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Home » Dinners » Instant Pot Italian Mac and Cheese

Instant Pot Italian Mac and Cheese

Posted by: Kate / Dinners, Instant Pot, Pasta / Posted: 04/07/20 / Last updated: 04/07/20

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Instant Pot Italian Mac and Cheese is a tasty cross between mac & cheese and spaghetti. It’s cheesy, creamy, saucy goodness that takes less than 30 minutes total to make!

Instant Pot Italian Mac and Cheese on a stoneware plate

 

If you’ve ever had trouble deciding whether to eat mac and cheese or spaghetti, then this pasta is for you! Instant Pot Italian Mac and Cheese is a delicious cross between mac and cheese and spaghetti.

This recipe doesn’t take much prep to make and is made entirely in the Instant Pot inner pot. It’s cheesy, creamy, saucy goodness that takes less than 30 minutes total!

How to make Instant Pot Italian Mac and Cheese

Cooked Italian sausage in an instant pot inner pot

Cook Italian sausage until browned. Drain grease and return to inner pot.

Add onion and red pepper. Cook until softened. Stir in garlic.

Pasta in water in an instant pot inner pot

Add chicken broth, noodles, and marinara. Don’t stir.

Cook and then quickly release pressure.

Cooked Italian mac and cheese in an instant pot inner pot

Remove the lid and stir in cream, mozzarella, and Parmesand cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Plate of Italian Mac and Cheese with a black fork on itTips

  • Italian Sausage: You can use mild or hot depending on how hot you like your pasta to be.
  • Cellentani Noodles: Cellentani noodles are also called cavatapi. They are a corkscrew-type noodle.
  • Marinara: Pick a pasta sauce that you like. I like to use a roasted garlic pasta sauce in this recipe.
  • Cheese: I use a combination of mozzarella and Parmesan. You could also use another blend like an Italian cheese blend.

Plate of Italian Mac and Cheese next to a blue linen napkinMore Instant Pot recipes!

  • Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
  • Instant Pot Goulash
  • Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

If you’ve tried this Instant Pot Italian Mac and Cheese recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who’ve made my recipes!

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Instant Pot Italian Mac and Cheese

Instant Pot Italian Mac and Cheese recipe! This flavorful pasta dish is made entirely in the pressure cooker.
Author:I Heart Eating
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Time to Pressure: 10 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes
Servings:8 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: Instant Pot Italian Mac and Cheese, Instant Pot pasta recipe, Italian Mac and Cheese
Instant Pot Italian Mac and Cheese on a stoneware plate
Print Rate Pin
5 from 2 votes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground Italian sausage
  • 1 cup diced white or yellow onion
  • 1 red bell pepper (seeded and diced)
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 16 oz. cellentani noodles
  • 24 ounce jar marinara
  • 32 ounces low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup half-and-half or heavy cream
  • 2-3 cups shredded mozzarella ( depending on desired cheesiness)
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  • Press SAUTE.
  • When the Instant Pot is hot, cook the ground Italian sausage until browned.
  • Drain grease, if necessary, and return ground sausage to the inner pot.
  • Stir in onion and red bell pepper and cook, stirring regularly, until onion has softened, about 2-3 minutes.
  • Add garlic and stir to combine.
  • Add noodles, marinara, and chicken broth. Do not stir.
  • Press CANCEL.
  • Close and lock lid.
  • Turn pressure release valve to SEALING.
  • Press MANUAL and adjust pressure to HIGH and time to 4 minutes.
  • When finished cooking, carefully turn the pressure release valve to VENTING to quickly release the pressure.
  • Unlock and remove the lid.
  • Stir in cream, mozzarella, and Parmesan.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

  • Italian Sausage: You can use mild or hot depending on how spicy you like your pasta to be.
  • Cellentani Noodles: Cellentani noodles are also called cavatapi. They are a corkscrew-type noodle.
  • Marinara: Pick a pasta sauce that you like. I like to use a roasted garlic pasta sauce in this recipe.
  • Cheese: I use a combination of mozzarella and Parmesan. You could also use another blend like an Italian cheese blend.
  • Nutrition values are estimates. 

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1servingCalories: 567kcal (28%)Carbohydrates: 53g (18%)Protein: 27g (54%)Fat: 28g (43%)Saturated Fat: 12g (60%)Cholesterol: 71mg (24%)Sodium: 1126mg (47%)Potassium: 745mg (21%)Fiber: 4g (16%)Sugar: 7g (8%)Vitamin A: 1077IU (22%)Vitamin C: 28mg (34%)Calcium: 228mg (23%)Iron: 3mg (17%)
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  1. Lynn says

    April 12, 2020 at 10:52 am

    5 stars
    Definitely making this again. We like to have leftovers but the kids scraped the pot. There was not a drop left.

    Reply
    • Kate says

      April 12, 2020 at 1:42 pm

      I’m so glad that it was a hit! Thanks for commenting! =)

      Reply
  2. Lindsey says

    April 11, 2020 at 5:00 pm

    5 stars
    Fantastic! The whole family loved it.

    Reply
    • Kate says

      April 11, 2020 at 5:01 pm

      Thank you! So glad to hear that!

      Reply

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I'm Kate Dean- mom to four young kids, recipe developer, and photographer. Here at I Heart Eating®, I share my family's favorite tried-and-true recipes.

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