Weight Watchers Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
Comfort food on Weight Watchers? Yes, you can have it when you make this Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese Recipe. It’s creamy, delicious, and indulgent! You can make tons of great recipes in the Instant Pot!
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Ever since beginning Weight Watchers, I have been on the search for a truly good macaroni and cheese recipe that would satisfy my need for comfort food without blowing all of my points for the day.
Using my Instant Pot was a bonus, for sure, and this recipe became a fast favorite. It’s done in just a few minutes and the entire family loves it.
This recipe is really easy to make and it’s great for family meals. I love when I don’t have to cook more than one meal so that everyone can get what they like but also eat something healthy!
Pair this easy dinner with some salad, roasted veggies, or even some grilled chicken breasts. It’s a simple, wholesome recipe that everyone will devour.
Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
One thing you will notice in this recipe is a specific cheese. You can easily use any low fat or low point value cheese, but I found the best flavor and creamy texture came from using Velveeta Original Cheese Slices in particular.
These are low in points per slice, and they work wonderfully to melt and provide that comforting cheesy texture you are looking for in a mac and cheese recipe.
I use the 6 quart Instant Pot. I didn’t think I was going to like using an electric pressure cooker, but now I am hooked. My poor crockpots are sitting around collecting dust. Which model do you use?
Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker and WarmerInstant Pot Mini Mitts
Instant Pot Ultra 6 Qt 10-in-1 Multi- Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Yogurt Maker, Cake Maker, Egg Cooker, Sauté, Steamer, Warmer, and Sterilizer
Ingredients for Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese
This recipe uses whole wheat pasta shells, low fat and low sodium chicken stock, fat free half and half, salt and pepper to taste, garlic powder, and margarine.
For the cheese we will be using Velveeta Original cheese slices, parmesan, and shredded fat free cheddar!
Directions for Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese
Pour pasta, half and half, and chicken stock into Instant Pot liner and stir.
Place lid on Instant Pot and set to seal. Choose manual and set to 5 minutes.
Allow to come to pressure, cook, and when complete NPR (natural pressure release) for 2 minutes.
Release remaining pressure, and set to saute.
Add in all of the cheese, margarine, garlic powder, salt, and pepper and mix well. Stir consistently until completely melted.
Turn off saute feature and taste. May add salt and pepper to taste. Serve
Weight Watchers Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
Makes 8 servings, 7 points per serving on Weight Watchers plan.
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Which WW Program are these points for?
WW has definitely changed from 2020 to now. They went from three to one plan to multiple plans and back to one plan again. So in 2023, we have just plain old “POINTS.”
- Be sure to calculate the points value of the foods and recipes you eat in the app.
- Always add ingredients and serving sizes and don’t rely on the nutrition facts in the recipe.
- Accuracy will come from the information you input on the app.
That is when you divide the batch of Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese into 8 equal servings. Since pasta shape and size differ, and you may choose to use elbow macaroni instead of shells, I don’t measure this recipe by “cup”.
Instead, I recommend measuring out 8 equal portions to get these approximate points value. As you are doing Weight Watchers, you will likely notice that most vegetables are zero points.
Since this is a slightly higher point entree than some, you can easily keep its low point by serving up a hearty side of steamed vegetables. Season with your favorite spices, and you have a completely satisfying meal that is healthy and fits into your points plan for the day easily.
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Printable Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese for Weight Watchers Recipe:
Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
Comfort food on Weight Watchers? Yes, you can have it when you make this Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese Recipe. It's creamy, delicious, and indulgent!
Ingredients
- 12 ounces whole wheat shell pasta
- 4 cups low-fat and low-sodium chicken stock
- 1 cup fat-free half and half
- 6 slices Velveeta Original cheese slices
- 1/4 cup Parmesan, grated
- 1/4 cup Fat-Free Cheddar, shredded
- 1 tablespoon margarine
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Pour pasta, half and half, and chicken stock into Instant Pot liner and stir.
- Place lid on Instant Pot and set to seal.
- Choose manual and set to 5 minutes.
- Allow to come to pressure, cook, and when complete NPR (natural pressure release) for 2 minutes. Release remaining pressure, and set to saute.
- Add in all cheeses, margarine, garlic powder, salt, and pepper and mix well. Stir consistently until completely melted.
- Turn off saute feature and taste. May add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve
Nutrition Information
Yield 8 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 298Total Fat 9gSaturated Fat 5gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 25mgSodium 810mgCarbohydrates 39gFiber 6gSugar 4gProtein 16g
As with any of our recipes, carb counts, calorie counts, WW points and nutritional information varies greatly. As a result, your nutritional content depends on which products you choose to use when cooking this dish. The auto-calculation is just an automated estimate and should NOT be used for specific dietary needs.
This post is in no way authorized or associated with the Weight Watchers Program.
What is fat free half and half and where do you get it from?
Fat free half and half is sold in the dairy section with the milk and cream. Thanks
If you don’t have a instant pot, would a slow cooker work? Thanks for reading and responding in advance(:
Yes. I would cook pasta in chicken stock. Drain and reserve 1 cup of stock. Add pasta, reserved stock, and all other ingredients to a slow cooker with a liner or sprayed with non-cook spray and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours. (keep an eye on it, depending on your crock pot) Thanks!
Made it and it was very tasty and filling. At first it was more loose than I expected but once it set for a few minutes it thickened up.
Glad it worked out and you enjoyed it.
I’ve made this twice now and it’s delicious but there a couple things that I found out. The instructions do not say to drain the pasta. If you don’t, there’s too much liquid. Also, quick release with pasta can spew pasta residue everywhere so just inlet it release on its own. Also, if you don’t have instapot liners, you need to use oil to coat the pot.
There are no servings listed so I’m assuming about 1 cup is 7 points?
I used 2% milk out of convenience and vegetable stock and it was fantastic. Thanks for the recipe. I just wanted to provide My feedback. This recipe is a keeper!
I’m making this right now, it looks really good! I’m assuming the grated Parmesan and shredded cheddar go in after the natural release, along with the Velveeta slices?
Yes. All cheese after the natural release. Thanks for pointing that out. I’ll fix it up!
Is there any kind of cheese you can use instead of the velveeta “cheese”?
You can use any cheese you like, it will just change the point count. Good luck! Thanks Michele
I made this for dinner tonight and it was fantastic! So creamy and cheesy! I love Mac and cheese but haven’t eaten much of it since being on WW because of the high point value in most recipes. This is point friendly and you don’t have to sacrifice on the taste – it’s a win win! Thank you so much for sharing!
Could I half this. Recepi cook it in mini instant pot. Would time and cooking instruction remain the same.
Hi,
Would this be ok using vegetable stock instead of chicken stock? To make it vegetarian.
Thank you
Of course vegetable stock would be just fine. Thanks for asking!
My family loves this recipe! For some reason I have two version six saved from your website, one with 3 cups chicken stock and another with 4. I haven’t tried it with just the 3 cups, will it make much a difference in the results? Thank you
Thanks for stopping by. Glad you family likes the recipe. It’s 4 cups. I think 3 is a typeo. I’ll fix that up. Thanks
I made this last night and my family loved it! Thank you for the recipe it’s so wonderful to make a nice meal that’s points friendly and family friendly. I shared this with a couple of friends doing ww freestyle with me so prepare for more happy comments ????
Thank you Tracy! I am glad your family enjoyed it. I appreciate you stopping by.
Do you think this would still be good if you used evaporated milk? Any idea on the increase/decrease in points?
Hello Amy, 1 cup fat free evaporated milk is 8 points vs 6 points in fat free half and half. So the points would most likely stay the same or may increase it to 8 points per serving. You can put all of the ingredients in the WW recipe builder to confirm. Thanks!
OMG! I almost scrolled right over this search result. Then I saw the magic words “Instant Pot” (this is me singing them) Can’t wait to try it. I am selling my other appliances, rice cooker, crook pots, etc. I am so happy with this pressure cooker, I have a t-fal stove top cooker that I was afraid to use until I got the IP. Now I use both! Thank you and how can I follow you on your Blog? (I’m new)
Thank you for your kind words Joyce! Here is the sign up to our newsletter which you will receive when we post new recipes and articles. http://madmimi.com/signups/184273/join
What is an instant pot????
HI Deborah, an Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker. Here’s the exact model I have from my Amazon sale link. http://amzn.to/2wdzpqC
We use it for everything from breakfast to dinner. It’s now my favorite kitchen appliance. My crockpots are pretty much collecting dust now.
Thanks for asking~