Note: you can easily double this recipe to use a whole pound of pasta!With this simple mac and cheese without flour there’s no need for that box of mac and cheese anymore. This version is just as easy and way healthier, too.
Prep Time5 minutesmins
Cook Time20 minutesmins
Total Time25 minutesmins
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: main course, main dish
Servings: 3
Calories: 363kcal
Author: Kacie Barnes, MCN, RDN, LD
Equipment
Instant Pot
Ingredients
8ouncesRegular or whole wheat elbow macaroni**Other pasta varieties (such as gluten-free pasta) or shapes might work for this recipe, but the cook time might change. Cook for the recommended 4 minutes then taste a piece of pasta to make sure it’s cooked. If the pasta is still pretty hard, put pressure back on for an additional minute and taste again.
2cupsWater
1/2tspKosher Salt
1/4cupCream Cheese (or 2 Tbsp unsalted butter)
1/4cupCanned pumpkin or butternut squash puree
1cupShredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
Add pasta, water and salt to your Instant Pot. Cover and set to manual high pressure for 4 minutes. When time is up, quick release steam. It’s okay if there is water remaining in the bottom of the pot. It will get absorbed as you stir in the remaining ingredients.
Stir in cream cheese, pumpkin puree, and cheese. Continue to stir until creamy.
Taste for seasoning and add more salt if needed. Serve right away.
Notes
I haven't tried this on the stovetop, but here's how I would make it if I were going that route:Heat a large saucepan filled halfway with water over high heat until boiling. Add elbow pasta and cook according to package directions. Drain pasta water when the macaroni is al dente. Return saucepan to stove over low heat. Add cream cheese (or melt butter), then stir in canned pumpkin and grated cheese. Whisk until sauce is smooth and creamy. Add a generous pinch of salt. Stir in the cooked macaroni until fully mixed. And then you have some delicious and easy stovetop macaroni and cheese (without flour).Nutrition facts for this recipe are calculated using regular elbow macaroni.