Water (or Chicken Broth) - needed to cook the pasta.Elbow Macaroni - the standard and beloved pasta shape, but experiment with other shapes to keep it interesting! Just keep in mind that the pressure cook time may vary.⬇️ Please scroll down to the recipe card to see the full ingredient amounts and instructions ⬇️ For the Mac and Cheese:
Lobster or Crab: Seafood lovers can enjoy the richness of lobster or crab mixed with mac and cheese.Buffalo Chicken: Shredded rotisserie chicken and hot sauce bring a spicy kick to your mac and cheese.Cubed Ham and Peas: This is a quick and easy combination.Add in cooked meats such as cubed ham, sausage, chicken, or crumbled bacon.Ī few favorite combinations that my family likes are:.Add steamed veggies such as broccoli, cauliflower, or cooked peas.You'll want to add these in after you've cooked the pasta and mixed the cheeses - right before you slide it into the oven to brown the top. While this mac and cheese recipe is totally fabulous in its classic form, you may want to customize it with some other delicious ingredients for a more substantial one pot meal. Colby: Another good melting cheese that brings a mild, sweet taste to the blend.Monterey Jack: Melts well and has a mild flavor, complementing the sharper cheeses in the mix.Gouda (plain or smoked): Adds a creamy and slightly sweet taste, contributing to the overall smoothness of the dish.Gruyere Cheese: It has a rich and nutty flavor and melts well, contributing to the dish's creaminess.It provides a bold and tangy flavor that forms the base of many mac and cheese recipes. Remember to grate your own cheese because store-bought pre-shredded cheese has a coating on it that prevents it from melting. The following are all cheeses that will melt well with this recipe. Obviously, sharp cheddar cheese is a classic, and the gruyere cheese is a mild but flavorful cheese that works well with cheddar, but feel free to try other combinations. Note: when you cook the pasta in the Instant Pot, you can substitute chicken broth for the water for a little more flavor. You can always add a pinch more until you get it just right. Remember, start with just a little and taste as you go. SEASONINGS TO TRYīasic mac and cheese obviously needs salt and pepper to make it more tasty, but you can go further with seasonings by trying any of the following. like cheese gets as it cools.You have successfully joined our subscriber list. The fresher, the better! Just because cheese gets. You want to eat it when it's just finished, before it cools. The ONLY part that wasn't completely awesome, and that I would caution others to be aware of.
We used an Italian 6 cheese blend (Kroger brand) and Sharp Cheddar. I also had a LOT of water left, so my IP was spitting more than just steam. I used a bigger, thicker pasta than traditional elbow, which needed to sit for a minute before QRing the pressure (thankfully I thought to let it sit), but probably could've used an extra minute of actual cook time. I made it for the wife and we both loved it! However, this Mac & Cheese is a PERFECT first dish to try!!! It's soooooooooo goooood!!! As well as easy! Like, as easy as the boxed stuff with powdered "cheese", if not easier!!! After reading all the stories of people just absolutely in love with theirs, I was definitely wanting to start falling in love with ours, but was intimidated like so many others at first. A few months back, I found a brand new, but dented, Instant Pot down by my local mall.