Easy Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese with one secret ingredient | 4 Minutes Instant Pot Mac & Cheese

How to Make Macaroni and Cheese in Instant Pot / Instant Pot Mac & Cheese 
Hello Foodies, 
          I have never been a fan of pasta and pizzas before moving to the USA. But now if you ask me what you would like to eat for a quick lunch/dinner and my answer will be one bowl Mac and Cheese(or any pasta) please! So I become a big fan of pasta. Nowadays, during busy weeknights, I just dump Macaroni in the Instant Pot with water, salt, butter, and turmeric and in 4 minutes cooked pasta ready. Then just stir in cheese, pepper, and milk. So creamy, cheesy, and rich dinner ready in less than 30 minutes. 


           Before getting the instant pot, I used to make pasta on the stovetop and making it over a stovetop; it's really time-consuming. But this instant pot method to cook pasta is really good and hassle-free. And you always end up with the perfectly cooked pasta, which involves no stirring and checking whether it is cooked or not. To cook perfect pasta, there are plenty of different cook times, water, and pasta ratio. And after experimenting, I have found this ideal time and the perfect amount of water. 

YouTube Video:

Why I love this Instant Pot Mac and Cheese:
  • Easy to make
  • No preservatives or artificial ingredients 
  • Creamy, cheesy, and delicious dinner /lunch ready in less than 30 minutes. 
  • Quick and clean meal ready with no fuss
  • Made using nine ingredients and in less than 30 minutes. 
  • Always get a perfectly cooked pasta
  • Even kids can do it. 
  • You do not need babysitting to make pasta. 

Tips to Make Best Mac and Cheese in the Instant Pot:
  • Most important, while cooking pasta, always add turmeric in water, as turmeric has a lot of health benefits, and it gives the perfect yellow color to your Macaroni that will look just like you get in restaurants. 
  • If you find your favorite brand’s pasta was slightly under or overdone, then keep in mind to add or subtract a minute the next time. 
  • The addition of butter or oil(if you are making vegan) will help to reduce foaming. 
  • Let the pressure release naturally for at least 5 minutes and then release the remaining pressure. 

Add some extra toppings to serve Mac and Cheese:
  • Stir-fried veggies(carrots, broccoli, peas, onions, and spinach, etc.) 
  • Sauce if you like any(hot sauce, BBQ sauce, etc.) 
  • The meat of your choice. 
Ingredients I have used to Make Mac and Cheese:
Turmeric: 
  • Turmeric is the secret ingredient.
  • The addition of turmeric will add a deep golden hue to the pasta.
  • Turmeric brings warm flavors to any pasta.
  • It boosts the healthiness of mac and cheese by stirring in ½ teaspoon of turmeric to your cheese sauce(This works for both homemade and boxed varieties).
Milk+Half and Half 1/3 cup:
  • It makes pasta good-tasting and creamy consistency. 
  • Addition of skim milk curdles under high heat, so try to add milk+half and half /heavy cream/evaporated milk, any of these works well. 
The Cheeses:
  • It helps to make your pasta perfectly creamy, dreamy. 
  • Use your favorites!  
  • Our personal favorites are the cheddar and gouda used in this recipe.
  • You can use Mozzarella, Monterey jack, Colby jack, Velveeta, etc.
  • Once you taste this combination of cheese, you and your family leave powdered cheese forever and make this instant pot mac and cheese version again and again. 

Macaroni:
  • I have used wheat macaroni pasta.
  • You can use whole wheat pasta, gluten-free pasta, or chickpeas pasta too. 
Butter: 
  • The addition of butter or oil(if you are making vegan) will help to reduce foaming.
  • Also, after cooking, the pasta will not be sticky.
Salt and Pepper:
  • These are the key ingredients that add taste to Mac and Cheese and to many other dishes too. 

Preparation Time: 5 Minutes; Cooking Time: 10 Minutes. 
Each Serving of Mac and Cheese Contains 330 Cal.

Ingredients: 
  • Macaroni 2 Cups(7oz)
  • Cheddar Cheese ½ Cup grated
  • Gouda Cheese ½ Cup, grated
  • Milk ½ Cup+Half and half ¼ Cup
  • Black Pepper powder ½ Tsp
  • Salt ½ Tsp 
  • Turmeric ½ Tsp
  • Unsalted Butter 2 Tbsp 
  • Water 3 Cups
Instructions:
  • Turn on the instant pot and add water, turmeric, salt, butter, and Macaroni and stir well. 
  • Close the lid and place the vent on the sealing position. 
  • Pressure Cook on Manual Mode(Hi) for 4 minutes. 
  • NPR for 5 minutes and then release the remaining pressure manually. 
  • Open the lid and mix all well. 
  • Now add milk+half and half, gouda cheese, cheddar cheese, and black pepper powder and stir to combine. 
  • There you have it perfectly cooked Mac and Cheese is ready to serve, sprinkle some parsley and serve. Enjoy!!! 

Making Mac & Cheese ahead of time and storing:
  • Make as directed, transfer to an airtight container and cool completely. 
  • Cover tightly and refrigerate 3-4 days.
  • Any leftovers need to be refrigerated and covered tightly.  
  • To reheat, stir in a little bit of milk and microwave and often stir as it warms.
Dietary Comment:
  • The calorie count based on a 2000 calorie diet.
  • Per serving contains 330 calories, along with 37.6 g carbohydrates, 14.1 g fats, and 17.1 g protein.
  • Portion size can always be increased or decreased depending on your health goals and activity level.
Good Time To Eat:
            It's good to eat mac and cheese for lunch and dinner.

  • If you make this recipe, share your food picture with hashtag #aaichisavali on Instagram and Facebook so that everyone can enjoy it too! 
  • Subscribe to my YouTube channel for Healthy, Tasty, Instant Pot, and Air fryer recipes.
Eat Healthy, Stay Healthy!!!

3 comments:

  1. This is one more excellent recipe which does not require a lot of efforts to be made. You just cook and you simply enjoy this process.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Looking delicious in the photos. Instant cooking seems very popular in Indian houses especially where the both partners are working. The incredible success of maggi introduced this instant cook habit in Indian kitchens.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I tried macaroni with cheese only once in my life. It was in Italian restaurant. Those feelings, that I felt then, were unforgettable. I recommend everyone to taste this meal.

    ReplyDelete

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