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Copycat Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner is better for your wallet and tastes like it came from the famous blue box, but withoutthe taste of a cardboard box.
Copycat Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner
I know, I know, but there are so many people who love the boxed stuff and have asked me how to cook it in a Pressure Cooker. Well, here is your chance to make a Copycat Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner, on the Stove Top or in a Pressure Cooker, in larger portions,without the Blue box that has been sitting on a shelf for who knows how long.
While, this Copycat Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinnerstill isn’t as homemade as my Instant Pot or Pressure CookerMacaroni and Cheese, or my Pressure Cooker Creamy Mexican Macaroni and Cheese, it is stillcheaper than usingthe Blue Box. Plus, you can make a whole pound of macaroni, if you like.
At the very least, you now have the Pressure Cookermethodto make a box of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese. So, here we go……………………………………
Cast of Ingredients for Copycat Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner
If you can, get the De Cecco brand of Elbow Macaroni. It holds up much better in a Pressure Cooker and is more forgiving than most of the other brands.
Hoosier Hill Farm Big Daddy Mactastes pretty identical tothe Kraft Mac & Cheese Dinner, as the ingredients are quite similar; they did a great job with the recreation and recipe! I like the products from this company, as they are always fresh and very tasty. The Hoosier Hill Farm Cheddar Cheese Mix is what I use too.
It is great on popcorn, I mean really great! The tastes of the two options are pretty identical, but the Hoosier Hill Farm Big Daddy Macwas made to mix into pasta better.
If you don’t want the orange color, try the Hoosier Hill Farm Big Daddy Mac No Color Added Mix.
Elbow Macaroni, Water, Butter
Pour the whole box of De Cecco brand of Elbow Macaroni into the Instant Pot or Pressure Cookercooking pot and cover with fresh water, about 4 cups. Drop in the butter.
If using the Stove Top Method, cook the pasta according to package directions and drain. Mix in the then mix in the Butter and Hoosier Hill Farm Big Daddy Mac/MilkMixture (described below) and enjoy!
Add cut up Hot Dogs, if desired
If you like Hot Dogs with your Copycat Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner, add it in to the Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker, along with the dry pasta and water.
Using your Measuring Cups, whisk in the Hoosier Hill Farm Big Daddy Mac until combined. It won’t completely combine, so don’t be alarmed.
I used the Hoosier Hill Farm Cheddar Cheese Mix here, because that is what I had on hand. As I said above, the Hoosier Hill Farm Big Daddy Macwill mix in better.
Whisk the Big Daddy Mac into the milk, as best you can. Once the mixture gets stirred into the hot macaroni the powder will blend.
For a creamier taste, use half milk and half sour cream or Homemade Yogurt. The Hoosier Hill Farm Big Daddy Macwill mix in easier to the sour cream or Homemade Yogurt.
The Elbow Macaroni will clump together a bit. Ever so gently, take a Spatula and break up the Elbow Macaroni if it is stuck together (which it most likely will be).
If you want to prevent sticking, add a bit more water and butter and then dump out the excess water after cooking. If you do that, add in more butter when you add in the Milk and Big Daddy Mac.
Pour in the Milk
Dump in the milk and Hoosier Hill Farm Big Daddy Macand mix together.
Mix to combine
As you mix, the Big Daddy Mac powder will melt into the pasta. If you prefer a looser sauce, add in a little more milk.
Taste the Copycat Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner and if you feel it is missing something, add in a drop ofthe Hot Sauce (if you haven’t added it in with the water because you were unsure). See if that gives you the Blue Box taste.
Copycat Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner with Hot Dogs
Copycat Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Diner, without the cardboard box taste!
Kitchen Equipment and Essentials
- Instant Pot DUO 6 Quart
- Amco Advanced Performance 18/10 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
- Simply Gourmet (Dry) Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
- Anchor Hocking Glass (Liquid) Measuring Cups
- Rösle Stainless Steel Flat Whisk – a MUST have, probably my most used utensil
- Cilio Olivewood Spatula
- De Cecco brand of Elbow Macaroni
- Hoosier Hill Farm Big Daddy Mac
- Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Hot Sauce
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Here is the handy printable recipe:
Copycat Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Dinner
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Save Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 2 minutes minutes
Pressure Release: 5 minutes minutes
Total Time: 4 minutes minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 448kcal
Author: Jill Selkowitz
Ingredients
- 1 pound Elbow Macaroni
- 4 cups Fresh Water
- 1/2 cup Butter
- 12 oz Milk
- 1/2 cup Hoosier Farms Big Daddy Mac
Optional
- 1 teaspoon Frank's RedHot Cayenne Pepper Sauce
- 6 Hot Dogs
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
Add pasta, butter and water to Pressure Cooker cooking pot.
Lock on lid and close Pressure Valve.
Cook at High Pressure for 2 minutes.
When Beep is heard, carefully do a Quick Release.
Open lid and stir in the Big Daddy Mac/Milk mixture. Stir until combined.
Stove Top Method
Cook pasta according to package directions and then drain.
Add butter and the Big Daddy Mac/Milk mixture. Stir until combined.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Copycat Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Dinner
Amount Per Serving (0 g)
Calories 448Calories from Fat 180
% Daily Value*
Fat 20g31%
Saturated Fat 11g69%
Cholesterol 55mg18%
Sodium 474mg21%
Potassium 239mg7%
Carbohydrates 50g17%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 14g28%
Vitamin A 480IU10%
Calcium 145mg15%
Iron 1.6mg9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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Copycat Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner