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How to Make Macaroni and Cheese in the Ninja Foodi

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Make the best Pressure Cooker Mac and Cheese with a Mexican twist.  This dish will win the entire family over with the cheesy flavor.

I may have a household of picky eaters but there is one thing that we can all agree on, we really love cheese.  It makes every single meal even better.  Wouldn't you agree?

This can easily be made in the Ninja Foodi!

It really does not matter what I make, if I add cheese to it, suddenly it's the best meal ever.

Making Pressure Cooker Macaroni and Cheese:

We decided to make a favorite in our house but this time I whipped this up in my Ninja Foodi using the Pressure Cooker function, it works the same way for the Instant Pot too.

Either way, this turns out to be a great Instant Pot Recipe or Ninja Foodi Recipe!

The key being you will want to use a pressure cooker for this particular recipe.  The thing to note though is that you are going to add the dairy products like cheese after the pasta is cooked.

What happens if you pressure cook cheese?

It's best to wait until after the dish is fully pressure-cooked before you add in any dairy products.  This is because all the pressure can cause dairy products to separate.

When you make Pressure Cooker Mexican Mac and Cheese, we are going to add in the dairy products including the cheese after the pasta is cooked.

The pressure cooker is going to help cook the pasta, but the other products will be stirred in right after the pasta is done cooking.

What cheese should you use for Mexican Mac and Cheese?

This recipe will use 4 cups of cheese and it's best to mix it up a bit to give it a burst of flavor.  We will use 2 different types for this recipe from Old El Paso, Mexican 4-Cheese and Cheddar Cheese.

Any cheese of your choice though can be used.

A little salt and pepper with this and cilantro on top made it perfect for my family but remember it's mild.

The next one we will use is Finely Shredded Cheddar Cheddar, my personal favorite, this one is perfect for melting.  It's very creamy and gives a rich flavor and texture to this Pressure Cooker Mexican Mac and Cheese.

It's also a great one that kids will really love on a variety of recipes too.

I have a feeling your family is going to really enjoy this one!

This is a great Ninja Foodi Macaroni and Cheese Recipe!

Ingredients

  • 1 Lb Ground Beef
  • 16oz Box of Rotini Pasta or Gluten-Free Pasta
  • 4 Cups Beef Broth or Water Water
  • 14.5oz Can of Diced Tomatoes, Drained
  • 1 Can Diced Chilies
  • 2 Cups Cheddar Shredded Cheese
  • 2 Cups Mexican Shredded Cheese
  • 2 Tbsp Butter
  • 1/2 Cup Milk
  • 1/2 Cup Sour Cream
  • Toppings - Cilantro, Tomatoes, Sour Cream, Avocado, Salsa
  • Taco Seasoning (Optional - See Note)
  • Onion Powder (Optional - See Note)
  • Garlic Salt (Optional - See Note)
  • Salt/Pepper to Taste

Instructions

  1. Start by putting the pressure cooker on the saute function and brown the ground beef. (Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi)
  2. If you are using taco seasoning, add it in at this point following the package instructions. (NOTE - If you do not use seasoning, add in 1/2 tsp onion powder and 1/2 tsp garlic salt into the meat for flavoring.) It works best to use lean ground beef, so you do not have to drain it, but if you need to, drain the meat and return to the pot.
  3. Hit off on the Ninja Foodi or cancel on the Instant Pot to turn it off.
  4. Once the meat is done cooking, add in the pasta, water, tomatoes, and chilies. Make sure the pasta is fully under the water as much as possible.
  5. Secure the pressure cooker lid and set the nozzle to 'seal'.
  6. Cook on manual high pressure for 6 minutes.
  7. Quick-release the pressure, immediately after the 6 minutes, move the nozzle to vent and release the steam.
  8. Open the lid and stir in the cheese, 1 cup at a time. Add a cup, stir and then add another. (Be sure to do 1 cup at a time and stir in between)
  9. Stir in the butter, milk, and sour cream until all is mixed well.
  10. Serve in a dish topped with toppings of your choice.

Notes

It's best to either use taco seasoning to give it more spice if that's what you prefer or if not, add in 1/2 tsp onion powder and 1/2 tsp garlic salt into the meat when you are cooking it to add flavor.

Lean beef is the best option so that you do not have to drain it. The beef broth will give it more flavor as well as opposed to water.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 624 Total Fat: 37g Saturated Fat: 18g Trans Fat: 1g Unsaturated Fat: 14g Cholesterol: 118mg Sodium: 628mg Carbohydrates: 39g Fiber: 3g Sugar: 2g Protein: 34g

NINJA FOODI MACARONI AND CHEESE

How to Make Macaroni and Cheese in the Ninja Foodi

Source: https://www.mommyhatescooking.com/pressure-cooker-mexican-mac-and-cheese