Easy Instant Pot Mac & Cheese with Ground Beef. Creamy, delicious macaroni and with added protein! Perfect for the kids on an adult only’s date night or for your next easy family dinner recipe.
Instant Pot Mac & Cheese
The biggest gift my husband has given our marriage is the desire to go on a date each week. That gift is not always appreciated each week. I struggle to get out of my workout clothes, get my hair brushed and have the kids ready for a sitter. I get his desire, but his passion for weekly date nights can be really hard on my evenings. I mean, a nice dinner and a glass of wine might sound lovely to many, but the bed and a white noise machine is usually my desire at 8 PM each evening. I digress…
To help my evenings, and to help put me in the right place of mind for my upcoming date, I really try hard to make dinner easy for me (and the kids). Normally that is boxed macaroni and cheese but I always have guilt when this is the gourmet meal being presented before my kids.
This Instant Pot Mac & Cheese is almost as easy as your favorite Kraft Mac & Cheese box, only it also incorporates ground beef giving your kids some added protein and you the peace of mind of having put in a little extra effort (only a little, though, we have to keep it easy!) Let us know how this meal goes for your next date night or perhaps as your next meal as a family dinner recipe.
Enjoy!
Instant Pot Mac & Cheese with Ground Beef
Yield: 8 Servings
Ground Beef Mac n Cheese Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 cups dry elbow noodles
- 3 ¼ cup water
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3 ounces cream cheese
- ¾ cup milk
- 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Instant Pot Mac & Cheese with Ground Beef
- Yield: 8 Servings 1x
Description
Easy Instant Pot Mac & Cheese with Ground Beef. Creamy, delicious and with added protein! Perfect for the kids on an adult only’s date night or for your next easy family dinner recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 cups dry elbow noodles
- 3 ¼ cup water
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3 ounces cream cheese
- ¾ cup milk
- 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
1. On saute mode, cook the onions, bell pepper and ground beef until the ground beef has browned. Drain grease. Return to inner pot.
2. Combine next 6 ingredients in Instant Pot inner pot on top of the ground beef mixture. Make sure noodles are all submerged in liquid.
3. Close the instant pot lid and turn pressure valve to seal. Cook on manual high pressure for 4 minutes.
4. Allow for a quick pressure release and then add in the remaining ingredients, stirring in the cream cheese and cheddar cheese to melt with the pasta, and then adding in the milk a little at a time.
Instant Pot Cooking Directions:
First, on saute mode, cook the onions, bell pepper and ground beef until the ground beef has browned. Drain grease. Return to inner pot.
Second, combine next 6 ingredients in Instant Pot inner pot on top of the ground beef mixture. Make sure noodles are all submerged in liquid.
Close the instant pot lid and turn pressure valve to seal. Cook on manual high pressure for 4 minutes.
Finally, allow for a quick pressure release and then add in the remaining ingredients, stirring in the cream cheese and cheddar cheese to melt with the pasta, and then adding in the milk a little at a time.
This recipe makes 8 servings.
We love to see how this worked out for you and our Pinterest community would as well. Share your final recipe. Leave a comment and/or add a photo here on Pinterest!
Wait! There is more. Check out these other Instant Pot Recipes. Pin to Pinterest.
Three is more! Get inspired by these Instant Pot Recipes. Pin to Pinterest.
WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.
