Macaroni cheese is one of the best comfort foods you can make, and with the Ninja Speedi it’s quicker and easier than ever. Everything cooks in one pot, and you still get that delicious golden topping thanks to the Air Fry function.
This Speedi version is perfect for a midweek dinner — creamy, cheesy pasta finished off with a buttery, crunchy breadcrumb topping.
What You Need
Note: Scroll to the bottom of this post to find the full recipe card you can print or save.
Other macaroni cheese recipes can be adapted for the Ninja Speedi, I used the macaroni cheese recipe that came with the Ninja Foodi 15 in 1.
Macaroni
I used 300g dried macaroni for four portions. You can swap for other short pasta shapes if you prefer, but timings may vary slightly.
Water
You’ll need 750ml of water to cook the pasta in.
Cream
Double cream makes the sauce extra rich, but you can use single cream or swap for crème fraîche for a lighter version.
Seasonings
I added garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder, salt, and pepper. Feel free to adjust to your taste.
Cheese
Mature Cheddar gives the best flavour and creaminess. I used 200g, but you can mix in mozzarella or Red Leicester for variety.
Topping
A simple mix of panko breadcrumbs, melted butter, Parmesan, and a pinch of paprika gives the mac and cheese that classic golden crust.
Making Macaroni Cheese in the Ninja Speedi
The great thing about this recipe is it all comes together in the Speedi without the need for extra pans. Here’s how I made it:
First, I added the pasta, water, cream, and seasonings straight into the bottom of the pot. It’s important to stir so all the pasta is submerged.
Next, I closed the lid, flipped the SmartSwitch up to Rapid Cooker, and chose the Speedi Meals function. I set it to 200°C for 12 minutes. The machine steams for about 7 minutes before the timer counts down.
When the cycle was finished, I stirred in the grated Cheddar until it melted into a creamy sauce. If the pasta feels a little firm, you can use the Sear/Sauté function with the lid open for a minute or two until it’s tender.
While the pasta was cooking, I mixed the breadcrumbs with melted butter, Parmesan, and paprika. I sprinkled this over the top of the mac and cheese in the pot, then switched the Speedi to Air Fry mode at 200°C for about 5 minutes, just until the topping was golden.
The result? A rich and cheesy pasta with a perfectly crisp topping, all cooked in one pot.
Variations
Extra Creamy: Use 250ml cream and 250g cheese.
Light Version: Swap the cream for 120ml full-fat crème fraîche plus 50ml extra water, and reduce the cheese slightly.
Three Cheese: Mix Cheddar with mozzarella and Red Leicester.
Bacon Mac: Place bacon pieces on the Cook & Crisp tray in the top position during the pasta cook cycle, then stir them into the sauce before topping.
Ninja Speedi Macaroni Cheese with Crispy Topping
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Equipment
Ingredients
Bottom of Pot
- 300 g dried macaroni uncooked
- 750 ml cold water
- 200 ml double cream or single cream for lighter version
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp mustard powder or 1 tsp Dijon mustard
Cheese (to stir in after cooking)
- 200 g mature Cheddar cheese grated
Topping
- 100 g panko breadcrumbs
- 50 g butter melted
- 20 g grated Parmesan cheese
- Pinch of paprika optional
Instructions
- Place the macaroni, water, cream, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and mustard into the bottom of the Ninja Speedi pot. Stir well so the pasta is submerged.
- Close the lid, flip the SmartSwitch up to Rapid Cooker. Select Speedi Meals, set temperature to 200 °C, time to 12 minutes. Press START/STOP. The unit will steam for about 7 minutes before cooking.
- When cooking is complete, stir in the Cheddar until smooth and creamy. If pasta is still too firm, switch to Sear/Sauté with the lid open for 1–2 minutes, stirring until tender.
- Mix the panko, melted butter, Parmesan, and paprika in a small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over the mac and cheese in the pot.
- Flip the SmartSwitch down to Air Fry/Hob, select Air Fry, and cook at 200 °C for 4–6 minutes, until the topping is golden brown.
- Spoon into bowls and serve immediately.
Video
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an estimate.