Easy Instant Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni! This quick recipe takes just a few ingredients and about 20 minutes to make a delicious weeknight dinner.

A fork holding a bite of instant pot cheeseburger macaroni.

Macaroni and cheese is one of my family’s favorite dinners. And it’s so quick and easy to make, especially in the Instant Pot!

This Instant Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni is a delicious twist on the usual. It’s made entirely in the inner pot, and it only takes about 20 minutes to make, which makes it a great weeknight dinner choice.

How to make Instant Pot cheeseburger macaroni

Step 1: Press sauté.

Browned ground beef in an Instant Pot.

Step 2: When hot, add ground beef and cook, stirring regularly, until cooked through. You want it to keep moving so that it cooks but doesn’t brown and stick to the bottom of the inner pot.

Step 3: Drain the fat and return to inner pot.

Browned ground beef and onion in an instant pot.

Step 4: Stir in onion. Cook, stirring regularly, until onion has softened, about 2 minutes.

Pasta in chicken broth in an instant pot.

Step 5: Add the pasta and the chicken broth.

Step 6: Close and lock the lid. Press manual high pressure and adjust the cooking time to 3 minutes. Make sure that the pressure release valve is set to sealing.


Step 7: When the cooking time has finished, turn the pressure release valve to venting.

Shredded cheese sitting on top of cooked pasta in an instant pot.

Step 8: Stir in the cheese until melted and combined.

A spoon stirring cheeseburger macaroni in an instant pot.

Step 9: Stir in enough milk to make it creamy.

Step 10: Add the salt and pepper and season to taste.

A spoon holding up a scoop of cheeseburger macaroni.

Tips

  • Ground beef: I like to use 85% lean ground beef. You can use leaner (or less lean) ground beef, if you prefer.
  • Pasta: I usually use cavatappi pasta. I’ve found that it holds us well to pressure cooking. I’ve also used large elbow macaroni. If you use a smaller noodle, you may find that you need to adjust the cooking time.
  • Cheese: Normally, I’m not a fan of using packaged shredded cheese in macaroni and cheese. In my stovetop mac and cheese recipe, I recommend using blocks of cheese. However, store-bought shredded cheese works well in this recipe.
  • Types of cheese: You can vary the cheese to change the flavor. Sharp cheddar will give you a stronger flavor. Mild cheddar a milder flavor. Monterrey Jack and cheddar will give you a nice ooey gooey mac and cheese. We also like triple cheddar cheese blends in this recipe.
    Sometimes I even thrown in some shredded parmesan cheese for a little more bite.
A white bowl of Instant Pot cheeseburger macaroni with a fork in it.

Storage

Store any leftover cheeseburger mac in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to 4 days when properly stored.

More Instant Pot ground beef recipes!

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A fork holding a bite of instant pot cheeseburger macaroni.
5 from 3 votes

Instant Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni

Servings: 8 servings
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Time to Pressure: 10 minutes
Total Time: 23 minutes
Easy Instant Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni! This quick recipe takes just a few ingredients and about 20 minutes to make a delicious weeknight dinner.

Equipment

Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker

Ingredients

  • 1 pound 85% lean ground beef
  • 1 cup diced white or yellow onion
  • 16 ounces elbow macaroni
  • 4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
  • 8 ounces shredded Monterrey Jack cheese2
  • 8 ounces shredded Cheddar Cheese
  • 1/2 – 1 ½ cups milk
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions
 

  • Press sauté.
  • When hot, add ground beef and cook, stirring regularly, until cooked through. You want it to keep moving so that it cooks but doesn't brown and stick to the bottom of the inner pot.
  • Drain the fat and return to inner pot.
  • Stir in onion.
  • Cook, stirring regularly, until onion has softened, about 2 minutes.
  • Add the pasta to the inner pot and pour the chicken broth over the top.
  • Put the lid on and lock it in place.
  • Move the pressure release valve to sealing.
  • Press manual high pressure and adjust the time to 3 minutes.
  • When the cooking time has finished, turn the pressure release valve to venting.
  • Stir in the cheese until melted and well-combined.
  • Stir in enough milk to make the macaroni creamy.
  • Add the salt and pepper and season to taste.

Notes

Nutrition values are estimates. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 596kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 446mg | Potassium: 511mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 533IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 477mg | Iron: 2mg

Disclaimer: Nutritional values were calculated using a third-party tool and are provided as an estimation only.

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Instant Pot Cheeseburger Mac, Instant Pot Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese, Instant Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni

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A fork holding a bite of instant pot cheeseburger macaroni.

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5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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2 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This was easy and it tasted good.

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