Ninja Foodi Mac and Cheese – Classic Homemade Mac and Cheese made with pasta, a creamy cheese sauce and cheesy bread crumb topping, all baked to perfection in the Ninja Foodi.

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What’s up with this weather lately? Last weekend it was feeling like spring, this week it cooled down again and we got more snow and rain and this weekend it’s supposed to be in the low 30s and cloudy. Boooo!

So, what do you do when it’s still not quite spring but you can tell it’s just around the corner? Make A LOT of comfort food! I mean, we have to fit in as much as we can before this snow is gone completely, am I right?

Today, we’re making homemade mac and cheese in the Ninja Foodi! If you’ve never heard of the Ninja Foodi, it’s a slow cooker, pressure cooker, steamer, air fryer, dehydrator (some models) and can bake, roast and broil too. All. In. One.

The Instant Pot just came out with their Duo Crisp which is now a competitor to the Foodi, but in my opinion, the Foodi still comes out ahead.😉

Alright, let’s make some mac & cheese!

HOW TO MAKE NINJA FOODI MAC AND CHEESE

To make this mac & cheese, you’ll need:

Elbow pasta
Evaporated milk
Salt & pepper
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Water
Butter
Velveeta cheese
Heavy cream
Cheddar cheese
Breadcrumbs

Start by adding the pasta to the cooking pot.

Pour in the evaporated milk.

Add in seasonings.

And then the water and stir until mixed well.

Set the Foodi to LOW PRESSURE for 2 minutes. NATURAL RELEASE for 10 minutes and then QUICK RELEASE.

Here’s what your pasta should look like after cooking.

Add the butter, Velveeta, heavy cream and shredded cheese to the warm pasta.

Stir until everything is melted and mixed well.

In a separate bowl, combine the melted butter, bread crumbs and shredded cheese.

Spread the mixture over the top of the cheesy noodles.

Now AIR CRISP it at 375º Fahrenheit for 5-7 minutes or until the breadcrumbs begin to brown.

Ready to dig in?

WHAT OTHER CHEESES CAN BE USED IN MAC & CHEESE?

I used cheddar cheese for this recipe. If you like a bit more cheesy flavor, try a medium or sharp cheddar.

Any cheese that melts well is worth a shot! You could try mozzarella, parmesan, white cheddar, gruyere, muenster, fontina, gorgonzola or gouda.

CAN YOU FREEZE MAC & CHEESE?

Yes, you can! I just wouldn’t add the breadcrumb mixture if the mac and cheese is going straight to the freezer.

Allow the mac and cheese to cool completely, then transfer to a tightly-sealed, freezer safe container. Your mac and cheese should keep well for up to 3 months in the freezer.

HOW DO YOU REHEAT FROZEN MAC & CHEESE IN THE FOODI?

I normally allow the frozen mac and cheese to thaw first. Transfer the mac and cheese to the Foodi cooking pot, pour a 1/4 cup of milk over the mac and cheese, cover with a sheet of aluminum foil and ROAST/BAKE at 350º Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Stir halfway through cook time.

WHAT ELSE COULD I ADD TO THE MAC & CHEESE?

If you want more texture, or to add a little protein to your mac and cheese, try throwing in some chicken, ham, bacon or even broccoli!

When you are saving macaroni and cheese to have leftovers, the starches in the macaroni noodles will suck up some of the moisture in the dish. The longer your macaroni and cheese sits, the dryer it will become!

HOW DO I REHEAT LEFTOVER MAC & CHEESE?

The longer you allow your macaroni and cheese to sit in the fridge, the drier it will become. Unfortunately reheated mac and cheese will never taste as good as it does when just freshly made.

While, I love to use my Foodi for most things, when you’re reheating leftover mac and cheese, I recommend just using the microwave.

Add about two tablespoons of milk per cup of mac and cheese you’re heating up and heat in 30-second intervals, stopping and stirring occasionally.

LOOKING FOR MORE NINJA FOODI & AIR FRYER RECIPES?

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