Looking for a delicious gluten free mac and cheese recipe? You’ve got to try this one-pot meal in less than 20 minutes. This Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese recipe is so easy to make in the Instant Pot… and rich and creamy too.
Oh macaroni and cheese… is there ever a reason NOT to indulge in this dinner classic? My kids want me to make this Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese, in an Instant Pot, at least once a week. It’s so creamy, delicious and frankly just so easy to make. I mean I can get dinner on the table in about 20 minutes and only use one pot to make it… that’s a win in my book.
Mac And Cheese – Made in the Instant Pot
Before we get to the recipe, have you cooked with an Instant Pot yet? It’s basically an electric pressure cooker, but really easy to use. Much easier than a conventional pressure cooker, which I was always scared to use.
What I love about the Instant Pot is that it’s a 7-in-1 Multi-Functional Cooker – including a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, saute/browning, yogurt maker, steamer and warmer. Plus, it has a stainless steel cooking pot and steam rack – LOVE that! I have literally gotten rid of my old slow cooker and yogurt maker because I can do it all with the Instant Pot.
Looking for Instant Pot recipe ideas? Check out my top 50 gluten-free and Paleo Instant Pot recipes. You can also follow my Pinterest board all about Instant Pot recipes too.
Ready for the Gluten-Free Instant Pot Mac and Cheese recipe? It’s so easy to make. You’ll be done from start to finish in about 20 minutes.
How to Make This Gluten-Free Instant Pot Mac and Cheese – Step By Step
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Add all ingredients except the cream cheese, shredded cheese, and milk in the inner pot.
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Close the instant pot lid and turn pressure valve to seal. Cook on manual high pressure for 6 minutes.
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Allow for a quick pressure release and then add in the remaining ingredients, stirring in the cream cheese and cheese to melt with the pasta, and then adding in the milk a little at a time.
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Serve in a large bowl or platter and garnish with grated cheese and fresh parsley.
Easy Swaps for This Gluten Free Mac and Cheese
This Gluten-Free Instant Pot Mac and Cheese recipe uses gluten-free elbow macaroni but you can swap it out with wheat pasta if you like. The time to cook should be the same – I’ve had a friend test this with regular wheat elbow macaroni and she said it was all good.
You can also swap out the cheese. This recipe calls for 1 cup of pepperjack cheese (to give it a little extra spice) but you can just replace it with sharp cheddar cheese… that means 3 cups of sharp cheddar cheese total.
You can also replace the garnish with parmesan cheese and broil it in the oven (see the recipe for details) to get a crispy crust… my kids especially love this.
Be sure to follow the directions, step by step… including the quick pressure release. If you allow it to do a natural release (about 5-7 minutes) it may overcook the pasta.
An Easy Weeknight Meal
This dish is a fantastic weekday meal that’s so satisfying for the whole family. And if you’re on the run a lot during the week with after-school activities or other commitments, you’ll love that this dish can be made in just about 20 minutes.
What Should I Serve with This Gluten Free Mac And Cheese
Serve it up with this Gluten-Free Fried Fish, or for an easy weekday dinner some nitrate-free salami slices and fresh veggies and hummus. This dish is such a crowd-pleaser… so if you have friends or family coming over you can easily make a double batch.
Top Tips for This Gluten Free Mac And Cheese (Instant Pot)
- Remember it takes about 10-12 minutes for the Instant Pot to reach pressure, so this entire dish takes about 20 minutes from start to finish.
- You can replace the pepperjack cheese with sharp cheddar cheese if you want to mild version of this recipe.
- As a garnish, you can replace the sharp cheddar cheese with grated parmesan cheese.
- For a crispy crust, put the mac and cheese in an oven-safe dish and turn the oven on broil. Replace the garnish with about 1/2 to 1 cup of parmesan and sprinkle on top of the mac and cheese. Broil for 2-3 minutes or until the top is crispy.
More Recipes You Might Like
- 20 Instant Pot Meals in 30 Minutes or Less
- 25 Gluten-Free Instant Pot Recipes Kids Love
- Gluten-Free Instant Pot Spaghetti
- Instant Pot Minestrone Soup Recipe {Pressure Cooker, Gluten Free}
Did you try this Gluten-Free Instant Pot Mac and Cheese? Don’t forget to rate the recipe and comment below to let me know how it went. You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
Gluten-Free Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 3 cups dry elbow noodles gluten-free
- 3 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp butter organic
- 3/4 cup whole milk organic
- 3 oz cream cheese organic
- 1 cup pepper jack cheese shredded
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded
Garnish
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley finely chopped
- 1/4 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except the cream cheese, shredded cheese, and milk in the inner pot.
- Close the instant pot lid and turn pressure valve to seal. Cook on manual high pressure for 6 minutes.
- Allow for a quick pressure release and then add in the remaining ingredients, stirring in the cream cheese and cheese to melt with the pasta, and then adding in the milk a little at a time.
- Serve in a large bowl or platter and garnish with grated cheese and fresh parsley.
Notes
- Remember it takes about 10-12 minutes for the Instant Pot to reach pressure, so this entire dish takes about 20 minutes from start to finish.
- You can replace the pepperjack cheese with sharp cheddar cheese if you want to mild version of this recipe.
- As a garnish, you can replace the sharp cheddar cheese with grated parmesan cheese.
- For a crispy crust, put the mac and cheese in an oven-safe dish and turn the oven on broil. Replace the garnish with about 1/2 to 1 cup of parmesan and sprinkle on top of the mac and cheese. Broil for 2-3 minutes or until the top is crispy.
Nutrition
Instant Pot Recipes Made Simple
Are you struggling to find the time to cook healthy meals for your family? Do you wish you could find one-pot meals that are simple and easy to make… and your family will love? Learn how simple it is to make healthy, one-pot meals with your Instant Pot with my cookbook Instant Pot Recipes Made Simple. You can download it instantly to your phone, computer or e-reader, so it’s portable and can go with you anywhere!With this book, you’ll get:
- Tried-and-true recipes the whole family will love – including pot roast, spaghetti, tacos, carnitas, soups, and easy breakfast meals
- Instant Pot starter guide on how to use the buttons, tips and tricks, and more
- Printable shopping lists for ingredients
- Step-by-step video lesson on how to use your Instant Pot, pressure cooker safety, and some of my favorite tips and tricks
- Two-week meal plan that you can put into action for no-stress weeknight dinners
I couldn’t stop eating it. 🤣 So easy and tasty and way better than any I have had before.
Love this gluten-free Mac and Cheese recipe for the instant pot! So easy to make and SOO delicious! Thank you!