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    Home » Recipes » Instant Pot Recipes

    Instant Pot Chili Mac-Made in 30 Minutes

    February 1, 2023 Updated: February 1, 2023 By Katie Crenshaw 19 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    This #InstantPot #ChiliMacandCheese makes the perfect hearty comfort food meal for any day of the week. It is a one pot dish that is easily made in under #30minutes.
    This Instant Pot Chili Mac is a delicious combination of pasta, chili, beans, and cheese. Make it in 20 minutes for an easy, homemade comfort meal that the whole family will love.
    This Instant Pot Chili Mac is a delicious combination of pasta, chili, beans, and cheese. Make it in 20 minutes for an easy, homemade comfort meal that the whole family will love.
    This Instant Pot Chili Mac is a delicious combination of pasta, chili, beans, and cheese. Make it in 20 minutes for an easy, homemade comfort meal that the whole family will love.

    This Instant Pot Chili Mac makes the perfect hearty comfort food meal for any day of the week.

    It is a delicious combination of pasta, chili, beans, and cheese will have you going back for seconds.

    It is a one pot dish that is easily made in 20 minutes.

    You will want to cook this recipe again and again.

    Instant Pot Chili Mac in a white bowl on a checkered table cloth.

    I never get tired of cooking in my Instant Pot. It keeps cleaning the dishes down to a minimum and cooks everything so fast.

    As a child, chili mac and cheese was a staple meal in my mother's home.

    It is easy, inexpensive to make, feeds a crowd, and tasty.

    Recreating my mother's version in the Instant Pot brings back so many memories of my mother making it over the stove in her little kitchen.

    I absolutely loved it and I hope you will too.

    Watch how to make Instant Pot chili mac

    Ingredients

    You will need the following ingredients to make chili mac in the pressure cooker.

    • Ground Beef- You can substitute with ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork.
    • Garlic- I use fresh ground garlic. You can substitute with garlic powder.
    • Chopped Celery- You can substitute with ½ teaspoon of celery salt.k
    • Bell Pepper
    • Onion- Yellow or white onion. You can substitute with 1 teaspoon of onion powder.
    • Chili Powder
    • Cumin
    • Seasoned Salt
    • Chicken Broth- You can substitute with beef broth or vegetable broth.
    • Kidney Beans
    • Tomatoes with Green Chilis- You can substitute with 2 cans of diced tomatoes.
    • Tomato Sauce
    • Elbow Macaroni- You can substitute with Ziti or Rotoni.
    step by step process photos on how to make instant pot chili mac and cheese

    Steps to make Instant Pot Chili Mac

    Making Chili Mac in the Instant Pot is so easy!!!! Follow these steps

    1. Turn on Saute setting. Add ground beef and garlic. (photo 1)
    2. Brown ground beef and garlic. (photo 2)
    3. Add in the spices, onions, bell pepper, and celery. (photo 3)
    4. Cook until vegetables are softened. (photo 4)
    5. Add the remaining ingredients. (photo 5)
    6. Cook on the High Manual setting for 4 minutes. (Photo 6)
    7. Quick release. Stir in the cheese... That is it. How easy is that? (photo 7)
    Chili Mac in and Instant Pot

    This post contains affiliate links.

    Tips:

    *Note: When cooking the ground beef, I use this ChopStir Original Ground Meat Chopper, Frozen Juice Concentrate Stirrer, Heat-Resistant Nylon, Made in the USA, Black. It grinds the meat into tiny pieces while cooking.

    *Note: There are no hot peppers in this recipe. Therefore, this recipe is not spicy. If you want to make it spicy, add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to spice it up.

    What are the best beans to use?

    Traditionally, my mom used kidney beans for this chili mac recipe.

    However, if you do not like kidney beans, pinto beans or black beans make a great substitute.

    If you do not like beans in your chili mac, you can omit the beans all together. It will still taste amazing.

    Chili Mac and Cheese on a white bowl with a wooden spoon next to it.

    Can you freeze It?

    Instant pot Chili mac is easy to freeze.

    • Seal chili mac and cheese in freezer safe containers, date, and label.
    • To reheat, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator or quickly in the microwave.
    • You can reheat in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or in the microwave.

    I like to make a big batch and freeze half for a meal to eat on a busy night that I don't have time to cook.

    Pressure Cooker Chili Mac and Cheese in a serving bowl with pepper flakes and a pepper grinder next to it

    If you like this recipe, check out some of my other Instant Pot Recipes. Some favorites are:

    • Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup
    • Instant Pot Country Style Steak
    • Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
    • Instant Pot Gumbo
    • Instant Pot Mongolian Beef
    • Instant Pot Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

    When you make this Instant Pot Chili Mac, tell me what you think in the comment section! I would love to hear back! My readers will too.

    Also post your picture of your Instant Pot dinner on Instagram or Facebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags! I will share with my followers! xoxo!

    Instant Pot Chili Mac and Cheese in a white bowl on a checkered table cloth.

    Instant Pot Chili Mac

    This Instant Pot Chili Mac is a delicious combination of pasta, chili, beans, and cheese. Make it in 20 minutes for an easy, homemade comfort meal that the whole family will love.
    5 from 18 votes
    Print Pin Save Recipe Saved! Rate
    Course: Entree
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 10
    Calories: 383kcal
    Author: Katie Crenshaw

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound lean ground beef
    • 2 garlic cloves minced
    • ½ cup chopped celery
    • 1 chopped bell pepper
    • 1 chopped onion
    • 2 table spoon chili powder
    • 2 teaspoon cumin
    • 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
    • 2 cups chicken broth
    • 30 ounces kidney beans (2 cans)
    • 20 ounces rotel with green chili (2 cans)
    • 15 ounces tomato sauce
    • 8 ounces elbow macaroni uncooked
    • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • Turn on Sauté setting. Brown ground beef and garlic cloves until fully cooked. 
      1 pound lean ground beef, 2 garlic cloves
    • Add in chopped bell pepper, chopped celery, chopped onion, chili powder, cumin, and seasoned salt. Cook until all vegetables are softened.
      ½ cup chopped celery, 1 chopped bell pepper, 1 chopped onion, 2 table spoon chili powder, 2 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
    • Add chicken broth, drained kidney beans, tomatoes with chilies, tomato sauce, and macaroni. Stir.
      2 cups chicken broth, 30 ounces kidney beans, 20 ounces rotel with green chili, 15 ounces tomato sauce, 8 ounces elbow macaroni
    • Close and lock lid. Cook on Manual High Pressure for 4 minutes.
    • Quick release. Stir the pasta and chili.
    • Add in shredded cheddar cheese and stir.
      2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
    • Salt and pepper to taste. Serve.
      salt and pepper to taste

    Video

    Notes

    Note: I use a ground meat chopper to make my meat grounded into small pieces for this recipe.
    *Note: There are no hot peppers in this recipe. Therefore, this recipe is not spicy. If you want to make it spicy, add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to spice it up.

    Nutrition- Nutrition info is based on estimation only.

    Calories: 383kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 838mg | Potassium: 950mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1350IU | Vitamin C: 28.9mg | Calcium: 236mg | Iron: 5.7mg
    Tried this recipe? I want to see it!Mention @aForksTale or tag #aForksTale!

    More Instant Pot Recipes

    • Two bowls of collard green soup with spoons in the bowls. Corn bread is to the side on a white plate.
      Collard Green Soup with Smoked Ham and Black Eyed Peas (Instant Pot & Stovetop)
    • instant pot stuffed pepper soup in a white bowl
      Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup Recipe
    • stuffed cabbage soup in the Instant Pot
      Instant Pot Stuffed Cabbage Soup-30 Minutes
    • Instant Pot Italian Pot Roast Dinner

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Aleta

      August 31, 2018 at 4:38 pm

      5 stars
      Yummy!!!! This looks incredible! An easy recipe the whole family will love? Perfect. Thanks for sharing!

    2. Christine

      December 13, 2018 at 3:30 am

      5 stars
      This is wonderful! Thank you!!

    3. Sheila

      December 20, 2018 at 2:29 am

      5 stars
      Someone posted this on an IP FB group and I tried it out tonight. It was delicious! The only thing I did different was used gluten free pasta and cooked on high for 3 min. Thanks for the recipe.

    4. Katie

      December 20, 2018 at 1:25 pm

      Thanks for sharing Sheila your gluten free tip! I am glad you liked it.

    5. Ana

      January 14, 2019 at 11:28 pm

      5 stars
      This was easy and delicious!! Used the same seasonings as I would in my crockpot for chili but this had a lot more flavor.

    6. Elana McClure

      August 01, 2019 at 9:20 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious!! You do not have to cook the vegetables tender, they will be tender when it’s done, also add the pasta in dry and save yourself another pot to clean. We like to add about a cup of frozen corn to it as well. Great recipe!

    7. Dawn - Girl Heart Food

      October 29, 2019 at 2:11 pm

      5 stars
      This chili mac and cheese looks SO good! It's getting cold here now so I crave all the comfort food and this would just hit the spot!!

    8. Jersey Girl Cooks

      February 02, 2023 at 3:59 pm

      5 stars
      This is perfect comfort food for a chilly winter evening! I like to add a bit of hot sauce for some spiciness.

    9. Marie-Pierre Breton

      February 03, 2023 at 12:17 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect dish for a cold winter night! Exactly what I need now! Thanks for sharing!

    10. Liz

      February 03, 2023 at 5:05 pm

      5 stars
      I love finding new ways to use my instant pot! And this was a hit with the whole fam!

    11. Ann

      February 03, 2023 at 5:45 pm

      5 stars
      This sounds like a great recipe to make for a busy weekday dinner meal. Thanks for the recipe share! Excited to give it a try!

    12. Megan

      February 03, 2023 at 10:37 pm

      5 stars
      great comfort food. I will make this again and again.

    13. Loreto and Nicoletta

      February 04, 2023 at 11:32 pm

      5 stars
      This is a great recipe for families trying to budget and feed their lived ones. It's easy especially when the instant does all the work!

    14. Jamie

      February 05, 2023 at 1:09 am

      5 stars
      Loving this already, this instant pot chili mac looks so delicious and very yummy! It has a great combination of our favorites! The best part, we only need 20 minutes to get this dish done! Loved it!

    15. Jacqueline Debono

      February 05, 2023 at 4:08 pm

      5 stars
      Such an easy and delicious one plate family meal. Will definitely be making it again!

    16. Amanda Dixon

      February 05, 2023 at 4:52 pm

      5 stars
      This was a big hit for us! Total comfort food. It was so creamy with the perfect spice kick, and the Instant Pot made it super convenient.

    17. Amy Liu Dong

      February 05, 2023 at 5:13 pm

      5 stars
      I love the combination of chili and cheese in this dish. It is so delicious!

    18. Tristin

      February 06, 2023 at 1:13 am

      5 stars
      So good! I grew up eating this and it tasted just like my moms recipe!

    19. Kristina

      February 06, 2023 at 2:12 am

      5 stars
      This is a great recipe that ix very flavorful. My family love it as Witten and cant wait to make it again.

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    Katie Crenshaw-A Fork's Tale

    Hi, I'm Katie!

    Thanks for stopping in!! I am a foodie and I LOVE to eat. I am so excited to share my recipes and adventures with you! My recipes are simple and easy for the modern cook.

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