Easy Stovetop Mac and Cheese

Easy Macaroni and Cheese made from scratch can be on the table just as quickly as the blue box Mac and cheese! Believe it….and made with just a few simple ingredients you probably already have in the kitchen. Creamy, salty, carb-y heaven is just 10 minutes away.

When school is officially back in session for most of the country and I’m already feeling the tug of the busy work/home/school schedule. I love to have an easy dinner that takes about as long as boiling a pot of pasta without resorting to prepackaged meals.

I resort to my favorites for getting homemade meals on the table that are quick, easy and only leave me with one pot to clean like this super simple Cheeseburger Macaroni recipe that’s been on repeat for years now. And this Stovetop Mac and Cheese recipe that’s on the table as fast as the Blue Box Kraft Mac and Cheese. Seriously.

And since it’s made with whole ingredients like real sharp cheddar cheese, you can actually feel good about feeding your family this classic comfort food. Nothing from a box, no powdered cheese….just a creamy, cheesy sauce that’s completely addicting in the best Mac and cheese recipe ever.

Simple Ingredients for Easy Mac and Cheese

• Pasta – While you can use different pasta shapes, any short pasta shape, like rotini or ditalini, will work best. I like to stay with the tried and true macaroni or elbow pasta. It’s what my kids expect and, since they’re picky, I try not to deviate from the traditional shape everyone loves.
• Butter – The creamy cheese sauce starts with a simple roux and salted butter is what is used in this recipe. It adds richness and depth, if you prefer to use unsalted butter be sure to season the sauce with salt to taste before adding the pasta.
• Flour – Every roux needs a thickening agent and I use all purpose flour because it’s readily available. If you’re making a gluten-free macaroni and cheese, you can substitute corn starch for the flour and gluten-free pasta, of course.
• Milk – Low-fat milk or 2% milk keeps the sauce light but still rich. You can substitute with heavy cream or whole milk for a more luxurious sauce.
• Cheese – Shredded sharp cheddar cheese gives the sauce the signature blue box flavor. Shred the cheese yourself for best results and a creamy sauce since pre shredded cheese has preservatives and anti-coagulating agents to prevent sticking. This can cause your sauce to be a little grainy. Sometimes I’ll add a little American cheese to mellow out the sharpness of the cheddar.
• Seasoning – Kosher salt and Black pepper are all you need for the perfect seasoning. You can sprinkle in a little garlic powder, onion powder, dry mustard or even a pinch of nutmeg to level up the cheese sauce.

For the full ingredient list and instructions see the recipe card below.

How to Make Homemade Mac and Cheese

This simple Mac and Cheese recipe isn’t that mystical. It’s rather simple to make in just a short time.

1. Boil a large saucepan of salted water and cook the elbow macaroni to al dente according to the package directions. Drain the pasta and reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
2. While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat and whisk in the flour, salt and pepper.
3. Stir in the milk and cook until thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.
4. Over medium-low heat, add the room temperature cheese to the milk mixture stirring until the cheese melts and then add the drained cooked pasta to the cheese sauce. Continue cooking for 2-3 minutes.
5. Grab a fork and dig in.

How easy was that?

If you find your sauce is too thick, add a splash of water (from the reserved pasta water) to the sauce and stir until the desired consistency.

What Cheese To Use

Basically, any well melting cheese would work great in this easy homemade macaroni and cheese recipe. I like to stick with a mild cheddar because it looks and tastes most like the box but it also melts incredibly well leaving you with the best creamy Mac and cheese recipe you’ll ever try.

I have used other cheeses in my Mac and cheese recipes like this Five Cheese Baked Macaroni and Cheese, it’s amazing but it’s not as quick to make plus the cheeses used are a bit more spendy than the cheddar used for this Easy Macaroni and Cheese.

If you want to level up your homemade Mac and cheese, you can stir in Monterey Jack or even gruyere cheese for a much more grown up recipe.

How Long Does It Take

This easy Mac and cheese recipe is on the table in about 10-12 minutes. If you’re looking to make the whole recipe in one pot then it will take a bit longer, which is still about 15-16 minutes.

I like to make the cheese sauce while the pasta is cooking so I can get dinner on the table in a flash but if you’re not pressed for time and can spare and extra 8 minutes, then boil the pasta in the pot first. Drain and then make the cheese sauce in the same pot. Still quick, still easy, still creamy deliciousness!

Serving Suggestions

I like to serve this Super Easy Macaroni and Cheese with a simple salad OR these Fish Nuggets. Sometimes we even like to mix in a bit of these stewed tomatoes.  I don’t know why but it totally reminds me of my childhood and so we still serve it that way now. We especially love it with this Salisbury Steak recipe!

It’s also FABULOUS in the school lunchbox (or mom’s lunchbox, for that matter!) stashed in a thermos so it stays hot until lunch. Which for my little guy is so early it’s like Brunch.

Storing Leftovers

Transfer any leftover macaroni and cheese to an airtight container then refrigerate for up to 3 days.

To reheat, simply warm in the microwave or transfer to a saucepan with 1/4 cup milk and heat until creamy.

Make Ahead Instructions

To make Macaroni and cheese in the advance, follow the directions as stated in the recipe card adding an additional 1/4 cup milk. Transfer the mixture to a baking dish, cover and refrigerator for up to 2 days.

When ready to cook, uncover and either bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until bubbling at 350˚F or heat in the microwave for 3 minutes, stirring halfway though the cooking time.

More Easy Pasta Recipes

• Cheesy Taco Pasta
• Pumpkin Pasta with Sausage and Sage // Video
• American Goulash
• Crockpot Mac and Cheese
• Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese
• Chili Mac

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