Instant Pot Kraft Macaroni and Cheese

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Looking to learn how to make Instant Pot Kraft macaroni and cheese? Boxed mac and cheese in the Instant Pot allows for a hands-off macaroni and cheese!

You don't have to drain water as you do on the stovetop. Instant Pot boxed mac and cheese is a breeze and could easily become your go-to method for cooking boxed macaroni and cheese. Serve this with our yummy air fryer hot dogs!

instant pot kraft mac and cheese in a bowl and a fork full of mac and cheese

If you grew up eating boxed Kraft macaroni you know it has a distinct flavor! This pressure cooker Kraft mac and cheese is so easy to make and provides the same flavor as you would get cooking the Kraft on the stovetop.

Why Make Kraft Mac and Cheese in The Instant Pot...

  • Dump and cook recipe
  • No draining of water once pasta is cooked
  • Creamy and delicious boxed mac and cheese
  • Affordable
  • Hands off cooking

Ingredients Needed

  • Kraft Mac and Cheese
  • Milk
  • Water
  • Butter

How to Make

Full directions for this Instant Pot mac and cheese are in the printable recipe card below. This is a quick overview on this Kraft dinner.

Start by adding your dry pasta and water into the pressure cooker along with a tablespoon of butter.

Place the Instant Pot lid on the pressure cooker and make sure the valve is set to sealing.

Cook for 4 minutes on manual high pressure.

Once the time is up, do a quick release of the pressure. Pour in the powdered cheese, extra butter and milk.

Stir and mix until the mac and cheese are well mixed. Then dish up and serve up your family or friends.

pressure cooker mac and cheese in white bowl

Variations To Recipe

Curious on ways to dress up your instant pot kraft mac and cheese? Here are a few of my go-to ideas for boxed mac and cheese.

  • Dice up and add little smokies into the mac.
  • Add in some diced hot dogs, you can cook or stir in at the end when you add the powder cheese mixture.
  • Stir in a can of tuna and drained peas. This is a delicious addition.
  • Add a splash of hot sauce or even buffalo sauce for a kick of spice.
  • Toss in some diced or cooked meat at the end of cook time.
  • Add in a can of diced tomatoes or Rotel and mix in at the end.

Expert Tips For Mac and Cheese in Box

  • You add as much or as little milk as you would like to the mixture. It is all about personal preference.
  • When you do a quick release of pressure, you might need to do a controlled release, as it can foam up. I find adding 1/2 teaspoon of oil to the mixture helps with the bubbles.
  • I used Kraft mac and cheese but I am sure other boxed mac and cheese will work similarly.

Recipe FAQs

Do you drain water after you cook mac and cheese in Instant Pot?

Cooking boxed mac and cheese in the Instant Pot is a shortcut. You do not need to drain liquid. Once the pasta is cooked pour in the remaining ingredients, stir and serve!

Does Instant Pot pasta taste the same as boiled?

You will find there is a slight difference in texture between boiled and pressure-cooked pasta. The pressure cooker pasta has a bit of a denser texture, but overall the texture is similar.

We love it cooked in the Instant Pot and boiled on the stove. They offer similar flavors, so it is a personal preference.

Can I double this Instant Pot Kraft recipe?

Go right ahead and double adding 4 boxes of mac and cheese into your Instant Pot. I have used this is my 6 quart and 8 quart and the recipe works great.

Can dogs eat macaroni and cheese?

Macaroni and cheese are safe for dogs to eat, but it is something you will find is not recommended. There are some starches and carbs in the dish but for nutritional value it is minimal.

Craving more Instant Pot Pasta Recipes

Yield: 6 servings

Instant Pot Kraft Mac and Cheese

instant pot mac and cheese in bowl

Easy way to make Kraft Mac and Cheese even easier than normal. Not only is it an easy dinner recipe, but this method also makes the creamiest mac and cheese for a crowd.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 4 minutes
Total Time 9 minutes

Ingredients

Supplies for the best Kraft Mac and Cheese recipe:

Ingredients for an easy Kraft Mac and Cheese:

Instructions

    1. Add noodles from Mac and cheese boxes to Instant Pot along with water and 1 tablespoon of butter, stir.
    2. Put on the lid, make sure the knob is set to “Sealing”, then cook at high pressure for four minutes.
    3. Once the timer beeps, do a quick release of steam.
    4. Stir in the rest of the butter, followed by milk and cheese powder packets, serve warm.

Notes

  • I didn’t have any foam spray out during the quick release but this can sometimes happen with pasta and if this is the case turn the knob back to sealing and wait a few moments before trying again.
  • I used ½ cup of milk but everyone has their own opinion of the perfect sauciness so some people may want to add more milk.
  • When prepared like this, I actually thought it tasted better than the stovetop, the flavor was a bit richer.

FAQs:

  • Can dogs have Kraft Mac and Cheese? It is not recommended. These ingredients are bad for your dog. Usually, macaroni won't harm your dog, but it is high in carbohydrates. It can quickly put on excess weight on your dog if consumed too often or in large quantities. Also, cheese is challenging for most dogs to digest and may cause digestion problems.
  • Can cats have Kraft Mac and Cheese? Dairy isn’t a natural part of any cat’s diet. All cats and their ancestors are natural carnivores, meaning they survive and thrive on meat products. So, cheese can upset your cat’s digestive system. That includes everything from cream cheese and cottage cheese to feta, parmesan, blue cheese, and even mac and cheese!

Nutrition Information

Yield

6

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 492Total Fat 28gSaturated Fat 11gTrans Fat 3gUnsaturated Fat 14gCholesterol 37mgSodium 780mgCarbohydrates 50gFiber 2gSugar 8gProtein 12g

Did you make this recipe?

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Let me know how you enjoy this easy Instant Pot side dish!

Author

  • Jessica McCoy

    Jessica McCoy is a seasoned food blogger with 14+ years of experience in the industry. As a self-taught home cook, she enjoys creating and finetuning easy recipes that are fool proof and simple for anyone to make. Her expertise is in all things kitchen: cooking tips, air fryer recipes, Instant Pot and other pressure cooking recipes, and slow cooker recipes. Jessica was the previous owner of AllSheCooks, where she focused on easy every day recipes including budget friendly dinner recipes and desserts.

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