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Home » Instant Pot Mac and Cheese with Lentils

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Instant Pot Mac and Cheese with Lentils

August 1, 2018 by Samantha 12 Comments

Cheesy Mac and Cheese with Lentils! Adding lentils makes Mac and Cheese a bit more satisfying and more nutritious! A wholesome and easy Instant Pot recipe. 

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese with Lentils, close up shot in a pink bowl.

Move over regular Mac and Cheese!! We’ve got a new cat in town! My kids and I are loving this Mac and Cheese recipe with lentils. Because any way I can work those nutritionally dense lentils into my family, the happier I am.

The lentils dissolve during the cooking process and truly go undetected by all. BUT, they add huge iron and fibre values to to this dish.

With all that cheese, I think we can all do with a little extra fibre 😉

mac-and-cheese-in-two-bowls.

You might remember my love affair with lentil recipes … there’s this Moroccan Lentil Risotto (if you’ve never tried this version of cooking lentils I’d highly recommend it), this Sheet Pan Salmon, Lentils, and Asparagus (hello protein gain!), and this Indian-Spiced Lamb with Spinach Lentils, Salsa, and Yogurt (basically total yum in one single blog post).

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese with Lentils in a pink bowl.

I have a feeling this InstantPot Mac and Cheese recipe will become a staple for the upcoming back to school session.

Whether that’s in thermoses for lunches or big batch Instant Pot cooking for dinner.

More easy Instant Pot recipe ideas we love:

  • Instant Pot Hamburger Soup
  • Instant Pot Split Pea Soup
  • Best BBQ Instant Pot Pulled Pork
  • Instant Pot Yellow Dal

Would you be interested in seeing this recipe as a one pot baked dish? Or a one pot recipe? I’m thinking it would be a great meal prep recipe for those who either don’t have an Instant Pot or prefer to make mac and cheese recipes without appliances.

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese in two bowls with forks.

4.34 from 3 votes
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese with Lentils in a pink bowl.
Print
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese with Lentils
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 

EASY, delicious, cheesy and wholesome Instant Pot Mac and Cheese with Lentils.

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: easy instant pot, instant pot, instant pot recipe, mac and cheese, mac and cheese recipe
Servings: 8 servings
Author: Samantha
Ingredients
  • 1 cup red lentils, rinsed* well
  • 1 lbs (454 gr) dried macaroni noodles
  • 5 cups low sodium vegetable or chicken broth
  • 2 tbsp yellow mustard
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp salt (less if the broth used isn't low sodium)
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese, old/aged or medium
  • 1 1/2 cups (approx. 175 gr) grated mozzarella or jack cheese**
  • 1/2 cup (approx. 30 gr) parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup milk
Instructions
  1. Add lentils, noodles, broth, mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt to Instant Pot and mix briefly. Closed lid and set to sealed. 

  2. Cook at high pressure for 5 minutes. Use the manual quick release to release stem. 

  3. Add cheeses and milk, and mix until cheese is melted and smooth. 

Recipe Notes

* red lentils tend to stick together when simple rinsed under running water. Use a bowl and swish lentils around in cold water, drain and repeat until water runs clear. Around 3-5 times. 

** mozzarella cheese will result in a more "cheesy" (the cheese will have more pull) appearance than jack cheese will. The flavour is about the same however. 

Enjoy! xo

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese with Lentils Short Pin

long collage instant pot mac and cheese

 

Filed Under: Instant Pot, Pasta Tagged With: instant pot, Lentils, mac and cheese

Avatar

About Samantha

Mom of twins, a singleton, and wife to a hungry husband. The food demands that surround me, have pushed me to lead our food life more simply, nutritiously, and deliciously. It's a good day when family, friends, and food intersect.

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Comments

  1. AvatarWilhelmina Wessel says

    August 16, 2018 at 5:13 pm

    LOVE this mac and cheese!
    Reply
    • AvatarSamantha says

      August 16, 2018 at 8:02 pm

      Awesome! I'm so happy to hear that.
      Reply
  2. AvatarBrandi says

    August 16, 2018 at 6:18 pm

    I was looking for a perfect mac and cheese recipe, that all the kids will love. And its made in the instant pot? Amazing!
    Reply
    • AvatarSamantha says

      August 16, 2018 at 8:02 pm

      So good for the kiddos!
      Reply
  3. AvatarNancy says

    November 8, 2018 at 8:20 pm

    Can you use brown rice or cauliflower pasta?
    Reply
    • AvatarSamantha says

      November 9, 2018 at 9:46 am

      Possibly, although I've never tried it myself. Based on a quick Google check I'd guess brown rice pasta will take about 6-7 minutes in the IP.
      Reply
  4. AvatarAlyson Kraus says

    April 7, 2019 at 6:31 pm

    i like it but the lentils didn't breakdown. so couldn't get the kids into it...
    Reply
    • AvatarSamantha says

      April 7, 2019 at 7:56 pm

      Were (well rinsed) red lentils used? Other lentils won't breakdown like red lentils will. And the ingredients need a mix before the lid is closed so that the lentils aren't clumped together and sticking (could result in having less breakdown). I'm quite surprised they didn't for you considering I've made this dish at least 5 times with different brands of red lentils.
      Reply
  5. AvatarHeather says

    June 25, 2020 at 6:54 pm

    Hi from a fellow mom of twins and a singleton! This was just what I needed tonight. Turned out great, thank you!
    Reply
    • AvatarSamantha says

      June 28, 2020 at 6:41 pm

      Hi! So great to hear! Glad your littles enjoyed it. :)
      Reply

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Samantha

AvatarHi! Thanks for coming by! I'm a mom with 3 young daughters, a wife, and a foodie trying to keep my head above water with simple, delicious, and nutritious food. Let me know if you have any questions or comments. I'd love to hear from you! Read More…

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