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Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

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Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese is creamy, cheesy and a little spicy. It’s an easy dinner recipe perfect for game day and fall potlucks!

Instant Pot Buffalo chicken Mac and cheese in white bowl

It always amazes me when I hear people say Instant Pot recipes are bland. Seriously?! Friends, this Instant Pot mac and cheese recipe is packed with flavor!

As much as I love my traditional creamy mac and cheese recipe and my usual creamy Instant Pot mac and cheese recipe, I may just love this Buffalo mac and cheese even more. Why? Well, I pretty much love any recipe with Buffalo sauce, and it really does take the usual homemade macaroni and cheese to the next level.

I’m on a roll with the Buffalo recipes lately, but hey — it’s almost fall, y’all! Last week, I shared an easy Buffalo chicken dip recipe and a way to use up leftovers with Buffalo chicken wonton cups. So, Instant Pot Buffalo mac and cheese was next on the list!

The great thing about Buffalo chicken mac and cheese is that you can control the heat level by adjusting the amount of Buffalo sauce. And, you can turn this into a creamy easy baked mac and cheese recipe if you want!

How to make Buffalo chicken mac and cheese in the Instant Pot

To make Buffalo chicken mac and cheese in the pressure cooker, you cut up some chicken and cook it in the Instant Pot until it’s no longer pink.

Normally, I would use olive oil or vegetable oil here, but since we’re channeling all things Buffalo, I used butter, instead.

Then, you add a little Buffalo sauce, like Franks.

saute chicken and buffalo sauce in Instant Pot

Next, add the macaroni, water and more butter. Then, pressure cook it!

After the chicken and pasta cook, add a little more Buffalo sauce, cheese and cream, and stir it all up. If you want to make Buffalo chicken ranch pasta, you can use ranch dressing instead of the cream.

instant pot buffalo chicken mac and cheese on spoonI

Instant Pot Buffalo chicken pasta is perfect for game day and fall potlucks — or whenever you’re craving some creamy, cheesy, Buffalo mac and cheese!

instant pot buffalo chicken pasta in white bowl with celery sticks and parsley

Looking for more Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken recipes?

Recipe for Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

Instant Pot Buffalo chicken Mac and cheese in white bowl

Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

Dee
Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese is creamy, cheesy and a little spicy. It's an easy dinner recipe perfect for game day and fall potlucks, and it cooks in about 30 minutes!
5 from 17 votes
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
pressure time 10 mins
Total Time 15 mins
Course Main
Cuisine American
Servings 10
Calories 320 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 4 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed (2 large)
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 cup Buffalo sauce, divided
  • 1 pound elbow macaroni pasta
  • 4 cups water
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream or ranch dressing
  • 3 1/2 cups shredded colby jack cheese

Instructions
 

  • Hit SAUTE on Instant Pot, and when it reads HOT, add 2 tablespoons butter and chicken. Sprinkle with sea salt, and cook chicken until no longer pink, stirring frequently
  • Pour 1/4 cup hot sauce over chicken, stir, then hit CANCEL to turn pressure cooker off
  • Add uncooked macaroni and 2 tablespoons butter over chicken, then pour water over and around macaroni
  • Place lid on Instant Pot, turn valve to Sealing position, and hit PRESSURE COOK for 4 minutes. Pot will take about 10 minutes to pressurize, then cook for 4 minutes
  • When pot beeps, do a gradual quick release to reduce liquid from spraying out of pot. When pin drops, remove lid, and stir
  • Stir in remaining 1/4 cup of hot Buffalo sauce, 1/2 cup heavy cream, (or ranch) and gradually add cheese, 1 cup at a time, stirring well after each cup is added

Video

Notes

Recipe was made in 6-quart Instant Pot electric pressure cooker, but same amounts and time can be used for the 8 quart.
For Buffalo Ranch flavor, use Ranch dressing instead of the heavy cream.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 320kcal
Keyword instant pot buffalo chicken mac and cheese
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I hope you enjoy this easy Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese recipe as much as we do!

Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Dee says

      It might be quicker and easier to do in one pot on the stove. I haven’t tried this in the slow cooker, so I can’t say for sure.

      Reply

  6. Briana says

    5 stars
    I made this for dinner and loved it so much, so I decided to make for a potluck at my office. Everyone there loved it so much-it was gone in seconds!

    Reply

  8. Dana says

    5 stars
    I had this for dinner and it tasted absolutely fantastic! So creamy and just the right amount of kick. Made great leftovers for lunch the next day, too!

    Reply

  14. Miz Helen says

    5 stars
    We love the Buffalo flavor and this looks delicious! Hope you are having a good week and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday!
    Miz Helen

    Reply

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