Make Mac and Cheese in a Rice Cooker?!

As a college student I LOVE my rice cooker like I love forever 21 sales and take home tests. I have been meaning to try making mac and cheese in it for a while, but hadn't gotten around to it till today. Lazy Sundays when I should be starting hw are the perfect times to scour the interwebz for super simple recipes. I found this one and decided to try it because I kind of had all the ingredients. The original recipe is here.

Before it is cooked

It calls for:
1 can chicken broth (14 oz)(~2 cups)
2 cups elbow macaroni (uncooked)
3/4 cup milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese


Easy peazy right?


Well in true college fashion I had to change almost ever component so I would not have to run to the store and spend money. I also had to half the recipe because I didn't have enough chicken broth.


What really happened:
Almost 1 cup of chicken broth (half frozen from a box because my fridge likes to freeze things) and the rest of the cup is water
1 cup whole wheat spiral(rotini) noodles
3/4 cup milk
1 cup shredded muenster cheese (its the only kind we have: very tasty)
sprinkle of onion powder, a bunch of cajun seasoning, pinch of salt, dash of pepper

After milk and cheese

Instrustions: Put broth (after microwaving it a bit so the large icy chunks will come out of the box) and noodles with desired seasoning into cooker and cook. Once it switches to warm, add milk and cheese and stir. Close lid and let set for about 5 min til cheese is melted. Now eat it straight out of the rice cooker!!


Tip: grate the cheese when you start the noodles to cook and leave it on the counter, it will melt faster if it is at room temperature when you pour it in. (and extra cheese is never bad)

I decided to be a bit civilized and eat it out of a bowl
mostly because there was too much milk in the cooker.

Conclusions: It did not turn out that creamy but the noodles are cooked to perfection. I still have no idea how rice cookers get it perfect every time! If I was going to try again I may try a different recipe or tamper with the liquid ratios. But over all its still very tasty. You can't go wrong with tons of cajun seasoing! or onion and garlic powder if that strikes your fancy.








Have you made anything crazy in a rice cooker? Like to live off mac and cheese? I would love to hear about your ventures into rice cooker concoctions! 

Looking to eat healthier? 

Check out my simple guide to adding protein to your diet!