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Instant Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni is homemade hamburger helper made with ground beef and pasta in a creamy, cheesy sauce. Quick, easy and kid friendly!
Raise your hand if your grew up eating Hamburger Helper cheeseburger mac? This was actually one of my favorite dinners, so I decided to make a healthier homemade Hamburger Helper for my own family. This Instant Pot cheeseburger macaroni is quick, easy and even better than the cheeseburger mac you grew up with!
I’m always trying out new quick and easy Instant Pot recipes, and I whipped up this easy cheeseburger macaroni for the kids’ lunch today. I have a lot of Instant Pot ground beef recipes on the blog, but I didn’t have one for cheeseburger macaroni — until today!
The beautiful thing about this Instant Pot cheeseburger mac or even skillet cheeseburger mac is that you probably have everything you need to make it — nothing complicated about this recipe! I even had some ground beef in the fridge. So if you’re looking for a quick and easy Instant Pot dinner recipe that’s also kid approved, this one’s for you!
How to make Instant Pot cheeseburger macaroni (homemade Hamburger Helper)
Cheeseburger macaroni is practically a dump and go recipe, only you do have to brown the ground beef first. To cut down on prep and make this dinner even easier, I use dried minced onions along with a few other spices. I use lean ground beef so that I don’t have to drain the fat, but you can drain it before adding your seasonings if you need to.
Next, add the macaroni, beef broth and then, add some butter. You need 4 cups of beef broth to cover the macaroni, so you can add a little water if you don’t have exactly 4 cups of broth. You can also use all water instead of broth if you want, but the broth gives this beefy mac an extra flavor boost!
After the pasta cooks, stir in some cream and shredded cheese — that’s it! I used a mixture of colby jack cheese and cheddar cheese, but you can definitely use you r favorite cheese here. Heck, if you want to make cheeseburger macaroni with Velveeta, go for it!
Guys, this Instant Pot cheeseburger macaroni is so good! It’s absolutely perfect when you need a quick and easy, kid-approved dinner!
Looking for more Instant Pot ground beef and pasta recipes?
- Instant Pot Macaroni Beef Casserole
- Instant Pot Creamy Shells and Beef
- Instant Pot Creamy Taco Pasta
- Instant Pot BBQ Macaroni and Beef
- Instant Pot Ground Beef Stroganoff
Recipe for Instant Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni (Homemade Hamburger Helper)
Instant Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1.5 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried minced onions
- 1 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 1 pound box macaroni noodles, uncooked
- 4 cups low sodium beef broth or water
- 3 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 cups shredded colby jack cheese
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Press SAUTE on the Instant Pot and when it reads Hot, add olive oil and ground beef. Break up beef with a spatula, and cook until no longer pink
- Stir in the sea salt, garlic powder, onions and pepper, then hit CANCEL
- Layer the uncooked macaroni on the beef, pour the beef broth over and around the macaroni, and top with the butter
- Place lid on pressure cooker, turn vent to Sealing position, and hit PRESSURE COOK for 4 minutes. Pot will take a few minutes to pressurize, then cook for 4 minutes and beep when done
- Turn vent to Venting for a quick release, and when pin drops, remove lid, and stir. Stir in the cream, and gradually stir in the cheese, about 1 cup at a time, stirring well after each cup is added
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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My family loved this easy Instant Pot cheeseburger macaroni. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Can you use Cavatappi noodles instead? Same cooking time?
Yes, Cavatappi should work in this recipe.
I have been using this recipe almost weekly for the past year. It’s a big hit with my kids and husband. The recipe is great on its own but based on personal preference, I make some minor adjustments. I add a teaspoon of dried thyme and a tablespoon of mustard powder along with the seasonings already listed in the recipe. I also add a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce and about 2-3 tablespoons of ketchup when the seasoning is added. I omit the butter and based on the ground beef I purchase, I sometimes need to drain the fat before adding the macaroni and beef broth.
Tasty and easy paired with a salad for a quick weeknight meal. Kids heartily approved so it’s going into the rotation. Thank you!
Thank you so much, Brandee. I’m glad everyone enjoyed the recipe!
Quick, easy, and delicious. Will be adding this recipe to our go-to dinners! Thank you for sharing!
So glad you like it! Thank you for the wonderful review.
It was good. Next time I make it I’ll do minutes pressure. 4 minutes my pasta is just over done, little mushy.
Hmmm. I have never had that happen with 4 minutes. Do you have a newer pressure cooker?
This looks great. What would be the best way to make this without an instant pot – just stove top? Thanks!
Hi Pamela, You can do it in a Dutch oven or large pot on the stove.
This was so easy and so good! I used a real chopped onion instead of the dried, & added just a little cayenne, because I like some subtle spice and it was super yummy. Will definitely make again!
This one is now a staple- thank you! So much flavor! Reminds me of childhood
Thank you so much, Sam! I’m glad you liked the cheesy mac!
This was so delicious! Will definitely make again when wanting some comfort food. I used cheddar and Asiago because that’s what I had. I don’t think you can wrong here with any cheese combo!
So glad you liked the cheeseburger mac! Thank you for the wonderful review!
My family loved it! I will definitely make again.
I’m so glad you liked it, Ashley. Thank you!