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Instant Pot Cheeseburger Mac

Rich, creamy pasta loaded with seasoned ground beef and melted cheese that transforms two beloved comfort foods into one irresistible dish ready in just 30 minutes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 520
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 blend)
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound elbow macaroni
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Method
 

  1. Set your Instant Pot to sauté mode and heat olive oil. Add ground beef, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon. Cook for 5-6 minutes until browned and no longer pink.
  2. Stir in diced onion and cook for 3 minutes until softened and translucent. Add minced garlic, cooking for another 30 seconds until fragrant. Add tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly to coat the meat mixture.
  3. Pour in the uncooked elbow macaroni, followed by beef broth. Gently stir to ensure pasta is mostly submerged, but don't overmix as this can cause sticking. Cancel sauté mode and secure the lid with the valve set to sealing.
  4. Select manual/pressure cook on high pressure for 4 minutes. The Instant Pot will take about 8-10 minutes to come to pressure.
  5. When cooking completes, immediately perform a quick pressure release. Carefully remove the lid away from your face. Stir in heavy cream, then gradually add both cheeses, stirring constantly until melted and creamy.

Notes

Don't skip browning the beef for essential flavor depth. Avoid using too much liquid which makes the dish soupy. Don't add cheese while under pressure as it can curdle. Use freshly shredded cheese for smoothest melting. Refrigerate leftovers up to 4 days or freeze up to 3 months. Reheat gently with splash of milk or broth to restore creaminess.