Super easy and family friendly, this Instant Pot Chicken Mac and Cheese is an upgraded version of your childhood boxed favorite. Made in one pot, you've got your protein and carbs all in one meal!
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👩🏻🍳 Why You'll Love This Recipe
Who can resist a creamy and cheesy macaroni and cheese? Mac and cheese is like comfort in a bowl for me. Made in less than 10 minutes, you can get this delicious protein packed pasta recipe in the pressure cooker ready for dinner in a flash.
You only need a couple of ingredients and it's all made in one pot! While a boxed mac and cheese would require you to get a second pan out to make your chicken, this recipe's all done in one pan! Want a side dish to go with your Instant Pot chicken mac and cheese? Try my air fryer garlic bread!
🥘 Ingredients Needed
For a complete list of ingredients, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- onions - I like to have a layer of onions between the liner and the chicken to help prevent burn notices.
- chicken - Since the pasta has a short cook time, we need to cube the chicken into small pieces so it cooks through quickly. I use boneless skinless chicken breast as it has a shorter cook time than chicken thighs.
- pasta - Who doesn't love macaroni pasta??
- seasoning - I use smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt.
- broth - Chicken broth adds so much more flavor to the pasta compared to water.
- dairy - mac and cheese is not complete without milk and cheese. I used a mix of mozzarella and cheddar.
🔪 Instructions
Please note: This is an overview of the instructions. You'll find the complete instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Add the sliced onions into your Instant Pot liner.
- Layer in the chicken on top and sprinkle on the seasoning. Alternatively, you can coat the chicken first and then put it in the liner.
- Add in the macaroni pasta.
- Add in the chicken broth. Do not mix. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set it to sealing.
- Pressure cook for 4 minutes. When done, quick release and give everything a stir.
- Slowly add in the milk, in parts as needed.
- Stir in the cheese half a cup at a time.
- Continue to add in the cheese and milk if needed. The heat from the pasta should melt the cheese and coat your pasta.
👪 FAQs
The milk is to help make the cheese sauce, cheesy. So add it as needed. Add the milk a splash or two at a time as you don't want your cheese sauce to be too runny.
This mac and cheese recipe goes well with shells as well. You don't want to change up the pasta size too much as it changes the cook time.
Try sharp cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, asiago cheese, or jalapeno cheddar. Just be sure to shred it yourself
If you want to cut your chicken pieces larger, you can brown your chicken and onions on saute mode. Deglaze with a splash of broth before layering in the pasta.
🧊 Storage
You can totally make this pressure cooker mac and cheese with chicken ahead of time. It's a freezer friendly and meal prep friendly recipe. Be sure to store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To reheat your Instant Pot chicken mac and cheese, add in a splash of broth and stir it over low heat until the pasta and sauce has heated through. You can also microwave it, again with a splash of broth, but you should microwave it in short bursts and stir in-between.
To freeze, portion out the chicken mac and cheese into freezer friendly containers. Let the pasta cool before transferring it to the freezer. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready, thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
💭 Helpful Tips
- Want to make this a little fancier? You can transfer the chicken mac and cheese into ramekins or a baking dish, top it off with some panko or breadcrumbs, and broil it in the oven until the panko is toasty.
- Top with chopped fresh parsley if desired.
- Make it spicier with a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- You can also put your seasoning over your pasta instead of on the chicken.
- This recipe is tested in a 6qt pressure cooker.
- The IP will take a couple minutes to come up to pressure.
📖 Variations
- Add some frozen peas into the pasta alongside the cheese.
- Change up the cheese if desired.
🥗 Suggested Side Dishes
Here are some side dishes to go with your mac and cheese!
🍞 Related Recipes
Here are a few more easy dinner recipe ideas for you!
For something a little different and totally tasty, try this Lemon Feta Baked Chicken with optional Mediterranean salsa. So delicious and easy to make!
Check out this story on how to make Instant Pot Chicken Mac and Cheese!
Cheesy Instant Pot Chicken and Pasta
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📋 Recipe Card
Instant Pot Chicken Mac and Cheese
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 small onion sliced
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into half inch cubes
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- ½ tablespoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 454 grams macaroni pasta
- 3¾ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup milk adding 1 tablespoon at a time, you may not need it all
- 3 cup shredded cheese mix of mozzarella and cheddar
Instructions
- Add the sliced onions into your Instant Pot liner.1 small onion
- Layer in the chicken on top and sprinkle on the seasoning. Alternatively, you can coat the chicken first and then put it in the liner.3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, 1 teaspoon paprika, ½ tablespoon garlic powder, ½ tablespoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Add in the macaroni pasta.454 grams macaroni pasta
- Add in the chicken broth. Do not mix. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set it to sealing.3¾ cup chicken broth
- Pressure cook for 4 minutes. When done, quick release and give everything a stir.
- Slowly add in the milk, in parts as needed.½ cup milk
- Stir in the cheese half a cup at a time.3 cup shredded cheese
- Continue to add in the cheese and milk if needed. The heat from the pasta should melt the cheese and coat your pasta.
Notes
- Top the mac and cheese off with chopped fresh parsley before serving if desired.
- Make the pasta spicier with a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- You can also put your seasoning over your pasta instead of on the chicken.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
Like mac and cheese? You won't want to miss my Best Homemade Mac and Cheese recipe with with tasty zing of jalapeno and tang of pickled artichoke hearts! Or for a more traditional mac and cheese that has the added nutrition of cauliflower, check out my Slow Cooker Cauliflower Mac and Cheese!
Carmy is the blogger behind Carmyy.com and Onepotonly.com where she shares simple delicious recipes that are family friendly and easy to make! You can find her on Instagram and TikTok when she's not on her blog!
Marie-Charlotte Chatelain
I would have never thought of adding chicken to mac and cheese. Love the protein addition! I will try this soon!
Michelle
Can't wait to try this recipe in our IP! Thanks for sharing!
Carrie Robinson
I just love easy dinner recipes like this! And bonus points for making this is the instant pot. 🙂
Michelle Boule
we just got an Instant Pot and can't wait to try this. Mac and cheese is a favorite of ours!
Kathryn
One of my family's all time favorite recipes. Thank you so much!