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    Recipes » Recipes

    Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: Aug 20, 2018 by 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!

    Jump to Recipe -

    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?

    • Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken
    • Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Sliders
    • Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip

    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

    Published by 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 19 votes
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    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
    • ½ cup Buffalo sauce, divided
    • 1 pound elbow macaroni pasta
    • 4 cups water
    • ½ cup heavy cream or ranch dressing
    • 3 ½ 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 ¼ 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 ¼ cup of hot Buffalo sauce, ½ 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 information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 320kcal
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!

    I hope you enjoy this easy Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese recipe as much as we do!

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Keisha says

      January 18, 2022 at 10:16 am

      What type of buffalo sauce do you use?

      Reply
      • Dee says

        January 18, 2022 at 12:48 pm

        I usually use Frank's Buffalo Sauce.

    2. Jane Suh says

      August 14, 2021 at 4:24 pm

      I love this recipe.
      made it just today.
      All the flavors are there.
      Much better than takeout, and much cheaper to.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        August 14, 2021 at 11:38 pm

        Thank you so much, Jane. I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe!

    3. dawn fulton says

      October 16, 2020 at 8:01 pm

      I have made this recipe at least three times! I made it tonight and I just wanted to thank you for this recipe... it never misses! I used pasta shells this time holds the chicken and cheese just right!
      Thanks again,
      Dawn5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        October 16, 2020 at 9:09 pm

        Thank you so much, Dawn! I'm happy to hear this!

    4. Maddie Bender says

      April 01, 2020 at 2:44 pm

      Absolutely delicious and easy!!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        April 02, 2020 at 11:51 am

        Thanks, Maddie. I'm so happy you liked it!

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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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