Instant Pot Mac and Cheese with Ham and Peas Recipe

I am truly grateful for the recipe and all the wonderful reviews shared by everyone! This was my inaugural attempt at using an Instant Pot, and I wanted to create a dish that would turn out delicious. I must say, I was thrilled with the outcome :) I decided to use half a box of macaroni and 2 cups of vegetable stock instead of water. Additionally, I added 1 tablespoon of butter, 1/3 cup of fat-free evaporated milk, and Hoosier Hill cheddar cheese powder from Amazon for the cheese, along with salt and pepper. The end result was fantastic. The macaroni retained the perfect texture – not too soft, and the sauce came out wonderfully rich and creamy. The inclusion of cheddar cheese powder in this recipe brought back memories of the quick microwave cups of Kraft mac and cheese. I expected the Instant Pot method to be quicker than preparing it on the stovetop, but considering the 10-15 minutes it takes for the Instant Pot to pressurize, the time might be quite similar. Nonetheless, the beauty of not having to make a roux made this recipe much more forgiving. I am likely to use this recipe during the holidays as it will free up space on the stovetop for preparing other dishes.

I made this recipe using only 2% milk instead of evaporated milk and added 1/2 teaspoon of paprika for extra flavor. I did a quick release after a 4-minute cook time, which resulted in the perfect texture. I also included 8 ounces of diced ham, sharp cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, and 1/4 teaspoon of steakhouse seasoning instead of salt and pepper. The ham provided enough saltiness for my taste, and the dish turned out delicious with these additions.

I absolutely love this dish for its versatility and flavor. It's so easy to mix and match proteins and vegetables with the base recipe, and it always turns out delicious. One of our favorite combinations is tuna and peas. We opt for cavatappi noodles instead of elbow as they are more robust and hold up well in the Instant Pot. While the sauce may seem thin initially, a quick stir once the cooking is done brings it all together perfectly every time.

Rewritten review: The dish was incredibly delicious! Our whole family loved it and it was so simple and fast to make. I was pleasantly surprised by how perfectly the cheese and milk blended together. After reading some feedback about the noodles becoming too mushy, I adjusted the amount of liquid to 3 1/2 cups, as I prefer my noodles a bit more al dente. I think I could have even used 3 1/3 cups of pasta cooking liquid. I replaced water with vegetable stock, but didn't notice much difference in flavor, so I'll stick to water next time.

Tasty and simple.

The dish was tasty, but it was a bit too thin for me. I would have preferred a creamier texture. Next time, I'll increase the amount of cheese and skip the whole milk.

You have the option to cook this dish on the stove or in the Instant Pot. I am impressed by how delicious the pasta turns out when made in the Instant Pot.

This recipe is fantastic and can be customized to suit anyone's preferences. With a daughter on the way, I can see this becoming a dinner staple - it's delicious for kids and adults can spice it up with hot sauce and extras. I used store-bought precooked ham, which worked well, but I might opt for higher quality meat next time for an even better flavor.