Rice Cooker Mac and Cheese? Not only is it creamy and delicious, but it’s so easy and fun to make with kids!

Rice Cooker Mac and Cheese recipe from weelicious.comPin

I don’t know many kids who don’t like macaroni and cheese. Come on, cheese and pasta, what’s not to like?

I love making my own mac and cheese, but even for someone like me who wants to make everything homemade, it’s not always easy. Between cooking the pasta, making the sauce and then baking it, the process can take time that many mothers (including myself), just don’t have! But as time consuming as the homemade kind can be, I just can’t break down and buy the powdered cheese, boxed version, no matter how easy it may be to prepare.

Rice Cooker Mac and Cheese recipe from weelicious.comPin

If you have a rice cooker (and I hope you do because it is one of the great kitchen time savers), this recipe is going to change you and your kid’s world! All you have to do is put all of the ingredients into the rice cooker and let it do all the work for you.

The best part is that you can tailor this recipe to your child’s favorite tastes and flavors. For example, if you want to give it some added nutrition, just add an array of veggies. This is also a great way to involve your kids in cooking since they can have fun placing all of the ingredients in the cooker.

Rice Cooker Mac and Cheese recipe from weelicious.comPin

Now, what are you going to do with all of that time you just saved being a kitchen hero to your kids?

P.S. Click here for the Rice Cooker I love by Zojirushi!!

Photos by Matt Armendariz

Rice Cooker Mac and Cheese

Rice Cooker Mac and Cheese? Not only is it creamy and delicious, but it's so easy and fun to make with kids!
4.08 from 14 votes
Course: Lunch, Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients  

  • 2 cups pasta (I used macaroni, but you could also use rotini, faralle or bite size pasta)
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken stock (I use low sodium stock)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese ( I use a 3 cheese blend of cheddar, mozzarella and monterey jack)

Instructions 

  • Place the first 3 ingredients in the rice cooker and cook for 15 minutes.
  • Open the lid, add the milk and cheese, stir to combine, close the lid and cook for an additional 20 minutes (25 minutes if you want it to have a crust on the bottom).
  • *Rice cookers can cook at different heats, so make sure to check the mac & cheese after if cooks for 30 minutes once or twice.
  • Serve.

Notes

  • * Option: You can also add a cup of finely chopped broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, butternut squash or frozen peas. Do so in step #2.

Nutrition

Calories: 260kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 670mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g
Did you make this recipe?Mention @Weelicious or tag #weelicious!

About the Author

Catherine is a mama of three. A Kentucky girl living in California. Here’s what I know: all kids can be great eaters and mealtime must be easy. I create simple, healthy recipes the whole family will love.

Comments

  1. We have this regularly, and I usually add two rather than one cup of vegetables. There i enough sauce for two cups, so it works out well. Frozen green beans are our favourite, and I add them in at the very end (3-5 minutes to go), so they are not mushy. Great recipe!

  2. We have this regularly, and I usually add two rather than one cup of vegetables. There i enough sauce for two cups, so it works out well. Frozen green beans are our favourite, and I add them in at the very end (3-5 minutes to go), so they are not mushy. Great recipe!

  3. So fun that you’re cooking together! I haven’t used an Instant Pot yet, but I know it has a rice cooker setting, so that may work. Let me know if you try that and how it comes out!

  4. I love this recipe. My son loves helping to cook it! However, my rice cooker just died and I am thinking of getting an Instant Pot to replace it. Any ideas on if it will work in there and if I need to change anything?

  5. Made this twice now and it comes out great! So easy and the kids love it… Me too! I have a very basic rice cooker so I just keep an eye on it after adding the milk then when it looks done, I turn it off and stir the cheese. Thank you for the great recipe!

  6. The pasta will not be cooked through yet, and there will still be liquid in the rice cooker. In Step 2 you will continue cooking the past an additional 25-30 minutes, until the pasta cooks through.

  7. what should the pasta look like when step 2 happens? should all the stock be cooked away and the pasta cooked? or should there still be a fair amount of liquid and hard pasta?

4.08 from 14 votes (14 ratings without comment)

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