Instant Pot Mac and Cheese for Kids Easy Creamy Recipe in 20 Minutes
A quick and creamy mac and cheese recipe made in the Instant Pot, perfect for busy weeknights and picky kids. Ready in about 20 minutes with simple pantry ingredients.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 13 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni
- 3 cups water
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cups whole milk
- 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper (optional)
Instructions
- Pour 8 ounces of dry elbow macaroni into the Instant Pot. Add 3 cups of water, making sure the pasta is just covered. Sprinkle in ½ teaspoon salt.
- Seal the lid and set the Instant Pot to Manual or Pressure Cook on high for 4 minutes. When the timer beeps, do a quick release of the pressure immediately.
- Open the lid carefully and stir in 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter while the pasta is still hot.
- Slowly pour in 2 cups of whole milk and add 3 cups of freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese. Stir gently until the cheese melts completely and the sauce is smooth and creamy. Add more milk if sauce is too thick.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with a pinch of salt and optional black pepper. Stir gently and serve immediately.
Notes
Use freshly shredded cheddar cheese for best texture; avoid pre-shredded cheese to prevent grainy sauce. Do a quick release after pressure cooking to avoid mushy pasta. Whole milk gives the creamiest sauce. If sauce is too thick, add a splash of milk and stir over low heat. For thinner sauce, simmer with lid off a bit longer. Variations include adding steamed veggies, using dairy-free milk and vegan cheese, or gluten-free pasta.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 15
Keywords: Instant Pot, mac and cheese, kids recipe, creamy mac and cheese, quick dinner, easy recipe, comfort food