I like to turn the Instant Pot on to Saute for a couple of minutes to let the sauce thicken slightly before serving it. No need to drain the pasta after it cooks.Īfter you quick release the pressure, add a little butter to loosen up the noodles and then finish the Mac & cheese by adding the cheese pouch and a little milk. Larger crock pots cook smaller recipes faster. You can use a crock pot as small as 2 quarts, but be sure the pasta is covered with milk. No waiting for the water to boil, then standing nearby while the pasta cooks. Add 2 cups milk, 1 cup standard macaroni, ½ teaspoon dry mustard, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon each of pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and 1 tablespoon of butter to the crock pot. Add salt, pepper, and half of the shredded cheese. Add the butter to the pasta and stir until it’s melted and evenly coating the macaroni. Once it’s cooked, drain off the excess fat and set the skillet aside. You want to undercook it a bit, since it’ll cook more in the slow cooker. Pour in 2/3 of your cheese mixture and mix well. Place your cooked pasta shells in your crock pot. Brown the sausage in a skillet over medium heat. In a large bowl, mix all your cheeses together. Stir in a bit more milk at serving time as needed. An impossibly easy slow cooker recipe for ultra-creamy Mac & Cheese that uses uncooked macaroni noodles. Keep warm at 'lo' setting for up to three hours. Transfer Mac-n-Cheese to a large (6-8 quart) crock pot. (IMPORTANT) Add cheese and stir until melted. The biggest advantages of using the Instant Pot for an already easy process is that you simply combine the macaroni, water, and a pinch of salt in the Instant Pot and then walk away while it does its thing. Drain it and then transfer the pasta to the crock pot. Cook over medium-high heat stirring almost constantly until the pasta is tender (10-15 minutes). How to Make Box Mac and Cheese in the Instant Pot My kids love it and it’s fun to have the different variations to enjoy.Īs easy as it is to make a box of mac & cheese on the stovetop…it’s even easier in the Instant Pot.
(I even included a recipe for Super Easy, Quick and Cheesy Macaroni in my cookbook).īuuuut, as easy as it is to make from scratch, we still like to keep boxes of Annie’s Mac & Cheese on hand.
Step 5: Cook the crock pot mac and cheese on low for 1. Step 4: Add the grated sharp cheddar cheese, evaporated milk, half and half, heavy cream, garlic powder, salt, and pepper and stir to combine. I really (REALLY) like homemade mac & cheese, and since I started using the Instant Pot to make it, I make it much more regularly. Step 3: Drain the macaroni noodles and add them to the crock pot, then stir in the cubed butter until melted. The links below may be affiliate links, meaning I earn a small compensation at no extra cost to you. Believe it or not, making box mac & cheese is even easier in the Instant Pot! No need to drain or babysit the pasta while it cooks and everything simply mixes together in one pot.