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Home » Collections » 20 Minute Meals » Instant Pot Mac and Cheese + Lunch Ideas
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20 Minute Meals

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese + Lunch Ideas

By Rachael | Updated on October 29, 2020

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Instant Pot Mac and Cheese:

This simple Mac and cheese is creamy, easy to make, and uses pantry  staples. It is the perfect addition to school lunch. Pop it in a thermos to enjoy on the go!

If your kids had the choice, wouldn’t they rather have a delicious, healthy lunch that’s fresh and different every day than the same old sandwiches? Get this year off to a great start with school lunch ideas that will have your kids as excited about that brown bag as they are about recess, including this totally easy and creamy Instant Pot Mac and Cheese!

Perfectly creamy instant pot Mac and cheese

Who wouldn’t want this Mac and Cheese in their lunch box? When it comes to lunchbox ideas, this is a good one! The sauce is so cheesy and creamy. The addition of the spices and the mustard don’t change that cheese flavor, but rather enhance it and help you notice it more so you don’t end up with a bland Mac and cheese.

What goes into a good lunch?

Can you remember your own school lunch bag?

Classic lunches contained a wrapped sandwich, bag of chips, apple, and a cookie! Boring?  Maybe, but at least those pieces gives us a good place to start. A great lunch generally has a few key components:

  • Main dish that you know your kid likes
  • A side of some kind
  • Fresh fruit or vegetables, maybe even both
  • And a treat (because lunch feeds the stomach AND soul, right?)

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

One of my favorite foods that meets all of the above requirements is Instant Pot Mac and Cheese!

Horizon Organic products used to make organic Mac and cheese in an instant pot pressure cooker

This delicious Mac and cheese is so creamy and tasty, and ridiculously easy to make. You can make it in 15 minutes in the morning before school. It only requires a few ingredients, and a pressure cooker!

  1. Put organic chicken stock into a pressure cooker with elbow macaroni and seasonings.
  2. Pressure cook for 5 minutes.
  3. Add Horizon Organic Milk and Horizon Organic Cheddar Cheese, and Parmesan cheese to the pot and stir!

Creamy Horizon Organic Mac and Cheese cooked in the pressure cooker

Okay, great, but seriously…what can I make for lunch besides sandwiches?

I love this Mac and cheese because it is something my kids will take in their lunches to school if I make it in the morning and pop it in a thermos or insulated food jar. These are the ones we got because they are the right height and size for my age of kids. I love using them for soups, and warm foods.

So while the kids are eating breakfast and running around doing those last minute things before school, you can quickly and easily toss everything in the pressure cooker and have this hot and ready before you walk out the door.

The best solution is to simply give your kids plenty of options and see what they like best. Here are four ideas that are going to make your kids the lunchroom stars:

  1. Mac and Cheese, grapes, cucumbers, carrots, and tomatoes, a Chocolate Milk Box!
    Instant Pot Mac and Cheese, Fruit, Vegetables, and Horizon Milk Box
  2. Hard boiled egg, fresh fruit, fresh veggies, string cheese, crackers, and a milk box!
    Horizon string cheese, fruit grapes and peaches, and vegetables, hard boiled egg, crackers, and milk
  3. Quesadilla triangles, sour cream, salsa, guacamole, orange slices, milk box!
    Quesadilla triangles, guacamole, salsa, and sour cream, oranges
  4. Cottage cheese, fresh fruit, homemade muffins, seeds, chocolate milk!
    Horizon cottage cheese, fruit, muffins, and chocolate milk

Find more fun ideas for nutritious, easy, lunch ideas for back to school in these posts:

  • Lunchbox Ideas
  • Pasta Salad Lunch Box Ideas
  • Protein Gummies + 8 Lunch Ideas
  • Back to School: Lunches
  • Beyond Sandwiches Lunches

Instant Pot Favorites

  • Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs
  • Instant Pot Chicken Piccata
  • Instant Pot Pork Chops
  • Instant Pot Lava Cake
  • Instant Pot Lasagna
Perfectly creamy instant pot Mac and cheese

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

Creamy and delicious Instant Pot Organic Mac and Cheese, using Horizon Organic ingredients. A simple and easy pasta dish, perfect for back to school lunches, easy midweek dinners, and more.
5 from 9 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: instant pot mac and cheese, mac and cheese recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 1015kcal
Author: Rachael

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces Uncooked elbow macaroni
  • 4 cups Chicken Broth
  • 2 Tbs Butter
  • 1 Tbs Dijon Mustard
  • 1 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Paprika
  • 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 2 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
  • 1 Cup Mexican blend Cheese
  • 1/2 Cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese
  • 1 Cup Whole Milk

Instructions

  • Add the uncooked macaroni, chicken broth, butter, dijon mustard, garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, and salt to the Instant Pot.
  • Place the lid on the pot, and lock into place.
  • Set the valve to sealing.
  • Cook on "Manual" or "Pressure Cook" on high pressure for 5 minutes.
  • Quick release the pressure in the Instant Pot after the 5 minutes are up.
  • Stir your macaroni, and stir in milk and cheeses.
  • Stir until smooth and adjust liquid as needed.
  • Taste, season, and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 1015kcal | Carbohydrates: 91g | Protein: 50g | Fat: 48g | Saturated Fat: 29g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 2240mg | Potassium: 647mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1470IU | Vitamin C: 16.4mg | Calcium: 1052mg | Iron: 2.9mg

Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.

Tried this recipe?Mention @ezpzmealz or tag #ezpzmealz!
Want to use this recipe in a meal plan?Try PrePear, my FREE Meal Planning App that allows you to save your recipes, plan meals, shop for groceries, and cook simply in one place. Join Here!

Pin to your LUNCH board on Pinterest:

4 organic lunch ideas with Mac and cheese cooked in the pressure cooker

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Related categories:
20 Minute Meals Back to school Instant Pot Kid Friendly Lunchbox Ideas Pastaback to school back to school lunch instant pot Mac and cheese lunch ideas lunchbox ideas

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. run 3 says

    September 12, 2018 at 3:24 am

    Mac and cheese seamless is a great dish, I will save the recipe to cook for the family.
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  2. Alli says

    October 5, 2018 at 10:18 am

    I adore my instant Pot and also Mac and cheese this is the best of both worlds.
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  3. Jennifer Lehner says

    October 5, 2018 at 10:27 am

    I love making mac & cheese in my Instant Pot and this recipe looks so creamy and delicious!
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  4. Jamielyn says

    October 5, 2018 at 10:31 am

    Yum, my kids would eat this up! Looks so easy and delicious!
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  5. Courtney O'Dell says

    October 5, 2018 at 11:16 am

    This is seriously the most genius way to make mac and cheese quickly - it's become our new favorite!
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  6. Bree says

    October 7, 2018 at 10:55 am

    I love these ideas for easy instant pot mac and cheese with school lunch! I'm saving these ideas!
    ★★★★★
    Reply

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Rachael from Eazy Peazy Mealz

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