Mac and Cheese with Veg is a go-to in my kitchen. What do you cook when you have too many odd ends and pieces of a variety of cheeses languishing in your fridge? Or, what do you cook when little people are visiting and you don’t know what they like to eat? No need to assuage your feelings of cheating the little darlings (or yourself!) of nutrition due to your lack of inspiration. You don’t need to resort to hot dogs and tater tots.

The solution is obvious – a mash-up. No, no – not mashed potatoes. A mash-up of mac and cheese and just about any veg you have available! Add a crunchy salad to this Mac and Cheese with Veg and you have a meal.

Print Recipe

Mac and Cheese with Veg (Instant Pot)

Ingredients

• 2 T unsalted butter
• 1 box Barilla gluten-free penne (12 ounces)
• 3 1/4 cups water
• 1/2 t salt
• 1/2 medium butternut squash
• 2 cups broccoli flowerets
• 3 cups grated cheese
• 1/2 cup half and half

Instructions

• Chop the veg – Peel the butternut squash and dice it into 1/2 inch cubes. Chop the broccoli into small pieces as well. You don't want the pieces to disappear into the cheesy sauce, but you don't want a bite of just squash or broccoli either.
• Sauté the butter and fill the Instant Pot – Add the butter to the Instant Pot on the Sauté function. Turn off the Instant Pot once the butter is melted and add the pasta, the water, the salt, the butternut squash, and the broccoli. Stir to combine.
• Pressure cook – Set the Instant Pot to cook for 7 minutes, high pressure.
• Mix in the cheese – When the cook time is done, do a quick release and turn off the Instant Pot. Add the cheese and the half-and-half, and stir to combine. Cover and let sit for three minutes to allow the cheese to melt and the sauce to thicken.

I just learned that my beloved Instant Pot is in trouble. The parent company has filed for bankruptcy and it’s unclear what the future holds. I’m definitely one of the devotees who will be very sad if the Instant Pot is no more. But in reality, I only use the pressure cooking function to make Mac and Cheese with Veg. There are other pressure cookers on the market. so even if the Instant Pot meets its demise, my Mac and Cheese with Veg recipe will live on.