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Back when I had my first baby, my husband’s grandma brought over a big casserole dish full of mac and cheese.
You guys, I was ecstatic. I loved mac and cheese and I was exhausted beyond belief. An already cooked dinner that I knew I was going to enjoy. Yasss.
Then I peeled back the foil to heat it up and I saw all of this weirdness happening in there. To be specific, there was smoked sausage. All up in my macaroni and cheese.
I admit to nothing, but there may have been tears.
I mean, who would ruin mac and cheese that way and then give it to a hormonal new mother?
I decided to just pick around the sausage until my husband convinced me to just grow up and try a bite of the sausage.
Y’all. I am forever in that man’s debt. I’m now hooked on mac and cheese with smoked sausage. Why is it so good? I will never know. But I will always keep eating it and trying to find out.
Anyway, I jumped on the Instant Pot craze, along with the rest of the country, and I figured I’d better learn how to make some pressure cooker mac and cheese. I’ve made this a few times now, experimenting a little each time until I came to this piece of perfection. I started this off with a base recipe I picked up in one of those huge Instant Pot facebook groups, but I’ve changed things up a bit to suit my taste.
I think you’re going to love how this turns out. It’s so creamy and super cheesy. The smoked sausage is divine in here and, in my opinion, switches this over from a side dish to a main dish. Serve with a green salad and you’re good to go.
Check out my pressure cooker pinto beans and my pressure cooker carnitas, too!
Pressure Cooker Mac and Cheese with Smoked Sausage
Ingredients
- 1 pound smoked sausage
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 pound macaroni uncooked
- 4 cups water
- 2 teaspoons dry mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 12 ounces evaporated milk
- 16 ounces sharp cheddar grated
- 4 ounces Monterey Jack grated
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Instructions
- Set the Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker to saute on high. Heat the oil in the pot.
- Slice the smoked sausage into 1/4 inch rounds and place in the pot, cooking until browned on each. Remove sausage from the pot and set aside.
- Add the macaroni, water, mustard powder, salt, and pepper to the pot.
- Place the lid on the pressure cooker and set to sealing.
- Cook on manual pressure for 3 minutes.
- Quick release the pressure and remove the lid.
- Turn the pressure cooker to saute and stir in the evaporate milk.
- Stir in the cheese, one handful at a time, until it's all melted and combined.
- Stir the sausage into the macaroni and cheese, top with parsley, and serve.
Christina says
I’ve always wondered about this. Is it 16 oz of cheese before shredding or after?
Karly says
Since it’s a weight measurement, it wouldn’t matter if you measure before or after grating. Certainly easier to measure before though, since cheese is often sold in 8oz blocks. 🙂
Fern says
After a busy Saturday working outside in perfect weather for late October, I came in and looked for something to instant pot using smoked sausage. I came across this recipe. It is fantastic! Very easy to make and great flavor and consistency. Often when I make homemade mac and cheese it is gummy, but not this one. This is a keeper receipe.
Fern says
For those of you wondering if you should invest in an instant pot. The answer is yes. There is just the two of us and unknowingly I bought the 8 quart which is plenty big. I love using it.
Karly says
So glad you enjoyed it, Fern! 🙂
Mistie at Kitchen Ria says
This looks so hearty and delicious, I am going to try it out tonight. I LIVE for Mac n Cheese.
Anna says
Oh my gosh!! You are too funny!! This recipe looks amazing!!! And so easy!! I don’t have an instapot, but I do have a pressure cooker. Can I cook in that?? if so, how long would you recommend?
Karly says
Yes, it should work just the same in any brand of electric pressure cooker.
Maggie says
Wow what an interesting way to use Instant pot! Can’t believe it takes like 10 minutes to cook the whole dish. And plus your mac n’ cheese looks totally perfect! Can’t wait to try it out this weekend 🙂
Kimberly @ Berly's Kitchen says
We don’t have an instant pot. Urg!! Wish we did because we would definitely make this. How can you not love macaroni and cheese with sausage?
Laura Dembowski says
I have heard so much about the instant pot craze and this mac and cheese alone makes me want to get one. Pure comfort!
Flavor Quotient says
Gorgeous! Love love love this smoked sausage idea in mac n cheese! Sharing!!
Karly says
It’s such a great addition!
Abeer Rizvi says
I have got to start using my instant pot more often! I can bet anything I would have no leftovers with this meal coz come on… look at all that cheesy goodness! 😉
Karly says
I think this is my favorite use for the IP!
Agness of Run Agness Run says
I love cheese and I think I could eat it every day, Karly! This is a mouth-watering recipe.
Carrie | Carrie's Experimental Kitchen says
This looks amazing! I love the combination of flavors and will have to get myself an Instant Pot one of these days!
Julie says
Recipes like this make me want to jump on the instant pot band wagon too! I have tried to convince myself that I don’t need one. Lies all lies! This mac and cheese look amazing and I can’t wait to check out your pinto beans recipe too!
Karly says
Buying an IP is worth it for this mac and cheese alone. 😉 Those beans don’t hurt either though.
Tracy | Baking Mischief says
Yeeeees! Sausage plus mac and cheese FOREVER. 😉 I am feeling so behind on this whole instant pot thing, but this recipe makes me about 1000x more motivated to try one out!
Riki says
I made this for dinner last night. OMG, it was so good! The pasta was perfect and the smoked sausage really kicked it up a notch.
Colleen says
Yum! Thanks to this, I now have an intense craving for mac & cheese! And the smoked sausage sounds perfect. I often put bacon in it, or broccoli, but I have to try sausage next time, which will be SOON!