Home » How to Make Storebought Boxed Mac and Cheese in an Instant Pot

How to Make Storebought Boxed Mac and Cheese in an Instant Pot

As an Amazon affiliate, and affiliate with other businesses, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Jump to Recipe

Making Boxed Mac and Cheese in an Instant Pot means no standing over the stove and no messy draining—now it’s even easier to get this quick meal on the table. 

A horizontal photo that is tightly focused on a silver spoon of macaroni and cheese, garnished with red pepper and parsley. The spoon is suspended above a white bowl of macaroni and cheese.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

If you love mac and cheese, you’ll appreciate that this method makes dinner snappy and mess-free. Plus, this is the easiest way for kids to safely make mac and cheese without boiling water or using the stove. 

We really love this Instant Pot method! Just open the box, add the liquids and pasta, then pressure cook. Afterwards, just stir in the cheese packet until smooth.

This is a great shortcut Instant Pot pasta recipe. However, if you’re looking for homemade, we have some amazing mac and cheese recipes you can have on the table in under 30 minutes:

A vertical photo, with a silver spoon coming in from the left side of the frame to scoop a bite of macaroni and cheese from a white bowl. The bowl is resting on a white plate with broccoli on the side. An Instant Pot is out of focus in the background, along with a blue box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese just visible on the right side of the frame.

Why make Macaroni and Cheese in an Instant Pot?

We originally included a Shortcut Mac & Cheese recipe in our cookbook in 2017. Back then, we were surprised to see it become one of the most commented-on recipes in the cookbook: “Since boxed mac and cheese cooks on the stove in about the same amount of time, why make it in the Instant Pot?”

Well, we have a number of reasons!

We initially developed this recipe with kids in mind. My kids love this method because they can make it completely on their own—no need for me to come help them carry the heavy pot of water from the stove to the sink to drain it. I love this method because I don’t have to worry about the pasta boiling over and making the mess when the kids wander out of the kitchen while cooking.

Since publishing the cookbook, we’ve heard from seniors, people recovering from surgery, and others with limited mobility who love using their Instant Pot to make a quick box of mac and cheese! So we wanted to update the original cookbook method to make it even easier to make!

We can’t wait to hear what you think!

An overhead shot of the ingredients needed to make store-bought macaroni and cheese in an Instant Pot, including red pepper flakes, water, butter, milk, and a blue box of Kraft mac and cheese.

INGREDIENTS YOU NEED

You don’t need much to make this simple pressure cooker boxed mac and cheese! Ignore the directions on the box: you need different ratios for making it in the pressure cooker!

  • Butter. We use unsalted butter because the cheese seasoning packet is already pretty salty. 
  • Milk. You can use any kind of milk you like, though we use regular whole milk. 
  • Boxed macaroni and cheese. We love Kraft, but a store brand will work too. 
  • Red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper. This is optional to give the dish a tiny bit more flavor. 
An overhead shot of an Instant Pot cooking pot filled with butter, milk, water, and pasta. A blue and white striped towel and a box of mac and cheese are visible in the background.
An overhead shot looking down into the Instant Pot after the pasta has been cooked and after the cheese packet has been stirred in. The macaroni and cheese looks creamy next to a wooden spoon.

How to Make Boxed Mac and Cheese in an Instant Pot

✅ This easy recipe will work in any brand of electric pressure cooker, including the Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi, or Power Pressure Cooker XL.

Start by combining the butter, water, milk, and pasta in the Instant Pot pot. Cook on high pressure for three minutes. Then use a quick pressure release and remove the lid. Stir the pasta well, then stir in your cheese seasoning packet. 

It’s ready to serve. Or, if you like a thicker sauce, turn on Sauté and continue to cook the mac and cheese until it’s just shy of your desired thickness. 

At this point, be sure to remove the cooking pot from the pressure cooker housing. The macaroni and cheese will continue to thicken as it cools. If needed, add a splash of milk to return the pasta to your desired consistency.

A close-up photo of a white bowl filled with mac and cheese, garnished with pepper and parsley.

Important Tips for Making Mac and Cheese

One thing to note is that when you first remove the lid after cooking the pasta, the dish will be a little separated. Just give it a good stir and it will all come back together before you stir in the cheese packet. 

And don’t forget that the sauce will continue to thicken as it cools. It’s important to stop simmering before the pasta looks totally done. And remove the pot from the heat (the Instant Pot housing) as soon as it’s ready. 

An overhead vertical shot of a white bowl of macaroni and cheese sitting on a white plate filled with chopped broccoli. The plate is sitting on a blue and white striped hand towel.

Frequently Asked Questions about Mac and Cheese 

What’s the best mac and cheese to make in an Instant Pot?

My family is a Kraft family, but you can use this recipe to make any brand of boxed macaroni and cheese. 

How should I store leftovers?

If you end up with leftover mac and cheese, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. 

What should I serve with Instant Pot mac and cheese?

We like to serve this creamy pasta dinner with a fresh green salad, grilled or roasted veggies, or garlic bread.  

Can you add toppings to Instant Pot mac and cheese?

Sure! It’s easy to dress up this dish with your favorite toppings. For protein, you can add grilled or shredded chicken, sautéed ground beef, sausage, or bacon. For veggies, try steamed broccoli or cauliflower florets, carrots, or sautéed mushrooms. You can also add spice with jalapenos, red pepper flakes, or taco seasoning. 

A vertical photo, with a silver spoon coming in from the left side of the frame to scoop a bite of macaroni and cheese from a white bowl. The bowl is resting on a white plate with broccoli on the side.

MORE Instant Pot Pasta Recipes

We love making pasta in the Instant Pot! Try one of these favorites next:

  • Rigatoni alla Vodka: This shortcut one-pot recipe is rich in flavor and totally satisfying, thanks to plenty of ground pork, plus it stores well for leftovers.
  • Creamy Lemon Pasta: This is an easy meatless meal with a subtle citrus flavor that you can have on the table in under 20 minutes.
  • Five-Cheese Ziti: This Olive Garden copycat recipe starts with jarred marinara and alfredo sauce for an easy weeknight meal.

Do you LOVE this recipe?
Leave us a review below to tell us why!

A close-up horizontal photo of a white bowl filled with yellow store-bought mac and cheese, garnished with red pepper flakes and parsley. The bowl is resting on a white plate with broccoli on the side.

Boxed Macaroni and Cheese | Instant Pot method

Yield: 2 to 4 servings
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Additional Time: 10 minutes

This Instant Pot method will help you make store-bought boxed Mac & Cheese without having to watch the pot, or carry and drain the pasta water.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 1/4 cups water
  • 1/4 cup milk, plus more as needed
  • 1 package (7.25 oz) Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner, or your favorite brand
  • Additional seasonings, optional, to taste (we sometimes add a dash of cayenne pepper or a little bit of ranch dressing powder)

Instructions

  1. Add the butter, water, milk, and macaroni to the pressure cooking pot. Lock the lid in place. Select High Pressure and 3 minutes cook time.
  2. When the cook time ends, turn off the pressure cooker. Use a quick pressure release. When the valve drops, carefully remove the lid. Use a long spoon to break up the macaroni. Stir in the cheese packet. If needed, select Sauté and gently stir the macaroni until the sauce is just shy of your desired thickness.
  3. Remove the pot from pressure cooker housing and serve immediately. The macaroni will continue to thicken as it cools; if needed, stir in a splash of milk to return the pasta to your desired consistency.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 203Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 33mgSodium: 179mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 3g

Nutrition information is calculated by Nutritionix and may not always be accurate.

© Pressure Cooking Today / Barbara Bakes LLC
Cuisine: American / Category: Pasta

FOR MORE FROM PRESSURE COOKING TODAY

🥘 Browse our collection of the best pressure cooker / Instant Pot recipes.

💬 Follow Pressure Cooking Today on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.  

👥 Join our Electric Pressure Cooker Facebook Group. Our positive community of pressure cooking fans use all brands of electric pressure cookers, so it’s a great resource if you have questions about your particular brand.

🥧 If you’re interested in more than just Instant Pot recipes, follow us at Barbara Bakes. There we post amazing breakfasts, breads, and the best dessert recipes! 

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.