Instant pot gluten-free mac and cheese is a creamy, hearty dish the whole family will love. Plus, it can be made in under 15 minutes from start to bowl to it’s an easy recipe!
Serve it up in a big pot for guests along with our grazing table and chocolate orange cake for dessert. Or give our gluten-free ramen and tater tot casserole a try if you really love nostalgic dishes.
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
I love making this instant pot mac and cheese with creamy sauce that just happens to be gluten-free. It literally takes under 10 minutes to make this easy gluten-free homemade Mac and cheese dinner and my kids love it! Try it with our 3-ingredient gluten free egg noodles.
I love that it doesn’t have artificial flavors and it doesn’t need any thickening from potato starch or sweet rice flour. You can mix in ham, beef or even bacon for an extra filling main dish though. My kids even like it served with our Instant Pot meatballs!
I’ve definitely been on an instant pot kick lately. Mostly because it’s so easy but also because I don’t have to heat up my house when cooking.
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We’ve been making everything from main dishes like, creamy Italian chicken, instant pot lasagna and my mother-in-law‘s famous hamburger soup to desserts and appetizers. This Instant Pot chicken pasta and pulled pork pasta are two other quick and delicious Instant Pot dish.
Enjoy this meal with our gluten-free green bean casserole with homemade fried onions and blackened salmon plus a virgin margarita or our non-alcoholic gin and tonic for a lovely dinner and drink combo.
Gluten-Free Pasta
Not all gluten-free pastas are created equal. They have come along ways since I was diagnosed with celiac disease over 10 years ago.
I remember trying GF pasta for the first time back then and it was so mushy even when al dente and not appetizing at all. Over the years, I have found a few brands that I really enjoy using because nobody can tell they are missing that binder.
I love Jovial brand brown rice pasta! It is hand made in Italy and truly tastes FANTASTIC! My family also loves it and they don’t have to eat gluten-free. We also reeally like Ronzoni brand of gluten-free pasta.
Their pastas also work great in our gluten-free chicken parmigiana or gluten-free chicken noodle soup as well since they don’t get mushy when cooked.
You can use any gluten free noodles you like including corn pasta, chickpea pasta or gluten-free macaroni noodles. Here is how to make instant pot pasta with any noodles.
Another brand I use and enjoy, especially in this recipe, is the Ronzoni rotini noodles. They are available at most groceries stores and on Amazon. You can also use them to make Italian pasta salad.
How do you make this a one pot dinner?
I like using leftover meat in it to create an entire meal with carbs and protein. Truly the possibilities with protein are endless.
Bacon is an obvious choice but chicken, ground beef and sausage all work great also. If you need another great one large pot meal, give this instant pot broccoli cheddar soup, Instant Pot pasta primavera or Cajun Mac and cheese from Salted Plains a try.
And here are some more dinner ideas if you need them.
Ingredients you will need
- gluten-free pasta
- water
- butter
- milk (I don’t recommend skim milk but you can use soy or coconut for a dairy free option)
- cheddar cheese (but feel free to add a little parmesan cheese if you like as well or use dairy free cheese you like)
- salt and pepper
- and a SECRET INGREDIENT
What is the secret ingredient?
This recipe came from my sister Tera. She made it when I stayed at her house and I couldn’t believe how amazing it was! I added in a secret ingredient that I use in all of my creamy sauces…nutmeg.
It truly warms up any dish and adds a new depth of flavor. Now when people ask you what your secret ingredient is for the best ever macaroni and cheese you can also say, fresh ground nutmeg. I also love putting a dash on my gluten free garlic bread.
How to make the Instant Pot mac and cheese
Can you make it dairy-free?
By using dairy-free milk, butter and cheese you can absolutely make this a dairy-free Mac n cheese. I personally recommend Violife dairy-free cheese and Earth Balance dairy-free butter sticks.
If you need something simple to serve at a party, then this instant pot artichoke dip is definitely a crowdpleaser.
Other variations…
You can easily add sharp cheddar, red peppers and spices like garlic powder to give it a bit more zing. You can add some pepper jack cheese and salsa to make it a bit more spicy.
If you want more of a baked Mac and cheese, you can cook it all up with the directions then put it into a baking dish. Top with gluten-free breadcrumbs for a nice crunchy topping and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
How do you store leftovers?
Leftovers of our homemade gluten-free Mac and cheese can be stored in an airtight container and heated up in the microwave.
Need more Instant Pot inspiration?
Some other great instant pot recipes include Mongolian beef from my friend Chrystal at Gluten-Free Palate and Instant Pot chicken tortilla soup from Erin at Meaningful Eats.
If you like this recipe be sure to check out these other easy Instant Pot meals…
Instant pot gluten free spaghetti in under 10 minutes- The kiddos love this one!
Instant pot shredded beef taco soup- This is a great meal to make with that leftover Sunday roast.
Hamburger soup in the instant pot (This is my favorite soup EVER!)
Instant pot chicken noodle soup (Perfect for a cold winters day)
Instant Pot Chicken Pasta with Bacon and Ranch (can you believe it is even dairy-free?)
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Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese (Instant Pot)
Ingredients
- 12 oz gluten-free rotini pasta (Ronzoni or Jovial brand works best)
- 3 2/3 C water
- 3 T butter
- 1 1/4 C milk
- 2 C shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/2-1 tsp. salt (depending on level of saltiness you like)
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add water and pasta to pressure cooker
- Cook on HIGH for 3 minutes
- Quick release pressure (drain excess water if needed)
- Add butter, milk, salt and cheese
- Stir until melted then grate in nutmeg and stir gently again
Juli says
Followed the recipe, and it was literally SOUP!!! 3 2/3 cup of water…. I still added what it told me. It absolutely came out like soup. Very disappointed!!
Chandice says
I am sorry to hear this. Did you follow the note to drain extra water BEFORE adding the other ingredients? That will get you the texture you are hoping for. I don’t ever have to drain but some noodles work differently. Just like with regular Mac and cheese, if you see there is excess water, please drain before adding the other ingredients to avoid what you experienced.
Tessa Fitch says
I am pretty picky about gluten free Mac, but this stuff is delicious!!
Michael Press says
I’d been using Barilla (I’m a fan of Jovial but Barilla elbows are way better) for this recipe for the longest time (Nick, like you, it’s my wife with the gluten allergy, not me, but even I enjoy this recipe). However, there’s a new player in the GF pasta game and it’s got great texture, great flavor, and healthier than the others. It’s made from yellow peas, and called ZenB. It froths up, though, so don’t freak out. Like, in this recipe, I don’t worry about the froth it creates (step AWAY from the nozzle of the instant pot lid though) since I’m adding milk and butter. But if you end up using ZenB pasta in other GF dishes, you probably want to rinse it with cold water first.
Kelsey Welch says
My sister introduced me to this recipe, and I absolutely love it! Definitely delicious 😋
Chandice says
Awww thank you!! I am so glad you loved it!