Instant Pot Chili Mac & Cheese (30-Minute Recipe)

Instant Pot Chili Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food. Plus, it comes together in just 30 minutes using mostly pantry staples! You can also easily make this cheesy chili mac on the stove.

This Instant Pot Chili Mac and Cheese is the ultimate combination of two favorites – Chili and Mac ‘n Cheese.

In my book, things don’t get much better…

Why you’ll love it

I guarantee that you will want to make this recipe over and over again! It’s loaded with beef, cheese, beans, tomatoes and all your favorite chili spices.

• One-Pot
• 30-Minutes
• Super Easy
• Simple Pantry Staples
• Comfort Food Heaven!

Ingredients needed

• Lean Ground Beef – You can also use ground turkey, or leave it out entirely for a vegetarian-friendly chili mac.
• Olive Oil
• Onion & Garlic
• Red Bell Pepper 
• Spices – Chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper & cayenne.
• Broth – Chicken broth, beef broth or bone broth. Have you tried making bone broth in the instant pot?
• Kidney Beans
• Canned Tomatoes – I used crushed tomatoes. You can also use diced tomatoes or tomato sauce.
• Macaroni – You can also use other pasta shapes. Read about it in the “variations” section below.
• Cheddar Cheese – I love using sharp cheddar in this recipe. It would also be great with Pepper Jack Cheese.
• Toppings – Cilantro and sour cream.

How to make it

• Using the saute mode, brown the ground beef and remove it from the instant pot with a slotted spoon.
• Cook the onion, garlic, and bell pepper.
• Add in the canned tomatoes, pasta, beans and broth. Return the beef to the pot.
• Cover, seal and cook on HIGH for 4 minutes.
• Stir in the cheese and enjoy!

Stovetop directions

• If you don’t have an Instant Pot, you can also make this Chili Mac on the stove. In Step 4, instead of sealing the instant pot and cooking, add the pasta to your pan and cook uncovered for 15 minutes.

Variations

• Not a fan of ground beef? You can also use ground turkey, or leave it out entirely for a vegetarian-friendly chili mac.
• Want more veggies? Add in a cup of frozen corn kernels, sliced zucchini or an extra bell pepper.
• Pasta shapes – You can use other pasta shapes like ziti, bowties, or shells. Simply adjust the cook time to 1/2 the amount of time that the package directions call for. So, if ziti takes 10 minutes, you would set your instant pot cook time to 5 minutes.
• Like more heat? Add in more cayenne pepper or chop up a jalapeno pepper and add that along with the bell pepper.
• Don’t like kidney beans? You can also use black beans, white beans, or leave the beans out entirely.

How to make ahead & store

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of water, or in the microwave.

You can also freeze the chili mac for up to three months. Thaw overnight before reheating.

What to serve with it

• Blistered Shishito Peppers Recipe
• Smashed Brussel Sprouts with Lemon Tahini Sauce
• Grilled Broccolini with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
• Roasted Miso Cauliflower
• More → 30+ sides for mac and cheese

Wine pairings

• A Zinfandel pairs nicely with the sweet pepper flavors and sharp cheddar.
• If you’re looking for lighter wine option, try a Rosé or a Chenin Blanc. Both of these wines have enough body to stand up to this hearty dish.

More chili recipes

• Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili
• White Chicken Chili
• The Best Pumpkin Chili
• Chili Mac and Cheese
• Sweet Potato Chili

More instant pot recipes

• Instant Pot Baked Potatoes with Crispy Skins
• Instant Pot Split Pea Dal
• Instant Pot Steamed Artichokes
• Instant Pot Persian Beef Stew
• Instant Pot Authentic Italian Sunday Gravy

Did you try this instant pot chili mac recipe?

If you loved this instant pot chili mac and cheese, I would appreciate it so much if you would give this recipe a ⭐️star review⭐️! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

For more great Platings and Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and Facebook.

Instant Pot Chili Mac

Instant Pot Chili Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food. Plus, it comes together in just 30 minutes with the help of your electric pressure cooker. 

5 from 21 votes

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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 4 minutes minutes

Time for Pressure to Build: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 people

Created by Platings and Pairings

1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion (chopped)
• 1 red bell pepper (chopped)
• 3 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 Tablespoon chili powder
• 1 Tablespoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 3 cups bone broth (or chicken broth or beef broth)
• 14 ounce can kidney beans (drained)
• 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 8 ounces elbow macaroni (uncooked (½ lb)(2 cups))
• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
• Cilantro (finely chopped for garnish)
• Sour cream (for topping (optional) )

Instructions

• Set Instant Pot to SAUTE, add ground beef and brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a paper towel lined plate. Drain fat.
• Add olive oil to pot. One hot, add onion and saute until softened, about 3 minutes. Add red pepper, garlic, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper and cayenne. Saute 1 minute longer.
• Add broth and scrape browned bits from bottom of pot. Return ground beef to pot along with beans, tomatoes and macaroni. Stir, making sure that all pasta is covered with liquid.
• Cover and seal the lid – turn the vent to sealing. Hit CANCEL then press the MANUAL (high pressure) button and set the timer to 4 minutes. It will take about 15 minutes for Instant Pot to come to full pressure, then the display will show a countdown timer.
• When finished, quick-release the pressure before removing the lid. Stir in cheese and season with additional salt and pepper, to taste.
• Serve garnished with cilantro and sour cream. Enjoy!

Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

Nutrition

Calories: 542kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 1473mg | Potassium: 1154mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1725IU | Vitamin C: 48.1mg | Calcium: 384mg | Iron: 6.5mg

This post was originally published in 2018. It was updated in 2024 to add new photographs and information. The instant pot chili mac recipe remains the same. Enjoy!