Pressure Cooker Creamy Mexican Macaroni and Cheese

{Complete Recipe follows Photos/Narrative}
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ATTENTION: All Pressure Cooker Recipes are for the Instant Pot, Power Pressure Cooker XL (use Meat button) and all makes and models of Pressure Cookers. Any recipe can be cut in half, if needed, for smaller units.

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Pressure Cooker Creamy Mexican Macaroni and Cheese is a twist of my Pressure Cooker Macaroni and Cheese, using Mexican cheese and a bit more heat!

Pressure Cooker Creamy Mexican Macaroni and Cheese

Everybody loves Macaroni and Cheese and everybody loves Raymond, I mean, America’s Test Kitchen Mac & Cheese, so here is another incarnation, with a Mexican flair. It’s super rich and creamy.

This Pressure Cooker Creamy Mexican Macaroni and Cheese is similar to my traditional Mac & Cheese, but with a Mexican flair. Check out my Pressure Cooker Macaroni and Cheese with an optional Crispy Bacon Garlic Breadcrumb Topping.

The Mexican Cheese Blend gives this Mac & Cheese a smooth and creamy texture. Mild or Sharp Cheddar balances out the taste. Choose Heavy Cream or Evaporated Milk. Both work well.

How cute is Cavatappi pasta? I love the curly whirly of this past and I love that the cheese gets stuck inside and when you take a bite, you get a little squirt of cheese sauce in your mouth. I can’t always find it in my area, so I order in bulk from Amazon.

So simple, just add in everything but the milk and the cheese into your Pressure Cooker cooking pot.

Three minutes for this size and shape pasta is perfect. If you use a heavier/thicker pasta (rule of thumb is Pressure Cook 1/2 the lesser time it says on the box of pasta and subtract 2 minutes), you might need an extra minute.

Perfection, perfectly cooked pasta in just four minutes! So cute! The Cavatappi are so inviting and make you feel like a kid again.

Turn off your Pressure Cooker and push the Sauté or Browning button and then add in the evaporated milk and mix to combine. I like to buy blocks of Cheddar Cheese and grate them myself, for a fresher taste. Add the cheddar cheese first and completely allow to melt.

Then add in the Mexican Cheese and stir until completely combined.

The pasta will continue to absorb the liquid, so don’t allow all the liquid to evaporate. Look how creamy this is; can’t you just taste it?

You can eat the Cavatappi and Cheese as is, which is how I like it, or you can add a Crispy Bacon Garlic Breadcrumb Topping, which my husband absolutely loves.

Equipment Used

Here is the handy printable recipe:

5.0 from 2 reviews

Pressure Cooker Creamy Mexican Macaroni and Cheese

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

3 mins

Total time

8 mins

A Mexican, creamy spin on Macaroni and Cheese.

Author: This Old Gal

Recipe type: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican American

Serves: 6 servings

Ingredients

Macaroni and Cheese

1 pound dried Pasta, I love Cavatappi
2 Tablespoons Butter
2 teaspoons ground Yellow Mustard
1 Tablespoon Hot Pepper Sauce
2 teaspoons Kosher Salt or 1 teaspoon Sea Salt
4 cups water
12 oz Heavy Cream or Evaporated Milk (one can)
1 cup Mild or Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded
1½ cups Oaxaca Cheese, shredded (Monterey Jack or Gruyère work well too)
2 Tablespoons Cream Cheese (optional)

Instructions

Add pasta, butter, mustard, hot pepper sauce, salt and water to Pressure Cooker cooking pot.
Lock on lid and close Pressure Valve.
Cook at High Pressure for 3 minutes.
When Beep is heard, allow a 5 minute Natural Pressure Release amd then carefully do a Quick Release.
Open lid and stir in the heavy cream or evaporated milk.
Turn off Pressure Cooker and then select Saute or Browning and mix in the cheese in three parts, mixing well before adding more. When desired thickness is achieved, turn off Pressure Cooker.
Top with Crispy Bacon Topping, if desired.

Notes

Any pasta shells will work. Rule of thumb is to cook pasta for ½ the lesser cook time stated on package and then subtract 2 minutes with a 5 minute Natural Pressure Release.