Instant Pot Chili Mac: An easy weeknight meal or the ultimate comfort food! This hearty chili mac is made in under 30 minutes in just one pot for easy clean-up.
With so many Instant Pot favorites around here, this recipe is NO exception!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This recipe, like the Instant Pot Cajun Pasta that we love so much too, is perfect for those busy weeknights and last-minute dinner ideas because you can keep the ingredients on hand! Made with lots of cheese, elbow pasta, lean ground beef, and other pantry ingredients that you almost always have!
A one-pot meal is my favorite type of meal because it takes much less time to clean up. All you have to do is throw the instant pot in the dishwasher when you’re done!
Hearty meals like instant pot chili mac, white chicken chili, or this Frito chili pie are the ultimate comfort food for dreary days. They’re the perfect pick-me-up for the whole family. (Especially this crock pot goulash if you’re feeding the family!)
Ingredients for Instant Pot Chili Mac
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 lb lean ground beef (see more ground beef recipes for dinner)
- 1 red onion (chopped)
- 1 green bell pepper (diced)
- 1 can (15oz)kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 1 can (28oz) diced tomatoes
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 ½ cups elbow macaroni
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup chopped green onions
Similar ingredients are used in this hamburger mac and cheese recipe!
How to Make Instant Pot Chili Mac
- Press saute mode on the Instant Pot, add oil and wait 3 minutes.
- Once the oil is hot, add the ground beef and saute, during cooking, with the help of a wooden spoon, break it into small pieces. Cook the meat long enough for it to be fully brown.
- Add onion and bell pepper and cook for another 5 minutes until the onion is softened.
- Add the rest of the ingredients except ½ cup of cheddar cheese and green onions. Give it a good stir.
- Close the lid, and place the valve on sealing mode. Select high pressure and cook for 5 minutes. (Keep in mind that it will take about 20 minutes for the pressure to rise and start cooking)
- Once cooked, release the pressure immediately, open the lid, and stir.
- Serve in a hot bowl, add more cheese and green onion.
Substitutions
Here are a few substitutions for you in case you’re out of a particular ingredient or follow a certain diet…
- Impossible meat – For instant pot vegetarian mac, you can use impossible meat or another plant-based meat.
- Different noodles – If you don’t have macaroni pasta or cavatappi noodles, you can use bow-tie, rotini noodles, or penne noodles.
- Ground turkey – If you’re out of ground beef or rather use another type of meat, you can use ground turkey instead.
- Black beans – Kidney beans and/or black beans work great in this recipe so feel free to use your favorite or add half and half.
Variations
Although this recipe is hearty and delicious as is, there are a few ways you can spice it up…
- Extra cheese – Topping classic chili and instant pot chili mac with extra cheese is one of my favorite things. The cheese melts and adds this ooey gooey texture.
- Sour cream – You can also top this pressure cookie chili mac with sour cream or a dollop of greek yogurt. (unsweetened greek yogurt!)
- Spicier – Adding a little extra spice to easy recipes is never a bad idea! Top with cayenne pepper or chili flakes for extra zing.
Storage
You can store this chili mac in the fridge for up to 4 days. Leftover chili mac is just as delicious as fresh chili mac and it’s super convenient. Store in an airtight container to preserve freshness.
You can also store this pressure cooker chili mac in the freezer for up to 5 months. Make sure you use a freezer-safe container and freeze into separate servings so you can thaw single servings at a time.
Equipment
You’ll need an Instant Pot or another pressure cookie for this chili mac recipe. You can order an Instant Pot online or find one at your local Walmart or grocery store.
Expert Tips and FAQs
Goulash and chili mac are very similar in the sense they are a one-pot meal with ground beef, tomatoes, pasta, cheese, etc. but American goulash doesn’t contain beads.
Instant pot chili mac with beans is a common Midwest meal or side dish. It’s great for game day parties, neighborhood gatherings, and other laid-back events.
The burn message on your instant pot simply means that the inner pot of your instant pot has gotten too hot. You might have a small amount of burnt chili mac in the bottom of your pot but not enough to ruin the whole dish.
Related Recipes
If you’re a fan of chili, you’ll also love this classic chili recipe and this white chicken chili. I love making chili because it keeps well in the fridge and is perfect for leftovers.
Recipe
Instant Pot Chili Mac
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 red onion chopped
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 15 ounces kidney beans drained and rinsed 1 can
- 28 ounces diced tomatoes
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- salt and pepper to taste
- 4 ½ cups elbow macaroni
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup chopped green onions
Instructions
- Press saute mode on the Instant Pot, add oil and wait 3 minutes.
- Once the oil is hot, add the impossible meat or ground beef and saute, during cooking, with the help of a wooden spoon, break it into small pieces. Cook the meat long enough for it to be fully brown.
- Add onion and bell pepper and cook for another 5 minutes until the onion is softened.
- Add the rest of the ingredients except ½ cup of cheddar cheese and green onions. Give it a good stir.
- Close the lid, and place the valve on sealing mode. Select high pressure and cook for 5 minutes. (Keep in mind that it will take about 20 minutes for the pressure to rise and start cooking)
- Once cooked, release the pressure immediately, open the lid, and stir.
- Serve in a hot bowl, add more cheese and green onion.
Notes
Substitutions
Here are a few substitutions for you in case you’re out of a particular ingredient or follow a certain diet…- Impossible meat – For instant pot vegetarian mac, you can use impossible meat or another plant-based meat.
- Different noodles – If you don’t have macaroni pasta or cavatappi noodles, you can use bow-tie, rotini noodles, or penne noodles.
- Ground turkey – If you’re our of ground beef or rather use another type of meat, you can use ground turkey instead.
- Black beans – Kidney beans and/or black beans work great in this recipe so feel free to use your favorite or add half and half.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Natasha says
I could eat this every day, so delicious and very tasty. I’m so glad I tried this chili mac because I just found my new favorite!
Kristyn says
Mmm..I could eat this weekly!! It’s super hearty & packed with flavor! Macaroni & chili together makes the best combination!
Sara Welch says
This is my kind of comfort food! Easy, delicious and perfect for a busy weeknight; my whole family loved it!
Lori says
This is a great recipe but didn’t see any measurements for the spices. I did some googling and figured it out! Thank you for sharing!
Jessica says
Hi Lori! The full recipe card with ingredients and amounts is towards the bottom of the post! Sorry if it was hard to find! So glad that you liked the recipe!