This post is from contributing writer Mary Voogt of Just Take A Bite.
Sometimes I wish there was an easy button for dinner. Don’t get me wrong, I love to cook! But with three little kids, home schooling, activities and work it’s hard to squeeze it in some days. Sound familiar?
But I have a little secret I want to share with you…kids love easy meals! Really. If you take your time and prepare an elaborate feast they’ll probably turn up their noses. Keep it simple with grilled cheese and tomato soup and you’ve got a happy bunch.
Picky Eating Solved
I am very well versed in picky eating (more than I wish!…you can learn more here. Yet I’ve raised three little foodies that now jump for joy at the sight of cabbage and Brussels sprouts. They get giddy about salmon and sardines! My toddler even eats plain gelatinous broth off the spoon and cries when I take meat bones away from her because she likes to chew on them.
Yet even with their broad palates my kids love simple meals like chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese (they love this dairy free version!). I am more than happy to oblige…but in a healthy way. (My kids have never had either of these that comes from a box. And I’m guessing they wouldn’t like them if they did since my kids know what real food tastes like.)
And remember that easy button I mentioned? It does exist…it’s called the Instant Pot.
Nutritious and Delicious Recipe
This gluten free Instant Pot mac & cheese meets all of my requirements:
- quick
- easy
- kid-friendly
- gluten free
- nourishing (the most important!)
This is perfect if you’ve just been told you need a GF diet, if you have a friend or family member eating GF and you’d like to cook for them, or if you’re just curious what it’s all about!
After the Instant Pot builds pressure the mac & cheese is ready in literally five minutes. Talk about fast food! So when your kids are “starving” and need food “right now” you can actually deliver.
Get the Recipe in KID-Friendly Style!
We teach kids to cook, and we love sharing real food recipes that don’t confuse our young chefs! Print this recipe in our special Kids Cook Real Food style:
- 2 cups brown rice noodles
- ¼ cup chicken or turkey broth
- 2 cups water
- ½ cup cooked pumpkin or winter squash
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 Tbsp. butter
- 2 cups grated cheese (any variety you like, mozzarella works well for melting)
- 1 tsp. unrefined sea salt
- 1 tsp. organic cane sugar (optional - makes it taste more like boxed mac & cheese)
- Combine the noodles, broth and water in the Instant Pot. Set it to manual for 3 minutes.
- After the 3 minutes is up do a quick release of the pressure.
- Add the remaining ingredients and cook on the sautee setting until the cheese is melted, 2 - 3 minutes.
- Transfer to a serving dish and let sit for 2 - 3 minutes to thicken before serving.
Trouble Getting Healthy Food on the Table Every Day?
Enter Real Plans
Real Plans is an online meal planning software & app that is probably smarter than I am.
It works with all food restrictions to help families find the perfect meal, generate a shopping list, scale it up if needed, and you’re totally in control. Use your own fav recipes, skip a suggestion and tell Real Plans all the foods you don’t like/can’t eat, and it will still do half the work of meal planning (or more) for you.
Real Plans takes the stress out of meal planning and puts the nourishing food BACK on your table. There’s a plan for every diet type, including GAPS, Paleo, AIP, Whole30, vegetarian and more!
Kid and Mom Approved Dinner
When I first tried making mac & cheese in the Instant Pot I was worried about the texture of the noodles. We are gluten free, and I wasn’t sure how gluten free noodles would hold up. To my great delight they cooked perfectly! No mushy noodles.
Make your Instant Pot work for you!
The Instant Pot has gotten a lot of hype over the last couple years – for good reason. It really can do just about anything.
Although it can seem a bit daunting to use at first, it really becomes quite simple once you give it a try.
Use the techniques, tips and simple recipes from the Instant Pot Guidebook to get started, and before you know it, your Instant Pot will become indispensable!
But for me the best part of this kid-friendly meal is not the ease or even the taste. The best part is the nutrition factor. I’m a huge fan of making every bite count (or at least most of them…nobody is perfect). So I was thrilled to be able to add both broth and vegetables to our mac & cheese…without anyone noticing! My kids can’t get enough of this stuff.
Baby Steps
Are you just transitioning off a Standard American Diet? Guess what? The pumpkin makes this look just like the mac & cheese that comes from a box! Switching to this more nourishing variety is a simple baby step that your kids won’t even notice.
This gluten free Instant Pot mac & cheese works perfectly for an easy lunch (it even tastes great cold packed in a school lunch!) or for a busy week night supper.
It is also a big money saver using simple staple ingredients and no meat (check out this post if you’re looking for more ways to cut back on meat).
The next time your kids are begging for a quick, delicious meal whip up a nutritious batch of macaroni and cheese. And let the Instant Pot do all the work!
M. says
We are blessed in that there are no food allergies, only dislikes. The one meal that seems to please everyone and is easy to prepare is lentils (from dry lentils) and pasta. To the lentils, aside from seasoning vegetables, we add verrrrry finely minced celery, carrots chunks or “coins”, and sometimes tomato paste. With a side of steamed vegetables, we’re ready to go in about 45 minutes or so.
Hélène says
Sounds great, hope youre soaking your lentils first. I will combine this with soaked brown rice too, to serve a complete protein. Worcestershire sauce actually tastes good in this too. A topping of cheese adds some extra nutrition too, if youve got it on hand 🙂
M. says
Yes, thank you, I soak all beans. Then the water is used on plants! Brown rice and Worcestershire sauce sound tasty. We do usually have cheese on hand. You just may have suggested a new family favorite. Thank you, Hélène!
Patti says
Instant Pot and gluten free – love it! I’m going to try it for both mt little celiac princess and her non-problem brother (who hates vegetables other than broccoli and cauliflower). Thanks! And a lentil recipe courtesy of the prior comment – both kids love lentils (as long as they don’t see them cooking.
Lindsey says
This sounds like a great recipe for kids. Just curious why you don’t do all broth to cook the pasta?
Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer) says
You can try it, Lindsey. But I find things like noodles and rice cook differently in all broth. It doesn’t absorb the same. So I like to do a combination. You can play with the ratios to see what you like best!
Kelsey says
Can this be made without an Instant Pot? I love the idea of how easy it is since my macaroni and cheese recipe requires a roux.
Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer) says
Yes, Kelsey! Just cook the noodles on the stove like usual. Drain and add the remaining ingredients. Simmer a few minutes until it’s thick. I do it all the time.
Nicole | The Professional Mom Project says
Love that you use pumpkin/squash for an extra burst of vitamins and fiber. I’ll have to give this a try.
Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer) says
I hope you like it, Nicole!
Savannah says
Mmmmm, I’ve never thought of adding pumpkin to help with the texture of mac and cheese! This is definitely a treat meal in our house, but I can’t wait to hit the store for all the ingredients. Thanks for sharing!! <3
Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer) says
I hope your family enjoys it, Savannah!!
Freya says
Wow! Pumpkin/squash? 🙂 That’s genius. Will try this for my picky eater son tomorrow. Hope he’ll like it. Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe.
Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer) says
Let us know how it goes, Freya!
Laura Snell says
What a great idea to make mac n cheese with broth and veggies! My kids loved it, and so did I. It’s going on my list to make again someday (soon).
Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer) says
So glad you liked it, Laura!!
Megan says
This was perfect! I used mashed sweet potato in the same quantity because that’s what I had on hand and it’s delicious. My 2yo daughter is gobbling it up as we speak. Thank you!