Instant Pot Chicken Mac & Cheese
Instant Pot Chicken and Mac and Cheese will have your whole family begging for a second helping. Tons of cheesy flavor, juicy chicken for an easy weeknight dinner.
With four boys, you can imagine I am quite the mac and cheese connoisseur. You get this title after making mac and cheese a gazillion times. It is a very prestigious title and my boys and I take our mac and cheese very seriously.
Instant Pot Chicken and Mac and Cheese
After making a delicious Instant Pot Mac and Cheese and getting rave reviews from my boys, our instant pot mac and cheese journey officially begun. I wanted to make a heartier mac and cheese that I could serve as dinner with a salad on the side. This Instant Pot Chicken Mac & Cheese came out so delicious, this will be a new weeknight regular.
One Pot Meal
This is a perfect one-pot meal. You can add a delicious salad on the side and call the kids down for dinner. This is one delicious meal that everyone will enjoy.
What Cut Of Chicken To Use
Since your will dice up your chicken you want to reach for a boneless chicken. Chicken breasts, thighs or even tenderloins.
I prefer skinless for this recipe as well. Since you dice up the chicken it will cook faster too.
What To Serve With Instant Pot Chicken And Macaroni And Cheese
- Side salad or tossed salad
- Veggies like roasted or steamed broccoli
- Side of fruit or fruit salad
- Breadsticks or Rolls
- Fresh veggies
- Etc
Truly you can pair anything with easy Instant Pot dinner. I tend to go for a salad or veggies to help lighten it up, since pasta is carb heavy.
But this can also be meal you don’t have to pair with anything else.
How To Store Leftovers
You are in luck! This macaroni and cheese with Chicken stores nicely. Allow to cool a bit then transfer to a container that seals up tightly.
Place in the refrigerator for up to three days. Anything after you will need to make a judgement call if bad or still good.
Reheating Leftover Pasta
Give a stir, and then reheat. One thing I learned is with pasta when you place on your plate, use this method.
Place your pasta in a circle with leaving a hollow circle in middle of plate. When you reheat the pasta it will cook more evenly.
Ensuring that all areas heat at the same time. Having the whole in the center helps tremendously. No cold center of pasta when you did in with a fork.
Does Homemade Chicken and Macaroni Freeze Well
Due to all the dairy in this chicken macaroni you will find it does not freeze well. The cheese would separate a bit and the pasta would soften up quite a bit.
When you freeze pasta they always say doing al dente pasta is best so when it thaws it’s doesn’t turn to mush.
I found that pasta freezing too to be very helpful for me over the years.
Kid Friendly Instant Pot Recipe
This is a satisfying and kid friendly recipe to try out. If you enjoy Mac and cheese you will highly enjoy this chicken version.
Instant Pot Chicken Mac & Cheese
Instant Pot Chicken and Mac and Cheese will have your whole family begging for a second helping. Tons of cheesy flavor, juicy chicken for an easy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 pounds of boneless chicken (either breasts or thighs are great! (cut into small/medium sized pieces)
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 16 ounces dry pasta of your choice
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon thyme
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1-2 tablespoons Dijon or dry mustard
- 2 cups shredded cheese of your choice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Set your Instant Pot to sauté. Add the olive oil and butter and allow it to sizzle. Add garlic cook for 1-2 minutes or until translucent. Stir regularly.
- Add your chicken and cook until browned, around 3-4 minutes, or until no longer pink.
- Add your pasta in a smooth layer on top of the chicken and pour your broth over the top. Make sure all of your pasta is submerged in broth, if not just push them down a bit.
- Set Instant Pot to high pressure for 4 minutes. Lock lid and make sure vent is closed. When cooking time ends, do a QUICK RELEASE.
- Press sauté function on Instant Pot. In a measuring cup, add your cream, mustard, flour and thyme. Mix well. Pour mixture in to the pot. Stir continuously until mixture starts to thicken; about 2 minutes.
- Stir in cheese and allow to melt. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 685Total Fat: 33gSaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 168mgSodium: 790mgCarbohydrates: 46gFiber: 2gSugar: 3gProtein: 49g
I’m Melissa, the imaginative force behind Sparkles to Sprinkles, where creativity comes to life, and sprinkles of joy are scattered generously. Melissa is a proud Jersey girl who found love with a New York boy. As a mom to four wonderful boys and a few fur babies, her journey into the world of blogging began after making the life-changing decision to stay home and raise her children. Previously a dedicated workaholic, Melissa’s blog became her creative outlet and passion project. Inspired by her mother-in-law, a masterful cook renowned for her delicious home-cooked meals and legendary holiday feasts (think mouthwatering sausage stuffing), Melissa honed her culinary skills through a combination of family recipes and countless cooking classes. She often attended these classes with her son Michael, who shared her enthusiasm for cooking from a young age. Melissa’s love for learning extends beyond familiar cuisines, as she enjoys exploring international recipes in hands-on cooking classes. Her blog features a diverse array of recipes, showcasing her expertise with various kitchen appliances such as the Instant Pot, air fryer, Slow Cooker, Ninja Foodi, Instant Vortex Plus, and more. Join Melissa on her culinary adventures as she shares tried-and-true family favorites alongside exciting new discoveries!
You don’t pressure cook the chicken? Did you cut it into small cubes so that a quick saute is all it needs?
Yes, cut it into small pieces. Let me update the recipe 🙂
Thank you for the clarification 🙂