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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.
I made this successfully about a year ago, but my then 1-year old did not like cheese (shocking!). Now he’s starting to like it, so I thought I’d try it again. I used large bowtie pasta and 1% milk and it turned out soupy and the cheese was not creamy. What did I do wrong?!
[…] always wanted to find a good recipe for homemade Mac ‘n’ Cheese. I made this one and loved it, but it didn’t work well with gluten-free noodles. They turned to mush. […]
I made this last night in my 3 cup Zojirushi (NS-LAC05). Followed the instructions exactly except I used a combination of medium and extra sharp cheddar and guyere cheese. I also used a “quick cooking” setting on the rice cooker. It turned out great! Will be definitely making it again.
Could you cook this the same way without the rice cooker?
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The chicken stock and the milk replace the water and the pasta gets cooked in that!
I’m sorry for my ignorance, but there is no water in the recipe. How exactly are we cooking the pasta?
[…] is nothing outrageous). My usual meal rotation was getting boring too. I’ve already made Rice Cooker Mac-n-Cheese, Chicken Tacquitos with Avocado Lime Sauce, and Banana Bread Cake. For the most part they have […]
Yes!
is the cheese shredded?
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[…] putting it in the oven, throw it in the rice cooker and don’t give it a second thought. This quick recipe will help you worry about more pressing food […]
[…] putting it in the oven, throw it in the rice cooker and don’t give it a second thought. This quick recipe will help you worry about more pressing food […]
[…] putting it in the oven, throw it in the rice cooker and don’t give it a second thought. This quick recipe will help you worry about more pressing food […]
I’m not a Mac and Cheese fan but my daughters and current wife is. (Ex is too). But they love this recipe.
I have the same rice cooker and wanted to know if u use the quick function or which function on the menu to cook this? As they have multiple function to choose from for different rice
Thank u