5-Ingredient Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

Article by Emily Saladino

This five-ingredient Instant Pot mac and cheese recipe produces rich, creamy results in a fraction of the time of traditional methods—and there’s only one pot to clean! The Food Network Kitchen team strategically developed this recipe to pack a lot of flavor into a short ingredients list and condensed cook time, opting for mostly shelf-stable pantry items. With hundreds of five-star reviews, this Instant Pot mac and cheese recipe is one you'll make again and again.

How to Make Instant Pot Mac and Cheese Like a Pro

With Food Network Kitchen's tips, this easy recipe for mac and cheese is not only foolproof, but can be customized to suit your kitchen, too.

Mac and cheese with evaporated milk cooks up creamy. Evaporated milk brings rich, creamy flavor to Instant Pot mac and cheese and merges with the shredded Cheddar to create a perfectly melty consistency—all without standing and stirring at the stovetop. Make sure to use evaporated and not condensed milk; the latter contains sweeteners that will alter the taste of your dish.

The best cheese for mac and cheese. The main factors to consider when choosing the best cheese for mac and cheese are meltability and cooking method. Since Instant Pot macaroni and cheese cooks so quickly, our recipe developers use evaporated milk for creaminess plus sharp Cheddar for lots of bright, cheesy flavor.

Use unsalted butter. Some Cheddars are saltier than others, so Food Network Kitchen recommends starting with unsalted butter to keep the flavors balanced.

Pick your favorite pasta for mac and cheese. Our recipe developers are partial to elbow macaroni, the traditional pasta choice for mac and cheese recipes. However, you can substitute any similarly sized pasta, including fusilli, farfalle (bowties) or orecchiette.

Mac and cheese extras. This one-pot mac and cheese recipe is delicious as is, but you can also customize it with spices and add-ins. After the cheese has melted and the pasta is fully cooked, stir in a 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne or a tablespoon of chili crisp, or sprinkle each bowlful with smoked paprika. You can garnish your Instant Pot mac and cheese recipe with minced parsley or chives or gild the lily by adding crumbled cooked bacon.

Check your Instant Pot before you get started. Depending on which model you have, your Instant Pot settings may vary from those on our recipe developers’ appliances. Please refer to the manufacturer's guide.

What to Serve with Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

Turn easy homemade mac and cheese into a satisfying meal by serving it alongside veggies like roasted broccoli or colorful tomato salad. Instant Pot mac and cheese also makes an excellent side dish to hearty mains like oven-baked pork chops, fried chicken or our best roast turkey recipe.

How Long Is Mac and Cheese Good For?

Instant Pot macaroni and cheese lasts for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Let it cool completely before storing it in an airtight container in the fridge.

To reheat it, put the leftover mac and cheese in a microwave-safe bowl, sprinkle it with a few drops of water and microwave it until just heated through or cook it in a sauté pan over low heat, stirring, until warm.