instapot mac ‘n’ cheese

As a mom I am always thinking about food for my kids.  When we head out for the day, I always think through snacks for them or even lunch along the way if we are going to be gone all morning.  From the time they were born I often had thoughts about whether they were eating enough or eating too much or getting the right nutrition.  They have both gone in and out of phases of kinds of food that they like and don’t like and phases of eating almost non stop to just kind of picking at meals and not needing snacks. One thing that has remained constant it seems for both of them is macaroni and cheese!!

My son doesn’t like cheese in any other form, but mac ‘n’ cheese is his most requested lunch.  My daughter loves all things cheese and pasta so the combination of noodles and cheese leaves her pretty happy.  They aren’t picky when it come to the kind either.  They will eat boxed or homemade, bunny shapes or elbow noodles, really anything if you call it mac ‘n’ cheese.  I found a recipe that we all love that is super easy to make in the Instapot!  It only takes about 5 minutes to cook and prepare (after pot comes to pressure) and is my new favorite way to make their lunches.  It only takes a couple simple ingredients too, so I know there aren’t a lot of added preservatives. We often mix in some peas to get some veggies in at lunch too!

Instapot Mac ‘N’ Cheese

Ingredients

8 oz. elbow macaroni (or any other small shaped noodles)

2 cups water

1/2 cup half n half

1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar and monterey are my favorites)

1/2 tsp salt

1 TBL butter

Pour noodles into the Instapot.  Pour water over covering the noodles as best as you can. Add salt and butter.  Places cover on Instapot and cook on High Pressure for 4 minutes. (Use manual settings to select 4 minutes).  When time is finished, do a quick pressure release.  Open pot and set to sauté.  Add half n half and stir.  Add cheese and stir until melted.  {Note: Can be easily doubled. Double ingredients same cooking time}

I love having this quick recipe for play date mornings at our house!  All the kids love it and it’s a quick and easy way to send kids home for naps with lunch already taken care of!