Instant Pot Kraft Mac and Cheese

A large bowl of kraft mac and cheese in a white bowl with a box of the macaroni and cheese in the background.

Instant Pot Kraft Mac and Cheese

This instant pot Kraft mac and cheese comes out ultra-creamy with zero draining and minimal cleanup — set it for 0 minutes, natural release, stir in the cheese packet, and dinner is done in 15 minutes flat.

Print Recipe

Prep Time 2

Cook Time 13

Total Time 15

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings Servings

Calories 275 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

1 7.25 oz boz Kraft Macaroni & Cheese
¾ cup water
1 cup 2% or whole milk
2 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into small cubes
¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

Add the water, milk, cubed butter, salt, and the dry macaroni from the box to the Instant Pot. Set the cheese packet aside. Stir to combine.
Lock the lid and set the Instant Pot to Manual High Pressure for 0 (zero) minutes. Hit start.
Once the pot beeps and comes to pressure, allow it to natural-release for 6 minutes. Then carefully move the valve to quick release to release any remaining pressure.
Open the lid. Sprinkle the cheese packet over the pasta and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula until the sauce is smooth and creamy. (If the milk looks slightly curdled or separated, keep stirring — it will come together.)
If the mac and cheese looks too loose, switch to the Warm setting for 1–2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta absorbs the excess liquid. Serve hot.

Notes

For a 6.25 oz box: Use ¾ cup water and ¾ cup milk. Butter and salt stay the same.
For a 7.25 oz box: Use ¾ cup + 2 tablespoons water and 1 cup milk (as written above).
Extra creamy: Stir in 2 tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt or sour cream along with the cheese packet.
Doubling or tripling: Multiply all ingredients by 2 or 3 and follow the directions as written — no cook time adjustment needed.
Salted butter: Reduce the added salt to ⅛ teaspoon.
Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for 2–3 days. Reheat with a splash of milk on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Other brands: this method works for any brand of boxed mac and cheese — just adjust the water and milk to match the box size.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 275kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 10gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 970mgFiber: 1gSugar: 7g

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