Instant Pot Chicken Mac and Cheese

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!

👩🏻‍🍳 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.

1. Add the sliced onions into your Instant Pot liner.
2. 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. Add in the macaroni pasta.
4. Add in the chicken broth. Do not mix. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set it to sealing.
5. Pressure cook for 4 minutes. When done, quick release and give everything a stir.
6. Slowly add in the milk, in parts as needed.
7. Stir in the cheese half a cup at a time.
8. Continue to add in the cheese and milk if needed. The heat from the pasta should melt the cheese and coat your pasta.

👪 FAQs

🧊 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!

Lemon Dill Rice

Lemon Dill Rice is a perfect side dish for chicken, beef, pork, or fish. It's so easy to make and turns even ordinary dinners into something a bit special! And you probably have all the ingredients in your pantry right now!

Check out this recipe

Air Fried Sweet Potato Fries

Air Fried Sweet Potato Fries are so delicious and make a great healthy side dish for so many meals! Treat your family to these nutritious and easy fries that come out hot and crispy with less oil and just the right amount of seasoning!

Check out this recipe

Crispy Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts

Crispy on the outside, and perfectly tender on the inside, these air fryer Brussels sprouts are a hit! How to make Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts!

Check out this recipe

Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

Bacon wrapped asparagus is a tasty and easy side dish that looks more impressive than it is.

Check out this recipe

Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower

This 3-ingredient appetizer is so tasty and simply to make. Vegan, guilt-free, spicy and savory, this is one dish you'll make again and again!

Check out this recipe

🍞 Related Recipes

Here are a few more easy dinner recipe ideas for you!

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

Recipe Author: Carmy

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!

5 from 4 votes

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Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 4 mins

Total Time 9 mins

Course Entree

Cuisine American

Servings 5 servings

Calories 646 kcal

Equipment

• Instant Pot

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1 small onion sliced
• ▢ 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into half inch cubes
• ▢ 1 tsp paprika
• ▢ ½ tbsp garlic powder
• ▢ ½ tbsp onion powder
• ▢ ¼ tsp salt
• ▢ 454 grams macaroni pasta
• ▢ 3¾ cup chicken broth
• ▢ ½ cup milk adding 1 tbsp at a time, you may not need it all
• ▢ 3 cup shredded cheese mix of mozzarella and cheddar

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

 

• 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.

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

Calories: 646kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 1279mg | Potassium: 727mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 722IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 409mg | Iron: 2mg

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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 Youtube when she's not on her blog!