BEST Ninja Foodi Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Out There!! (2024)

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Creamy Ninja Foodi macaroni and cheese recipe that is the BEST pressure cooker mac and cheese you’ll ever make in under 15 minutes flat! Cheesy perfection.

Have you tried making a pot of Ninja Foodi macaroni and cheese yet?? I have TWO different recipes for this. The quick low fat version and the REALLY creamy and incredible version. I suggest you not count the calories and go straight to the recipe card one, then try more easy Ninja Foodi recipes next. (affiliate links present)

Ninja Foodi Mac and Cheese

Ok so you just got your pot and you relied on the recipe in the recipe book that came with your pot. OMG, I know, everyone else figured out they made a typo with the amount of salt they published too. NO good….that is why I created this one. I just had to help.

This is one of the meals I grew up on. I mean I didn’t get it homemade like this, mine was out of the box. Okay but definitely not nearly as great as this one is. Have little ones who will only eat this and nuggets? I assure you that they will rave about this one friends.

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If you too are obsessed with your Ninja Foodi pressure cooker air fryer machine, here are a few resource to start with:

  1. You can bookmark our Ninja air fryer recipes page, we add to that weekly.
    1. Here’s a printable air fryer cooking times chart here for your fridge.
    2. Be sure to save this link to Instant Pot recipes for beginners too. You can use any of those in your pot too.
  1. Grab a set of wooden utensils to work with. They are great so your pot doesn’t get scratched!
  2. Then join our Ninja Foodi EASY Recipes – Facebook group where you can share and find more ideas you’ll love. Thousands of others share both pressure cooker and air fryer recipe ideas there daily and you can too!

If you need to know how to cook frozen meat in a pressure cooker, we have information on that. NO, you aren’t the only forgetful one. 😉

BEST Ninja Foodi Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Out There!! (2)

Macaroni and Cheese Ninja Foodi

Want to make this completely OVER the top??!! Add some bacon into the mix too!! I mean you can add all sorts of things into the mix if you want. Sliced hot dogs works too and a family favorite for sure.

You don’t need any accessories to make this which is nice. Just throw in your liquid and uncooked elbow macaroni noodles and let those soften.

BEST Ninja Foodi Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Out There!! (3)

Pressure Cooker Homemade Macaroni and Cheese

Let me share the really quick low fat version of mac and cheese first. (2nd version to make it from good to AMAZING is below in recipe card)

How to make 3 ingredient Ninja Foodi macaroni and cheese

Instructions

  • Add your water and elbow macaroni into your pot, stir.
  • Close your pressure cooker lid & steam valve. Set to high for 2 minutes. Allow to naturally release pressure for 1 minute 30 seconds, then release rest of steam.
  • Lift lid and stir in 2 tbsp of butter, allow this to melt. Then sprinkle in 1 1/2 c. of your cheese and stir until melted. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, stir. Can serve now or follow next steps to melt more cheese on the top.
  • Sprinkle 1 c. of cheese on top of cooked mac and cheese. Can add diced green onions at this time if desired.

Close air crisp lid, push air crisp button at 400 degrees for 3 minutes. Check, add additional minutes if desired (to crisp up further).

BEST Ninja Foodi Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Out There!! (4)

Why do I share the easy homemade macaroni and cheese recipe above if I say the one below is so much better?

  • I do so because you can make it a dairy free mac and cheese with margarine instead of butter. It is without milk and has no heavy cream inside.

We’ve made both. Pressure cooker pasta recipes are seriously the best for hectic evenings.

BEST Ninja Foodi Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Out There!! (5)

Ninja Foodie Mac and Cheese

BUT what if you want to go ALL OUT and make the best Ninja Foodi macaroni and cheese recipe ever??

You will need to pick this up:

  1. Elbow macaroni noodles
  2. Heavy whipping cream
  3. Chicken broth
  4. Cheese
    1. sharp cheddar
    2. parmesan
    3. Mexican blend
  5. Garlic salt
  6. Butter
  7. Salt and pepper
  8. Diced chives is optional

You can use a blend of any cheeses you want, above is what I choose.

BEST Ninja Foodi Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Out There!! (6)

What can you add into mac and cheese

I mean you can add heat and make it kinda’ spicy with tobasco for adults, add diced meat of any kind too. It’s a great way to use up leftovers for sure. If you dice up broccoli or cauliflower you could add 1/2 c. of that too and they’ll never know there were hidden vegetables inside.

  • Sliced hot dogs
  • Shrimp
    • takes 0 minutes to defrost or cook, from frozen to perfect
  • Bacon bits
  • Fresh cooked bacon, crushed
  • Chives
  • Diced onions
  • Diced cooked ham pieces
  • Onion and/or garlic powder

I would add any and all of these after you stir in your cheese and let it melt, and before you air crisp.

BEST Ninja Foodi Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Out There!! (7)

Homemade Macaroni and Cheese Ninja Foodi

No need to add anything else though, this is packed with flavor as is. Can you make boxed Kraft macaroni and cheese in a pressure cooker? YES!!!

This is the ONLY way we make it now!! Why??

Because there is NO draining required! Just add your liquid and noodles, cook to soften, add butter and the cheese packet and it’s ready to serve! I have instructions if you want to add hot dogs inside too.

BEST Ninja Foodi Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Out There!! (8)

What to serve with your baked macaroni and cheese recipe or air fryer mac and cheese;

  1. Pressure cooker broccoli takes just 1 minute!
  2. Make a whole chicken in your machine beforehand!
  3. A few air fryer chicken nuggets are always a favorite pair.

Ninja Foodi crack chicken is amazing and creamy with a block of cream cheese into the mix. Other one pot meals you should try:

Our cheesy Ninja Foodi spaghetti recipe gets five stars from everyone who tries it.

BEST Ninja Foodi Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Out There!! (9)

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Want to see a few of my favorite things that I am totally obsessed with?? Take a peek and see how many you might already have…twinsies!

Looking for more easy family recipes and tips? LIKE The Typical Mom Facebook page because we share all our new creations there every single day. And follow me on Pinterest for more inspirations! 😉

***** If you LOVED this recipe give it 5 Stars below and let everyone know what you thought about it. 😉

BEST Ninja Foodi Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Out There!! (10)

BEST Ninja Foodi Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Out There!! (11)

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4.80 from 25 votes

Ninja Foodi Macaroni and Cheese

Creamy Ninja Foodi macaroni and cheese recipe that is the BEST pressure cooker mac and cheese you'll ever make in under 15 minutes flat! Cheesy perfection.

Course Entree, Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword homemade, macaroni and cheese, ninja foodi, pressure cooker

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 7 minutes minutes

Servings 5

Calories 799kcal

Author The Typical Mom

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 c elbow macaroni small size is what we use
  • 2 c chicken broth
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 3 c cheese I use 2 1/3 c. sharp cheddar, 1/3 c. parmesan, and 1/3 c. Mexican cheese blend
  • 1 1/4 c heavy cream
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp garlic salt
  • 1 pinch pepper you can add more, I just like a small pinch

Instructions

  • Add your chicken broth, 1 cup of your heavy whipping cream and elbow macaroni into your pot, stir.

  • Close your pressure cooker lid & steam valve. Set to high for 3 minutes. Allow to naturally release pressure for 1 minute 30 seconds, then release rest of steam.

  • Lift lid and stir in 3 tbsp of butter, allow this to melt. Then sprinkle in 2 c. of your cheese and stir until melted. Add remaining 1/4 c of whipping cream. Season with a pinch of pepper, salt and garlic salt, stir. Can serve now or follow next steps to melt more cheese on the top.

  • Sprinkle 1 c. of cheese on top of cooked mac and cheese. I use 1/3 c. of each: sharp cheddar, parmesan, and Mexican cheese blend. Can add diced green onions at this time if desired.

  • Close air crisp lid, push air crisp button at 400 degrees for 5 minutes. Check, add additional minutes if desired (to crisp up further).

Video

Nutrition Facts

Ninja Foodi Macaroni and Cheese

Amount Per Serving

Calories 799Calories from Fat 468

% Daily Value*

Fat 52g80%

Saturated Fat 33g206%

Cholesterol 171mg57%

Sodium 746mg32%

Potassium 267mg8%

Carbohydrates 55g18%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 27g54%

Vitamin A 1765IU35%

Vitamin C 0.3mg0%

Calcium 547mg55%

Iron 1.4mg8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

BEST Ninja Foodi Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Out There!! (12)
BEST Ninja Foodi Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Out There!! (2024)

FAQs

How does Gordon Ramsay make the best mac and cheese? ›

Gordon Ramsay's mac and cheese is a simplified recipe. Just boil pasta in milk and then, add butter, cheese, salt, and pepper to it. Merge all the elements and Gordon Ramsay's mac and cheese will be ready in no time.

What to add to macaroni and cheese to make it taste better? ›

8 Ways to Elevate Your Macaroni and Cheese Dinners
  1. Add extra cheese to your dish.
  2. Mix in some hot sauce and chicken to make buffalo chicken mac n' cheese.
  3. Add in vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and spinach.
  4. Sprinkle some bacon bits or breadcrumbs on the top of your dish.
  5. Add spices and fresh herbs to your dish.
May 21, 2022

What's the most popular type of cheese used in macaroni and cheese packages? ›

But there is one go-to that you'll almost always see. An overview of Food Network's mac and cheese roundup reveals that most recipes have one type of cheese in common: sharp Cheddar.

What is the best pasta style for mac and cheese? ›

Best pasta for Mac and Cheese? Macaroni, also known as elbow pasta. But really, any short pasta will work just fine – penne, ziti, twirls etc.

What makes mac and cheese taste so good? ›

Great mac n' cheese needs one or more cheeses that melt well, and one or more cheeses that bring the flavor. The best melters include monterey jack, fontina, baby swiss, asiago, provolone, mozzarella, and alpine-style. Cheeses for flavor: cheddar, havarti, smoked gouda, gorgonzola, feta and any other of your favorites.

Why does my homemade mac and cheese taste bland? ›

Try adding a little more salt first, because that might fix it. If the problem was the cheese you use doesn't have much flavor, then try adding some other flavors, such has mustard or hot sauce. The next time you make it, try to find some more strongly flavor cheese, or adding more cheese.

What keeps mac and cheese moist? ›

Add more cheese

That final layer of cheese on top isn't just for looks; it also helps keep the saucy noodles underneath from drying out during baking. Breadcrumbs also help insulate the noodles, acting as a protective layer while baking that also happens to add a nice little crunch.

Why does my mac and cheese not taste good? ›

Not salting the pasta water

And great pasta begins with water that's been heavily salted. We're talking ocean water levels of salt. Not adding salt to your water leads to bland, tasteless noodles. This, in turn, leads to a finished product that is flavorless even after adding the cheese sauce.

What kind of milk is best for mac and cheese? ›

Milk: Keeps our cheese sauce super creamy. I use whole milk or reduced-fat milk. Mustard and spices: A combination of Dijon mustard, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt makes this macaroni and cheese extra delicious. Cheese: I use white cheddar and parmesan or pecorino cheese.

What cheese melts the best for mac and cheese? ›

  • Monterey Jack is perhaps the ultimate melting cheese.
  • Fontina is a crowd-pleasing melter that was born to pair with pasta.
  • Baby swiss has a natural creaminess that is perfect for mac & cheese.
  • Mozzarella is the classic melter pairs well with any pasta.

Which president made macaroni and cheese? ›

You can thank Thomas Jefferson for the mac and cheese on your Thanksgiving table. The story of how macaroni and cheese came to America, and has now become the most popular Thanksgiving side dish in Virginia, tells a story of America.

How does Gordon Ramsay make mac and cheese? ›

Preparation
  1. In a large pot over medium heat, combine the pasta and milk. ...
  2. Once the pasta is cooked, remove the pan from the heat and add the butter, cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper. ...
  3. Divide between serving bowls and top with the bread crumbs.
  4. Enjoy!
  5. All your favorite recipes, stored in one place.
May 4, 2023

What is the difference between mac and cheese and macaroni and cheese? ›

Macaroni and cheese (also known as mac and cheese in Canada and the United States and macaroni cheese in the United Kingdom) is a dish of macaroni and a cheese sauce, most commonly cheddar sauce. Its origins trace back to cheese and pasta casseroles dating to the 14th century in Italy and medieval England.

What are the ingredients in Gordon Food Service mac and cheese? ›

COOKED ENRICHED MACARONI PRODUCT (WATER, SEMOLINA [MILLED WHEAT, NIACIN, FERROUS SULFATE, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID]), WATER, CHEDDAR CLUB CHEESE (CHEDDAR CHEESE [CULTURED PASTEURIZED MILK, SALT, ENZYMES], WATER, SALT, ANNATTO [COLOR]), CHEDDAR CHEESE (PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES ...

What is the best cheese according to chefs? ›

A Cheese Expert's Guide to 10 Essential Cheeses to Know and Love
  • Brie de Meaux-Style Brie.
  • Pyrénées Sheep.
  • Comté
  • Clothbound Cheddar.
  • Aged (Goat) Gouda.
  • Bleu d'Auvergne AOC/PDO.
  • Époisses de Bourgogne PDO.
  • Le Chevrot.

What does Gordon Ramsay cook best? ›

Gordon Ramsay's best recipes include Beef Wellington, Coq au Vin, Beef Stroganoff, Chicken Piccata, Rack of Lamb, Baked Salmon with Lemon and Dill, Shrimp Scampi, Beef and Guinness Stew, Spaghetti Carbonara, and Beef Burgundy.

Who eats the most mac and cheese in the world? ›

Sure, Americans love their mac and cheese. But not as much as Canadians. In fact, Canadians love macaroni and cheese, and they love it more than anyone else in the world and consume the most macaroni and cheese per capita!

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