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Rice Cooker Mac and Cheese? Not only is it creamy and delicious, but it’s so easy and fun to make with kids!
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.
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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.
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
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.
Thanks for the reply. It was really good. I really appreciate the recipes you share. : )
No it is not supposed to cover the noodles. We tested this recipe many times and the measurements are correct. As you cook the noodles, it will par-cook in the first step and in the second step when you add the rest of the liquid, it will fully cook. How was the outcome though??
Is the water/stock supposed to cover the noodles. When I used 1 1/2 cup not all of the noodles were covered. I added more but not all of the liquid was absorbed. I had to drain it before step 2.
oh.. and mine doesn’t let me choose time. i had to set the rice cooker at 60 min which is why i think it was still cold. it worked fine doing steam first and that i could set for 20.
yum! i added frozen butternut squash in step two. i used whole wheat mini shells and 1 1/2% milk.
my rice cooker is an all in one slow cooker/rice cooker/steamer from crate and barrel. i never used the rice cooker part anymore.. just the slow cooker. so after 15 min of cooking this the pasta absorbed a lot of the broth (water and a boullion cube) but was ice cold. so i switched it to steam (taking the risk i’d be dumping a soggy mess). steamed for 20 min and it was awesome. stirred it. (knowing i was messing with a crust, but didn’t think i’d have one with steam) then switched back to rice cook. it was AWESOME.
Hi Diana, I’m not sure you can cook slow cooker recipes with a rice cooker since the slow cooker uses the high, low, and warm settings and most rice cookers are just made to make rice at their own specific setting. Is there anywhere on the box or directions that tells you what else you can make in this rice cooker besides rice? I’m very interested in finding out because if so, you can make so many other meals in a rice cooker!
I just got the Sanyo Micro-Computerized Rice Cooker & Versatile Cooker (10 Cup) and wanting to use it to cook slow cooker recipes. The Sanyo’s settings are: White Rice, Brown Rice, Quick Cooking, Sushi, Porridge & Soup, Steaming, Cake, Reheating, and Warm. Does anyone know the setting conversion when a slow cooker recipe calls for High, Low and Warm? I’m guessing White Rice for High, Porridge & Soup or Cake for Low, and Warm for Warm, but I’m not sure. I called Sanyo, but they don’t have a clue.
BTW, the rice cooker made perfect brown rice!
I put it on white rice, it was about 30 minute cooking time.
What cook setting do you put your rice cooker on for this recipe? I have the same Zojirushi machine.
I do this in the crock pot regularly – just put everything in all at once, stir well, and turn on low for 2-4 hours (depending on the size and heat of your crock pot). If you like a little crunch on it, turn it to high for about 15 minutes at the end, and you’ll get it.
I’m sure you can, but the cooking time would be much longer, probably around 2-3 hours. I think you would have to cook the pasta separately in a pot and then add it to the slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients if you want to get it done faster.
Can I make this using a slow cooker instead of a rice cooker? Don’t have a rice cooker…what are your thoughts? Would the crock pot change timing? I’ve never used my crock pot before, hence the questions. Thanks!
The puree would be really thick, I would keep the recipe as is and add 1/2 cup puree in with the cheese and milk, If you see that it is ok, continue to add the other half. Let me know how it goes!
This is amazing! I can’t wait to try this tonight. I’m going to add some broccoli puree. I wonder how much I can add without changing the consistency too much. Maybe 1 cup milk and 1 cup puree?
Thank you for this recipe! I’d love to see more similar recipes. I love cooking in my rice cooker/multi-cooker. Thanks again!
What a great use of a rice cooker – and an enticing way to make mac & cheese – I admit, I love to make it but sometimes it just takes too long!