Do you love mac n cheese? Then, you are gonna love this Instant Pot copycat cracker barrel macaroni and cheese. It’s only FIVE ingredients, and so simple to put together.
I love mac n cheese, especially the ones topped with cheese that has been put under a broiler for a few minutes. When I was a kid my grandma and I would go to Piccadilly cafeteria and I would love to get bowls of their macaroni like that.
Now whenever we go to Cracker Barrel, I always make sure to get a side of macaroni and cheese because it’s so dang good. And now, you can make it at home!
Table of Contents
What do you need to make copycat Cracker Barrel Macaroni and Cheese in the Instant Pot?
- elbow macaroni
- all purpose flour
- salted butter
- shredded cheese – I recommend at least two kinds of any of these (preferably 1 cup each of three kinds of cheese is best): sharp cheddar, colby, colby jack, cheddar jack, gouda
- milk
How do you make Instant Pot copycat Cracker Barrel Macaroni and Cheese?
Place the macaroni in the instant pot and cover with water. Close and seal pressure valve and pressure cook on high for 5 minutes. Even though you’ll set the timer to 5 minutes, it will probably take an additional 10 minutes or so to reach high pressure.
Release pressure manually.
While the pasta is cooking, I recommend grating the cheese from blocks of cheese. You can use preshredded cheese, but I don’t like to because it contains cellulose or potato starch to keep it from clumping and sticking together. If you shred the cheese yourself, it melts much better.
Drain pasta and set aside.
Turn the Instant Pot onto Sauté. Then, add the butter to melt. Whisk in the flour to create a roux.
Stir in the milk and keep stirring to slowly thicken the mixture. Add 2 cups of cheese and whisk while it melts.
Fold in the pasta and once coated, spread in a 12-inch iron skillet. If you don’t have an iron skillet, use an oven-safe casserole dish.
Top with the remaining cup of cheese. Place under the broiler on HIGH until the cheese starts to brown.
Set a timer for 2-3 minutes and watch it carefully. You want to remove it when the cheese just starts to brown.
More Mac and Cheese Recipes
- Easy Homemade Stove Top Macaroni and Cheese
- Homestyle Macaroni and Cheese
- Patti LaBelle Macaroni & Cheese
Main Dishes perfect with Macaroni and Cheese
- Saucy Meatloaf Muffins
- How to Cook Juicy Hamburgers in the Oven
- Garlic Butter Baked Pork Chops
- Steak Fingers
- Butter Baked Chicken
Instant Pot Copycat Cracker Barrel Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- • 16 oz of Elbow macaroni
- • 1/3 cup of flour
- • 5 tablespoons of butter
- • 3 cups Shredded cheese
- • 2 cups Milk
Instructions
Place the macaroni in the instant pot and cover with water. Close and seal pressure valve and pressure cook on high for 5 minutes. Release pressure manually.
Drain pasta and set aside.
Turn the Instant Pot onto Sauté. Then, add the butter to melt. Whisk in the flour to create a roux.
Stir in the milk and keep stirring to slowly thicken the mixture. Add 2 cups of cheese and whisk while it melts.
Fold in the pasta and once coated, spread in a 12-inch iron skillet.
Top with the remaining cup of cheese. Place under the broiler on HIGH until the cheese starts to brown.
Set a timer for 2-3 minutes and watch it carefully. You want to remove it when the cheese just starts to brown.