3 minutes of natural release made the best macaroni and cheese.
- Put the butter in with the water.
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Kraft Macaroni And Cheese Instant Pot Recipe
Posted on Published:
Can you make boxed or Kraft mac and cheese in the Instant Pot? Yep! This Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Instant Pot recipe makes Instant Pot mac and cheese easy! If you prefer to make mac and cheese the old fashioned way, see our Instant Pot Bacon Mac and Cheese Recipe.
How To Make Instant Pot Boxed Mac N Cheese
What to know how to make Instant Pot boxed mac and cheese? This is crazy simple to do, and with just a 4 minute cook time, you can have your favorite macaroni and cheese to serve up your family. No straining required for this recipe.
The instant pot has really opened up my cooking options. I dont usually make a lot of boxed foods but I know some people need to so they can stretch the budget. I have used boxed mac n cheese many times when my kids were small. Now I will show you how to make Instant Pot Boxed Mac N Cheese.
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Kraft Mac And Cheese Recipes With Tuna
Directions. 1. For the Tuna Noodle Mac and Cheese: Add tuna, peas, and extra cheese to already prepared mac & cheese. Turn heat to medium and stir to melt and heat ingredients. Top with crushed crackers. 2. For the Sausage and Broccoli Mac and Cheese: Slice and brown sausage in a skillet.
Transfer the macaroni from the colander back into the saucepan. Add 1/4 cup of margarine, 14 cup of milk, and the cheese sauce mix into the saucepan.XResearch source. The cheese sauce mix is the second packet in the Kraft Macaroni and Cheese box. Dont Miss: Can You Microwave Macaroni And Cheese.
Super Quick & Easy Tuna Casserole One box of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese , heat 1 cup peas in boiling water with noodles. Drain, prepare mac & cheese as usual, add one can of tuna, pepper to taste and voila! Lunch time!
Instructions. Prepare macaroni and cheese according directions, adding in the cheese packet along with the milk and butter. Stir in soup and tuna. Spread into a 3 quart baking dish and top with cheese. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
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Instant Pot Mac And Cheese Kraft
This is faster than making it on the stovetop since it takes a while for the water to start boiling.
DO NOT drain the water. Leave that in, there wont be a lot, and just add that butter once you stir it a bit. Take note that the noodles will stick a bit but theyre easy to break up, just use a wood spoon for that.
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What Is The Best Instant Pot Recipe
The set includes a series of useful items for your Instant Pot:
- Upper wire and lower wire egg racks: These two egg racks allow you to make up to 14 perfectly-cooked hard- or soft-boiled eggs.
- 2 silicone lids: Use these while food is cooking and then pop them back on for easy storage when you are finished.
- 2 stainless steel round pans: One features a solid base for greater flexibility.
Ways To Dress Up Boxed Mac And Cheese
- Add in hot dogs, great for little kids. Just slice thin and mix in.
- Slice up little smokies for a fun protein twist.
- Can of tuna and peas for a cheesy tuna dish.
- Sprinkle with a season salt for added flavor
You can really dress up this mac and cheese to be a main dish or opt for something simple to dress it up for a side dish. Either way, it is a fantastic way to make the boxed mac and cheese you love in a new way.
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How Much Water Do You Need For Boxed Instant Pot Mac And Cheese
I found that one cup of water worked great for this recipe. You dont have to add a ton of water, drain pasta, then mix in the rest. With the one cup it is perfect to stir in the cheese packet and enjoy. Which is so handy, and will save you a step compared to the stovetop.
I am all about simplifying my life, and this recipe has done that.
Instant Pot Boxed Kraft Macaroni And Cheese
Find this Pin and more on instant pot recipes by Kristi Zarecky. Ingredients Dairy 1/3 cup Butter 1/2 cup Milk Deli 2 boxes Kraft mac and cheese Liquids 2 1/2 cups Water Other Measuring Cups and Spoons Instant Pot DUO Spoon Rest Wooden Spoon 0:10 Making Mac And Cheese Chicken Burritos Starbucks Recipes Macaroni Cheese How To Double A Recipe
To the Instant Pot, add macaroni, water, bouillon, cream, mustard, hot sauce, and salt. Mix to combine completely. Lock the lid, turn the knob to sealing, and cook on manual high pressure for 4 minutes with a quick release. Open the lid and mix the noodles to break them up. Add 1 cup of the shredded cheese and mix constantly.
Mac-N-Cheese : Combine elbows, 4 c. water, butter, and salt. Seal. Set manual to high and set timer for 4 minutes. Manual release the pressure. Set instant pot to sauté, and add milk and cheese. Stir until cheese melts.
Add pasta, butter and water to Pressure Cooker cooking pot. Lock on lid and close Pressure Valve. Cook at High Pressure for 2 minutes. When Beep is heard, carefully do a Quick Release. Open lid and stir in the Big Daddy Mac/Milk mixture. Stir until combined.
This beef macaroni and cheese recipe is cooked right in your Instant Pot, no draining required. Sauté the ground beef with the spice blend until browned and the liquid is reduced. Add in the macaroni and water. Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, grate your cheeses. Once the cooking time is up, do a manual pressure release.
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How To Double The Recipe:
Thankfully, it is super simple double or triple the recipe. Just multiply the ingredients by the desired amount and follow the directions as listed. The cooking times do not need to be adjusted, as the Instant Pot will naturally adjust the time needed to bring the increased volume of food to pressure.
How long do you cook Instant Pot Kraft mac and cheese?
You only need to set the Instant Pot to cook for 0 minutes in order to cook the boxed mac and cheese in the pressure cooker! Because the liquids and pasta boil while the pot comes to pressure and when the pressure releases, we don’t actually need any additional time at pressure to sufficiently cook the pasta.
How do you make extra creamy box mac and cheese in the Instant Pot?
There are two ways to make extra creamy boxed mac and cheese in the pressure cooker. The first one is to add an extra 2 tablespoons of water to the pasta before pressure cooking. The second is to stir in 2 tablespoons of sour cream or plain Greek yogurt in with the powdered cheese packet after the pasta has cooked.
Can you set the Instant Pot for zero minutes?
Yes! You can set the Instant Pot for zero minutes. When setting it to zero minutes, as soon as the Instant Pot comes to pressure it will, the 0 minute “timer” will trigger, initiating the natural-release.
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.
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Kraft Mac And Cheese In A Pressure Cooker
Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes. Drain and transfer pasta to slow cooker. Add butter to pasta and stir until melted season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle about 1/2 the Cheddar cheese over pasta and stir.
Set the manual/pressure cook button to 5 minutes. When the time is up let the pot sit for 5-10 minutes and then move the valve to venting. Remove the lid. Stir. It will seem like there is a lot of liquid, dont worry. Slowly stir in the half and half and cheeses. The cheese will get melty and the sauce will thicken up.
Add the macaroni, 1/2 tbsp salt to the Instant Pot. Pour hot water. Make sure the water covers the pasta completely but not by much. About 1/2 an inch over the pasta. Secure the lid and turn the steam release handle to Sealing position. Press Pressure Cook program and select High Pressure mode, then adjust time to 3 minutes.
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