Back when I had my first baby, my husband’s grandma brought over a big casserole dish full of mac and cheese.
You guys, I was ecstatic. I loved mac and cheese and I was exhausted beyond belief. An already cooked dinner that I knew I was going to enjoy. Yasss.
Then I peeled back the foil to heat it up and I saw all of this weirdness happening in there. To be specific, there was smoked sausage. All up in my macaroni and cheese.
I admit to nothing, but there may have been tears.
I mean, who would ruin mac and cheese that way and then give it to a hormonal new mother?
I decided to just pick around the sausage until my husband convinced me to just grow up and try a bite of the sausage.
Y’all. I am forever in that man’s debt. I’m now hooked on mac and cheese with smoked sausage. Why is it so good? I will never know. But I will always keep eating it and trying to find out.
Anyway, I jumped on the Instant Pot craze, along with the rest of the country, and I figured I’d better learn how to make some pressure cooker mac and cheese. I’ve made this a few times now, experimenting a little each time until I came to this piece of perfection. I started this off with a base recipe I picked up in one of those huge Instant Pot facebook groups, but I’ve changed things up a bit to suit my taste.
I think you’re going to love how this turns out. It’s so creamy and super cheesy. The smoked sausage is divine in here and, in my opinion, switches this over from a side dish to a main dish. Serve with a green salad and you’re good to go.
Check out my pressure cooker pinto beans and my pressure cooker carnitas, too!
Pressure Cooker Mac and Cheese with Smoked Sausage
Ingredients
- 1 pound smoked sausage
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 pound macaroni uncooked
- 4 cups water
- 2 teaspoons dry mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 12 ounces evaporated milk
- 16 ounces sharp cheddar grated
- 4 ounces Monterey Jack grated
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Instructions
- Set the Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker to saute on high. Heat the oil in the pot.
- Slice the smoked sausage into 1/4 inch rounds and place in the pot, cooking until browned on each. Remove sausage from the pot and set aside.
- Add the macaroni, water, mustard powder, salt, and pepper to the pot.
- Place the lid on the pressure cooker and set to sealing.
- Cook on manual pressure for 3 minutes.
- Quick release the pressure and remove the lid.
- Turn the pressure cooker to saute and stir in the evaporate milk.
- Stir in the cheese, one handful at a time, until it's all melted and combined.
- Stir the sausage into the macaroni and cheese, top with parsley, and serve.
Taylor Thurston says
SMOKED SAUSAGE?! In MAC & CHEESE?! DUDE! Granny is a genius.
Karly says
Agree. 😉
Claudia says
Now to that add a fresh tomato cut up small. The tomato will bring this to a whole new level.
I just do Kraft Deluxe Mac and cheese, add Johnsonville beef sausage cut up small and at least one big maybe two tomatoes. Yes the tomatoes in my humble opinion just give this dish even more flavor and tomatoes are healthy.
Ann says
I’ve been on the fence about the Instant Pot, but I think I might have to go for it!
Karly says
You’ll love it! I use mine a lot more often than I thought I would!
Ashley - The Recipe Rebel says
Karly, I am seriously so hungry right now it practically hurts to look at that deliciousness. I just got my Instant Pot after Christmas and have only used it a few times, but this is DEFINITELY happening. Like SOON.
Megan {Country Cleaver} says
If I wasn’t convinced enough to get an Instapot – I am NOW!!!
Karly says
It’s worth it for this mac and cheese alone!
Mary says
Does this make a really soft macaroni or al dente?
Karly says
It’s more soft than al dente, but doesn’t turn to mush.
Tricia @ Saving Room for Dessert says
I would have thought the same thing Karly! Your Mac & Cheese looks perfect – the creamy texture is velvety and it’s got just the right about of cheese to noodle. I love smoked sausage and bet it is magnificent in this dish! I haven’t jumped into the Instapot thing yet – but you have inspired me! Have a lovely week.
nancyabc says
I love mac, cheese, and sausage but I also like mac and cheese with Cincinnati chili.
No instant pot but I did grow up with a mother that used a pressure cooker all the time. I don’t know why I never got one because I loved her recipes cooked in one especially her stuffed peppers.
Karly says
That sounds amazing!!
And yes, you should definitely try an Instant Pot!
Julie says
I don’t have an instant pot yet and this looks like the perfect reason to buy one. I wonder if this could be made in a crock pot also?
Karly says
I’m not sure! Something to try, though. 🙂
Debs says
I don’t usually make mac and cheese because my husband doesn’t eat cheese (I know!!!) But I think I’m just gonna have to make this for myself and eat it as dinner for 1!
Ashley - The Recipe Rebel says
I made this tonight — my first time doing pasta in the Instant Pot — and it worked perfectly! Will definitely be making again 🙂
Karly says
So glad to hear you enjoyed it! 🙂
Fran @ G'day Souffle' says
I have never heard of an Instant Pot before but looked it up on the net- Wow- it even has a yogurt maker function? PLUS, makes a great Mac ‘n Cheese. I’m in!!
Karly says
Yes!! And the yogurt really is easy to make, too!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
This looks incredible, Karly! We jumped on the Instant Pot deal on Black Friday and I am always looking for new recipes to try. Totally making this soon!
Karly says
Hope you give it a try…it’s my favorite way to make mac and cheese these days!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
I made it yesterday and we LOVED it!! Totally going on our regular rotation! Thanks Karly! 🙂
Karly says
So glad to hear that! 🙂
Annie says
Oooh this looks fantastic! Adding it to my instant pot meal ideas, thank you!
Stephanie says
Instant pots are ALL THE RAGE, why haven’t I gotten one yet?! People keep asking me to! I’ll absolutely refer those peeps to this recipe in the meantime… because YUM…. I love me some mac & cheese! Amazing pics, as always!
Rachel @ Bakerita says
Smoked sausage sounds like SUCH a delicious addition to mac and cheese, and I love that this is made in the Instant Pot! I wish I had a big bowl of this in front of me to dig into for lunch 🙂
Colleen says
Yum! Thanks to this, I now have an intense craving for mac & cheese! And the smoked sausage sounds perfect. I often put bacon in it, or broccoli, but I have to try sausage next time, which will be SOON!
Riki says
I made this for dinner last night. OMG, it was so good! The pasta was perfect and the smoked sausage really kicked it up a notch.
Tracy | Baking Mischief says
Yeeeees! Sausage plus mac and cheese FOREVER. 😉 I am feeling so behind on this whole instant pot thing, but this recipe makes me about 1000x more motivated to try one out!
Julie says
Recipes like this make me want to jump on the instant pot band wagon too! I have tried to convince myself that I don’t need one. Lies all lies! This mac and cheese look amazing and I can’t wait to check out your pinto beans recipe too!
Karly says
Buying an IP is worth it for this mac and cheese alone. 😉 Those beans don’t hurt either though.
Carrie | Carrie's Experimental Kitchen says
This looks amazing! I love the combination of flavors and will have to get myself an Instant Pot one of these days!
Agness of Run Agness Run says
I love cheese and I think I could eat it every day, Karly! This is a mouth-watering recipe.
Abeer Rizvi says
I have got to start using my instant pot more often! I can bet anything I would have no leftovers with this meal coz come on… look at all that cheesy goodness! 😉
Karly says
I think this is my favorite use for the IP!
Flavor Quotient says
Gorgeous! Love love love this smoked sausage idea in mac n cheese! Sharing!!
Karly says
It’s such a great addition!
Laura Dembowski says
I have heard so much about the instant pot craze and this mac and cheese alone makes me want to get one. Pure comfort!
Kimberly @ Berly's Kitchen says
We don’t have an instant pot. Urg!! Wish we did because we would definitely make this. How can you not love macaroni and cheese with sausage?
Maggie says
Wow what an interesting way to use Instant pot! Can’t believe it takes like 10 minutes to cook the whole dish. And plus your mac n’ cheese looks totally perfect! Can’t wait to try it out this weekend 🙂
Anna says
Oh my gosh!! You are too funny!! This recipe looks amazing!!! And so easy!! I don’t have an instapot, but I do have a pressure cooker. Can I cook in that?? if so, how long would you recommend?
Karly says
Yes, it should work just the same in any brand of electric pressure cooker.
Mistie at Kitchen Ria says
This looks so hearty and delicious, I am going to try it out tonight. I LIVE for Mac n Cheese.
Fern says
After a busy Saturday working outside in perfect weather for late October, I came in and looked for something to instant pot using smoked sausage. I came across this recipe. It is fantastic! Very easy to make and great flavor and consistency. Often when I make homemade mac and cheese it is gummy, but not this one. This is a keeper receipe.
Fern says
For those of you wondering if you should invest in an instant pot. The answer is yes. There is just the two of us and unknowingly I bought the 8 quart which is plenty big. I love using it.
Karly says
So glad you enjoyed it, Fern! 🙂
Christina says
I’ve always wondered about this. Is it 16 oz of cheese before shredding or after?
Karly says
Since it’s a weight measurement, it wouldn’t matter if you measure before or after grating. Certainly easier to measure before though, since cheese is often sold in 8oz blocks. 🙂
Sara says
What kind of smoked sausage? Like a kielbasa?
Karly says
Yep, kielbasa is perfect.
Adele says
Since there are many different sizes of Instant Pot, what size is this recipe designed for? I always have trouble with recipes that don’t indicate pot size.
Karly says
I use a 6 quart and have only ever tried this in that.
Adele says
Thanks. I have the 3 Qt so I will half the recipe.
Andy says
My husband travels for work, and our son and I recently had the opportunity to visit him on the road. After working on the road for weeks at a time, it’s safe to say he gets burnt out on eating at restaurants, and after 10-12 hour work days he sure doesn’t feel like grocery shopping and cooking (and I can’t blame him). So on this visit, we brought along our express cooker, and I tried this beauty out! Not only did we get to have a delicious home cooked meal as a family, but he now has leftovers for dinner after we return home! Thanks for this super fast, easy, tasty recipe that allowed us to spend a little more time together.
I may or may not have taste tested throughout the cooking process ?
Karly says
So glad you and your family enjoyed this one and it gave you a little extra time together. My husband travels for work too and it can be rough! <3
Brandy says
We use the Cajun Smoked Sausage with your recipe, it really adds that extra edge to the mac n cheese. Love this recipe!
Karly says
I bet the extra spice is delicious in the mac and cheese! 🙂
Jan says
I have all ingredients except evaporated milk……:( any ideas of a decent substitution? I have regular organic milk and heavy whipping cream…….? Thanks~
Karly says
No, I’m sorry, I don’t know of any substitutions. I haven’t tried making this with regular milk or cream, so I’m not sure how well it would work.
Leigh says
I have a 3 quart instant pot, are the amounts more in this recipe? Should I cut the amounts in half?
Karly says
I’m not sure how much would fit in a 3 quart. I’ve only ever used a 6 quart.
Amber says
Just half the recipe! 🙂
Tammy says
This was amazing! My whole family loved it! Definitely a keeper for us.
Karly says
Yay! Glad to hear that!
Renee Lamb says
This was amazing! I was afraid that it was going to be too heavy, but followed the recipe exactly and it was delicious. My kids suggested to maybe add peas on the next batch. Also, if you’re wondering if you should rinse the pot after sauteing the sausage…DON’T. It adds great flavor
Karly says
Peas are a great addition – and I love that your kids suggested them. Mine would never. 😉 Glad you enjoyed the recipe!