Here is another delicious and simple Instant Pot dinner recipe to make weeknight meals a breeze, Instant Pot Chili Mac! A tasty and filling meal made with ground beef, cheese and macaroni noodles in one amazing dish!
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If you’re new here I love easy and quick meals that take little of my time. This recipe cooks up quickly in one pot (the Instant Pot) and only requires about 15 minutes of true hands on time.
This is a favorite of my husbands! We both love mac and cheese and this recipe has the added benefit of quality protein from ground beef and beans, perfectly rounding out this hardy dinner.
The inspiration for this recipe came from the Cheesy Chili Mac recipe from this book!
Why this recipe is so quick
I use my Instant Pot to make this chili mac and it not only saves me time but it also saves me dishes! Using the Instant Pot means everything cooks in one pot. No boiling the pasta in one pot, while browning the meat in a separate pan.
This recipe requires 10 minutes of initial hands-on work of ingredient prep and browning the beef. Then the Instant Pot takes over and finishes cooking the beef and cooks our noodles for us. Once the Instant Pot is done doing its thing, stirring in and melting the cheese takes another 5 minutes, at most! So easy!
Note: I have been using an Instant Pot for over 10 years and I absolutely love this kitchen appliance! It has saved me many times when I have forgotten to pull something out for dinner. It has cooked fully frozen chicken for me in 45 minutes, saving me time and money by not choosing takeout!
Instant Pot Chili Mac Ingredients
- Ground beef
- Onion
- Diced tomatoes
- Diced green chilis
- Chili beans
- Shredded Cheese
- Garlic
- Beef broth
- Dried Macaroni noodles
- Cumin
- Salt
- Chili powder
- Olive oil
Instant Pot Chili Mac Instructions
Plug the Instant Pot in and turn on the saute mode using high heat for 10 minutes.
Add the olive oil to the Instant Pot while it is coming to temperature.
While the Instant Pot is heating up, dice the onion and set aside.
Once the Instant Pot reaches temperature, crumble the ground beef as you add it to the pot.
Cook the ground beef for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
After 5 minutes add the diced onions and green chili to the ground beef in the Instant Pot. Stir the mixture together and allow to cook for 3 more minutes.
Next add the seasoning to the onion, green chili and ground beef mixture. This step heats the spices and up and helps incorporate the flavors.
Once the Instant Pot beeps letting you know the sauté cycle is over add the diced tomatoes and beef broth to the pot.
Using a flat edge utensil scrape the bottom of the Instant Pot to remove any of the browned bits that may have stuck. This step is ESSENTIAL as it will keep the Instant Pot from giving you a “BURN” warning. This warning will stop the cooking process until fixed.
Once you are confident the pot has no more cooked bits stuck to the bottom, add the chili beans and the macaroni noodles. Mix well ensuring the noodles are in enough broth to be cooked.
Secure the Instant Pot lid, making sure it is set to Seal.
Set the Pressure Cook on high for 7 minutes. Turn off the Keep Warm setting.
When the Instant Pot is done cooking, release the pressure manually.
Once depressurized, remove the Instant Pot lid and slowly mix in the shredded cheese.
Set the lid back at an offset and allow the cheese to fully incorporate into the dish for about 5 minutes.
Serve alone or top with parmesan cheese or sour cream!
Instant Pot Chili Mac Recipe Variations
Vegetarian – If you are a vegetarian the ground beef can be left out and the beans can be used as the protein.
Beans – The inspiration recipe did not call for chili beans, it called for pink beans. I think black beans, pinto beans or a red bean would be great choices for this recipe!
Noodles – The first time I made this recipe I used penne pasta, because I did not have macaroni on hand and it still turned out delicious! Feel free to substitute any small sized pasta of your preference.
Other Easy Recipes You May Enjoy!
- Chocolate Maple Pecan Pie
- Perfect Dinner Rolls
- Amazing Sausage and Cranberry Stuffing
- Instant Pot Cheesy Chili Mac
- One Pot Kielbasa and Rice
Ingredients
Method
- Plug the Instant Pot in and turn on the saute mode using high heat for 10 minutes.
- Add the olive oil to the Instant Pot while it is coming to temperature.
- While the Instant Pot is heating up, dice the onion and set aside.
- Once the Instant Pot reaches temperature, crumble the ground beef as you add it to the pot.
- Cook the ground beef for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- After 5 minutes add the diced onions and green chili to the ground beef in the Instant Pot. Stir the mixture together and allow to cook for 3 more minutes.
- Next add the seasoning to the onion, green chili and ground beef mixture. This step heats the spices and up and helps incorporate the flavors.
- Once the Instant Pot beeps letting you know the saute cycle is over add the diced tomatoes and beef broth to the pot.
- Using a flat edge utensil scrape the bottom of the Instant Pot to remove any of the browned bits that may have stuck. This step is ESSENTIAL as it will keep the Instant Pot from giving you a “BURN” warning. This warning will stop the cooking process until fixed.
- Once you are confident the pot has no more cooked bits stuck to the bottom, add the chili beans and the macaroni noodles. Mix well ensuring the noodles are in enough broth to be cooked.
- Secure the Instant Pot lid, making sure it is set to Seal.
- Set the Pressure Cook on high for 7 minutes. Turn off the Keep Warm setting.
- When the Instant Pot is done cooking, release the pressure manually.
- Once depressurized, remove the Instant Pot lid and slowly mix in the shredded cheese.
- Set the lid back at an offset and allow the cheese to fully incorporate into the dish for about 5 minutes.
- Serve alone or top with parmesan cheese or sour cream!
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