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    Home » Dinner » Pasta

    Published Nov 11, 2022 (Updated Jun 27, 2025) by Heather Bilyeu

    Creamy Instant Pot Mac and Cheese with Cream Cheese

    5 from 2 reviews
    8 Comments
    This post may contain affiliate links
    Jump to Recipe

    This creamy Instant Pot mac and cheese is a quick Southern staple made easy —perfect for holiday gatherings or busy weeknights! It can be whipped up in just 10 minutes and 8 simple ingredients (including cream cheese and freshly shredded cheddar - from you and not a bag!), you'll have a cheesy crowd-pleaser with easy clean-up and big flavor everyone will love. Yields enough for 6-8.

    a hand scooping a bite out of a bowl of Mac and cheese.

    Heather's Thoughts on Mac and Cheese

    Listen. We all need a little carb-and-cheese action in our lives every now and then... you know you feel me on this! And mac and cheese is a go to in the ultimate comfort food. No matter if you live in the South or not!

    And I have strong opinions about how to make mac and cheese - no baked casserole version for me! No way! My mom taught me how to make the best saucy cheesy stovetop mac and cheese ever growing up and it's truly the only way.

    But when I need an easy version of that because #life and I am tired and I have a toddler who needs to eat, this instant pot mac and cheese with cream cheese is my personal go to. Let me show you just how quick and easy it is.

    Reader Review

    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    "Just made this and loved it! Left everything to sit for a few minutes after I added the milk which thickened the sauce and softened the pasta to my liking. Thank you!"

    - Jennifer

    Welcome to My Kitchen, Let's Cook!

    ‼️Note before starting - Using pre-shredded cheese for mac and cheese is not recommended. The bags of pre-shredded cheese have a powder coating on them that does not melt well in a sauce. The sauce will turn grainy and have a weird texture to it. I tried it while recipe testing and it was a no-go! It is much better to just take the extra 2 minutes (while the noodles are cooking) and grate your own.

    A stick of butter, block of cream cheese, milk, shredded cheddar and white cheddar, salt, pepper, and a box of pasta shells on a white table.
    STEP 1 - Place your box of pasta and 4 cups of water in the instant pot. Place the lid on set the custom pressure cooking time to 5 minutes and press start. (Note, that it will take about 5 or so minutes to come to pressure before the cooking time starts.) While this is cooking shred your cheese.
    Cooked noodles in an instant pot with butter and cream cheese on top melting.
    STEP 2 - Once the 5 minutes are up, manually release the steam immediately. If you wait any time the noodles will continue to cook and be overcooked and potentially fall apart. Add in the butter, cream cheese, salt, and pepper. Begin to stir to break up the noodles that are stuck together and start melting the butter and cream cheese.
    Shredded cheese on top of cooked noodles in an instant pot.
    STEP 3 - Add in all of your grated cheese and stir. The heat from the bowl and noodles will slowly start to melt everything together into a luscious creamy sauce. This takes a little while to melt. At first, you will think you have ruined it and it won't work. You haven't! Keep stirring....it will come together!
    A wooden spoon stirring together Mac and cheese in and instant pot.
    STEP 4 - Once the cheese is almost completely melted (after 2-3 minutes of stirring) then add in ¼ cup of milk. This will help loosen everything up and complete the creamy sauce this dish has. If the mac and cheese is still too thick, you can add an additional ¼ cup of milk until it is the consistency you prefer. I love mine ultra-creamy and more on the saucy soupy side!
    2 bowls of Mac and cheese with an instant pot in the background.

    NOTE - as the mac and cheese sits for a while (or when it is stored for leftovers) it will absorb the liquid. If at any time it seems to be thicker, just add a splash of milk to loosen everything back up.

    • No more making a roux
    • No more boiling the noodles separately
    • Fewer pans
    • Less mess
    • Less clean up
    • Made in 10 minutes
    • creamy instant pot mac and cheese for the WIN!!
    3 bowls of Creamy Instant Pot Mac and Cheese with spoons in them and a thing of salt in the background.
    Print

    Recipe

    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    a hand scooping a bite out of a bowl of Mac and cheese.

    Creamy Instant Pot Mac and Cheese with Cream Cheese


    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 2 reviews

    • Author: Heather Bilyeu
    • Total Time: 10 minutes
    • Yield: 6-8
    Print Recipe
    Save Recipe Recipe Saved

    Description

    This creamy Instant Pot mac and cheese is a quick Southern staple made easy — perfect for holiday gatherings or busy weeknights! It can be whipped up in just 10 minutes and 8 simple ingredients (including cream cheese and freshly shredded cheddar - from you and not a bag!), you'll have a cheesy crowd-pleaser with easy clean-up and big flavor everyone will love. 


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 Pound of Pasta (your preferred shape - shells, elbows, bowtie, etc.)
    • 4 Cups Water
    • 4 Ounces Cream Cheese
    • 2 Tablespoons Butter
    • ½ Teaspoon Salt +more to taste if needed
    • ½ Teaspoon Pepper +more to taste if needed
    • 16 Ounces Cheese - shredded (see notes for cheese instructions)
    • ¼-½ Cup Milk


    Instructions

    1. In an instant pot, add your noodles and water. Place the lid on and seal.
    2. Set to a custom pressure cook time of 5 minutes (note that it will also take 5-7 minutes to come to pressure before cooking times begin).
    3. While the pasta is cooking, shred your cheese.
    4. When the 5-minute cooking time is up, manually release the steam. You want to do this right away and not wait so that the noodles don't overcook.
    5. Remove the lid and add cream cheese, butter, salt, and pepper. Gently stir to start melting.
    6. Add in the shredded cheese. Stir for 1-2 minutes. As you stir, the heat of the noodles and pot will begin to melt the cheese. It will turn into a luscious, thick, and creamy sauce.
    7. Add ¼ cup of milk and stir—taste to see if more salt is needed. Add if so. Feel free to add more milk if preferred or needed to loosen and make it more creamy and "soupy".  Keep stirring until all is melted together.
    8. This will be ready when all of the cheese is melted into a creamy sauce. 

    Notes

    • You can use any combo of cheese you would like. In this recipe video, I used 8 ounces of mild cheddar and 8 ounces of white cheddar. You can use different types of cheese or just one kind. Use whatever you have or like. Note, if you use mozzarella or provolone, you will get a stringy cheese sauce, which is totally great if you like that - just FYI!
    • Any shape of noodle can be used that you have. I usually use shells, bowties, cavatappi, radiatori, etc.
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 5 minutes
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Instant Pot
    • Cuisine: American

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 scoop
    • Calories: 525
    • Sugar: 3.9 g
    • Sodium: 436.1 mg
    • Fat: 27.5 g
    • Carbohydrates: 46.4 g
    • Fiber: 1.8 g
    • Protein: 22.3 g
    • Cholesterol: 78.7 mg

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @fuelingasouthernsoul on Instagram and hashtag it #fuelingasouthernsoul

    Please rate and review below!

    Recipe Card powered byTasty Recipes
    Disclosure. Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means that if you click on a product link, I may receive compensation. This compensation comes at no additional cost to you, and as always I only recommend products I trust! Heather Bilyeu is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
    « Frozen Broccoli Casserole with Velveeta Cheese
    1 Hour Wheat Dinner Rolls »

    Filed Under: Christmas, Easter, Fall, Instant Pot, Pasta, Recipe Video, Sides and Veggies, Southern, SuperBowl/Tailgate, Thanksgiving, Vegetarian Tagged With: Cream Cheese

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Thank you so much for making this recipe and taking time out of your day to leave a star rating and comment review. I do not take it for granted and I appreciate you being here and sharing your thoughts on the recipe with me!

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    1. Ghulam Mohyudin says

      March 26, 2020 at 2:38 pm

      It was perfect the first time. I learn so much from you as well! Keep it up great post.

      Reply
      • Heather says

        March 30, 2020 at 3:26 pm

        Oh yay! This makes me so happy! It is a favorite around here and I always loved hearing recipes turn out right on the first try!

        Reply
    2. Jennifer Heynecke says

      September 25, 2023 at 5:14 pm

      Just made this and loved it! Left everything to sit for a few minutes after I added the milk which thickened the sauce and softened the pasta to my liking. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Heather Bilyeu says

        September 26, 2023 at 3:37 pm

        Thank you so much Jennifer for making and letting me know you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    3. Kris says

      October 19, 2023 at 11:36 pm

      You say a custom setting on the instant pot but don’t specify high medium or low pressure. So I’m trying with high pressure hopefully it is correct

      Reply
      • Heather Bilyeu says

        October 24, 2023 at 10:25 am

        I am sorry Kris, I know the Instant Pot or different pressure cookers can have different screens and functions on them. Hopefully, the high pressure worked - I would think it would. If not, the cooking time would just need to be adjusted down slightly.

        Reply
    4. Mike says

      December 20, 2024 at 11:11 pm

      If doubling this recipe - is the cook time doubled as well? Or does timing stay the same?

      Reply
      • Heather Bilyeu says

        December 23, 2024 at 1:27 pm

        Nope, time stays the same. Hope this helps!

        Reply

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