#Macaroni and cheese in an instant pot how to#
#Macaroni and cheese in an instant pot mac#

I ended up making a foil packet filled with broccoli florets. I also knew that I could add in frozen broccoli later ( like I do in this recipe) but I just really wanted to find a way to use fresh broccoli. I didn’t like the idea of steaming it separately on the stove or in the microwave. So I knew that there was no way the broccoli would withstand pressure for more than a minute or two. I’ve read online that when you steam broccoli in the Instant Pot you are supposed to use a zero minute pressure cooking time.

#Macaroni and cheese in an instant pot how to#

The trick was to figure out was how to cook fresh broccoli in the same pot as the chicken and pasta but not let it get mushy. Chicken Broccoli Casserole is one of my most popular recipes on my website so I knew it was a winning combination. That’s why I decided to add in the chicken and broccoli. It’s delicious, don’t get me wrong, but I like the idea of adding a little more nutrition into it.

#Macaroni and cheese in an instant pot mac#

However, making a big pot of mac and cheese for dinner at home with nothing else in it kind of leaves me feeling blah.

I love macaroni and cheese and whenever I see it as a side dish option at a restaurant I always choose it (especially when it has the toasted bread crumb topping nom nom nom). Instant Pot Broccoli Chicken Mac and Cheese This is an easy one pot meal that the whole family will love! A meal that every family member is sure to love.Instant Pot Broccoli Chicken Mac and Cheese–creamy macaroni and cheese made quickly in your instant pot with tender bites of chicken and (not crisp, but not mushy) broccoli florets. But the end result speaks for itself: A family-size serving of homemade mac and cheese that rivals any packaged variety. Making homemade macaroni and cheese in the Instant Pot almost feels too easy or too good to be true (at least that’s what I thought the first time I made this recipe). Just prep the pasta in the Instant Pot, shred the cheese, whisk the ingredients, and walk away. No babysitting or continuous whisking and stirring required. With just one pot and about 20 ish minutes (when you factor in the time it takes for the pot to come to pressure), the Instant Pot cooks the pasta noodles, melts the cheese, and warms the cream sauce. The Instant Pot (or any electric pressure cooker you choose to use) simplifies the task of making homemade macaroni and cheese. Maybe you remember the butternut squash mac and cheese, or the classic mac and cheese? Today, let’s make another version of a classic mac and cheese, this time using the Instant Pot. I’ve shared recipes for homemade mac and cheese in the past. And this is where today’s recipe enters our chat… It doesn’t take long to make your own oatmeal, and the homemade version tastes so much better than the artificially-flavored packages.Īnd instead of reaching for the mac and cheese box, make your own. Instead of grabbing a flavored package of instant oats, pick up rolled oats, maple syrup, milk, and cinnamon. Grab some olive oil on your way out, and then head home to make a nourishing bowl of homemade mashed potatoes. Then head over to the dairy department and look for the cleanest butter option (hint: the ingredient list should only include one word, cream, and possibly salt). Instead of reaching for the box of instant mashed potatoes, visit the produce aisle and fill your grocery basket with the potatoes. Real food is things that your great-grandmother (or someone’s great-grandmother) would recognize.” Here’s how food advocate Micheal Pollan sums up real food, “Real food doesn’t have a long ingredient list, isn’t advertised on TV, and it doesn’t contain stuff like maltodextrin or sodium tripolyphosphate. Real food is simply about embracing real ingredients, and learning to prepare these ingredients to create tasty meals. Real food isn’t about restrictions, dieting, fancy ingredients, or subsisting off salads and kale. One of the reasons I love our real food lifestyle is the comforting meals I grew up enjoying - like macaroni and cheese - are completely acceptable. Not a hidden-veggie macaroni and cheese, just a good ol’, rich and creamy, comfort-food mac and cheese. Every so often you just need mac and cheese. Let’s take a break from all the veggie-heavy meals we’ve been making lately (and all the CSA talk - I’ve been quite enthusiastic about that topic lately, see my beet smoothie, cauliflower tacos, and winter slaw recipes if you’ve missed my musings on CSAs).