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    Ingredients » Recipes » Beef

    Instant Pot BBQ Macaroni and Beef

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: Jun 11, 2018 · Modified: Mar 25, 2021 by Dee

    Instant Pot BBQ Macaroni and Beef is an easy pressure cooker dinner recipe made with ground beef, cheddar cheese and pasta in a creamy barbecue sauce.
    instant pot bbq macaroni and beef with cheddar cheese in white bowls

    Jump to Recipe -

    This one pot BBQ macaroni and beef is one of those easy Instant Pot ground beef recipes that's absolutely perfect for busy days. You just have to brown the hamburger meat, but then you just throw everything else into the pressure cooker and let it cook dinner for you! Well, kind of, but you get what I mean!

    Barbecue macaroni and beef is a variation of Instant Pot creamy shells and beef, which is one of the most popular Instant Pot recipes on the blog. Actually it's the most popular recipe on the blog, and it's also one of my family's favorite easy ground beef recipes!

    Anyway, I already have a stove top version of this recipe -- One Pot Cheddar BBQ Shells and Beef -- on the blog. It's a favorite with the kiddos because they love anything with barbecue sauce!

    But when I decided to make this dinner in the pressure cooker, I couldn't find shell pasta in the store. Seriously. So, I used macaroni instead of shells, but everything else is pretty much the same. I did end up adding a little extra seasoning for the Instant Pot recipe because I think you need some additional flavor when you use the pressure cooker.

    How to Make Instant Pot BBQ Macaroni and Beef

    This cheesy BBQ macaroni and beef is like a homemade Hamburger Helper with barbecue sauce. It's super easy, budget friendly, and it even has corn, so it's definitely a one dish dinner!

    You start off by browning the ground beef in the Instant Pot. Then, you add the water, pasta, frozen corn and BBQ sauce. Don't stir the barbecue sauce in with the rest of the ingredients, since you don't want it to burn. Just leave it on top, and mix it in after the pressure cooking is done.

    instant pot bbq macaroni and beef in pressure cooker;

    After that, you stir in shredded cheddar cheese and cream. The cream gives the beefy mac a creamier texture, but you can leave it out if you want. You can also add some extra BBQ sauce at this point.

    instant pot bbq macaroni and beef on spoon

    I like to serve barbecue beefy mac with extra cheese on the side. I also usually put out extra barbecue sauce, as well. This way, the cheese lovers are happy, and the BBQ sauce lovers are too!

    Oh, you can use your favorite BBQ sauce here -- whatever you like best!

    instant pot bbq macaroni and beef with cheddar cheese and corn in dish

    Looking for more easy Instant Pot ground beef recipes?

    • Instant Pot Creamy Shells and Beef
    • Instant Pot Macaroni Beef Casserole
    • Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
    • Instant Pot Creamy Taco Pasta
    • Mom's Best Instant Pot Chili

     

    Recipe for Instant Pot BBQ Macaroni and Beef

    instant pot bbq macaroni and beef with cheddar cheese in white bowls

    Instant Pot BBQ Macaroni and Beef

    Published by Dee
    Instant Pot BBQ Macaroni and Beef is an easy pressure cooker dinner recipe made with ground beef, cheddar cheese, pasta and corn in a creamy barbecue sauce. It's ready in about 30 minutes and kid approved!
    5 from 1 vote
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    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Main
    Cuisine American
    Servings 14
    Calories 350 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1.5 pounds lean ground beef
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon dried minced onions
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1 16-ounce box uncooked macaroni
    • 4 cups water
    • 1 cup frozen corn kernels
    • 1 ½ cups barbecue sauce
    • 1 cup heavy cream
    • 2 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese

    Instructions
     

    • Hit SAUTE on Instant Pot, and when it reads hot, add olive oil and ground beef
    • Break beef up with spatula, season with sea salt, minced onions, garlic powder and pepper, and cook until no longer pink, stirring frequently so that beef doesn't stick to pot
    • Hit CANCEL, then add macaroni, and pour water over and around macaroni
    • Add frozen corn on top of macaroni, then add BBQ sauce over macaroni, but DO NOT stir
    • Cover with lid, turn vent to sealing position, and hit PRESSURE COOK for 4 minutes
    • After 4 minutes cooking time, when pot beeps, do a quick release or gradual quick release, and carefully remove lid when pin drops
    • Stir in cream and gradually add cheddar cheese, and mix well. Serve immediately, and add more cheese and extra BBQ sauce, if desired

    Notes

    Recipe was made in an 8-quart Instant Pot electric pressure cooker

    Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 350kcal
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!

    Instant Pot BBQ Macaroni and Beef

    I hope you enjoy this easy Instant Pot BBQ Macaroni and Beef dinner as much as we do!

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Jennifer says

      November 02, 2018 at 6:15 pm

      Made this as written in a 6 quart instant pot and it was perfect. So good!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        November 04, 2018 at 11:16 pm

        Thanks so much, Jennifer. So glad you liked it!

    2. Michelle says

      June 13, 2018 at 7:33 pm

      Looks like a great easy recipe! I'm always on the lookout for anything that simplifies dinnertime!

      Reply
    3. Lauren @ Hall Nesting says

      June 13, 2018 at 5:30 am

      I know what I want for dinner tonight

      Reply
    4. Catalina says

      June 12, 2018 at 11:29 am

      BBQ macaroni and beef! Sounds great!

      Reply
    5. Abeer says

      June 12, 2018 at 11:27 am

      This looks such a perfect family meal! Yum!

      Reply
    6. Demeter says

      June 12, 2018 at 5:52 am

      Such a great family friendly dinner! So easy with an Instant Pot.

      Reply
      • Dee says

        June 12, 2018 at 5:27 pm

        It's super easy when you use the Instant Pot!

    7. Sabrina says

      June 12, 2018 at 1:33 am

      I love using the instant pot! What a great, simple recipe for me to use in it!

      Reply
    8. I Heart Naptime says

      June 11, 2018 at 6:10 pm

      Yum!! My family would LOVE this!

      Reply
      • Dee says

        June 11, 2018 at 6:16 pm

        Thanks! My family absolutely loved this dinner!

    9. Dorothy at Shockinglydelish says

      June 11, 2018 at 5:20 pm

      I haven't attempted many pasta dishes in the IP yet. This looks like the perfect way to start!

      Reply
      • Dee says

        June 11, 2018 at 6:15 pm

        We love pasta in the Instant Pot -- so easy! 🙂

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    I’m the blogger, chief cook, recipe developer and photographer behind Meatloaf and Melodrama. I absolutely love to create easy, budget-friendly, homemade meals and treats for my family. I also love to think of new ways to repurpose leftovers so that my family will actually eat them!

    More about me →

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