Easy Stove Top Mac and Cheese

4 from 1 vote

Easy Stove Top Mac and Cheese

Talk about comfort in a bowl! This Easy Stove top Mac and Cheese Recipe is the best ever that kids and grown ups love alike. No knife needed, no need to bake, less than 10 ingredients, and ready in 15 minutes.

Prep Time5

Cook Time10

Course: Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 602kcal

Author: Vaishali

Ingredients

1 pound dry elbow pasta/macaroni 450 g
Water
3 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoon all purpose flour whole wheat works great as well
3 cups milk See notes
1 teaspoon garlic powder optional
¼ teaspoon ground mustard
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ cup cream cheese See notes
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese See notes
Salt & fresh ground black pepper to taste
Chopped parsley optional

Instructions

Right when you start thinking about making mac and cheese, set a big pot of water to boil on high heat. Salt it liberally.
Add your dried elbow macaroni to boiling water and set the timer to 8 minutes (for al-dente pasta)
Set a wide, heavy bottom pan on medium high heat. Add the butter and let it melt. Then add the flour.
Whisk the flour and butter together until the raw smell of flour goes away, about 2 minutes.
Add the milk along with garlic, nutmeg and mustard powders. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil while whisking lightly.
Once boiled, lower the heat to medium and cook for 3-5 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Keep stirring. At this point add the cheeses and turn off the heat.
Once the timer goes off, save a cup of pasta water and then drain the pasta. See notes.
Add the drained pasta to your cheese sauce, add salt and a lot of fresh cracked black pepper.
Serve hot garnished with some parsley (optional) and more cracked black pepper.

Notes

I use full fat milk but 2% milk or evaporated milk will work as well.

You can use jalapeno cream cheese for an extra kick.

Cheddar is traditional but you can use cheese of your choice.

If your sauce is too thick, you can add some pasta water to loosen it. To reheat mac and cheese that has been store in the refrigerator, add a tablespoon of milk and microwave or heat on the stove top.

Nutrition