One Pot Mac And Cheese | Tremendous Simple 20 Minute Traditional Recipe

August 12, 2024

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The BEST and EASIEST creamy One Pot Mac And Cheese recipe cooked on the stovetop!

Creamy, tacky and on the desk in simply 20 minutes, that is the final word consolation meals – LOVED by younger and previous alike!

Creamy one pot mac and cheese served in a bowl.

In case you are on the lookout for the best pasta recipe that the household will LOVE (fussy children included) then this one pot macaroni and cheese is for you! Al denté pasta is coated in a tacky, creamy sauce to create a dinner that’s SO comforting, and fast and straightforward!

When I’m caught for dinner inspiration, I can at all times depend on pasta for an simple household dinner. Whether or not it is my one pot creamy pesto hen pasta, 4 ingredient fettuccine carbonara, creamy tuna pasta bake or the well-known TikTok baked feta and tomato pasta, they’re all assured to be met with large smiles, and I am left with clear plates afterwards.

A spoon holding up a spoonful of mac and cheese.

Why You are Going To Love This Recipe

Simple no fuss dinner recipe – made with primary substances and needing minimal prep, cooked in a single pot, and on the desk in 20 minutes, this simple one pot mac and cheese is so fast and straightforward to make! Fills up hungry children a deal with!
Price range-friendly – made with simple to seek out finances substances, this stovetop pasta is a really economical dinner and you recognize the children will devour it!
Vegetarian – whether or not you’re a vegetarian, or simply making an attempt to eat much less meat with just a few meat-free meals, one pot mac and cheese is a superb meat-less pasta recipe.
Minimal tools – you solely want one giant pot! Much less trouble and fewer washing up wanted – which is at all times a bonus!
Household pleasant – children and adults love this tacky pasta! This recipe can be nice for feeding a big household.

What You Want

You want simply 7 primary finances pleasant substances to make this simple recipe for macaroni cheese. Chances are high you have already got them in your kitchen!

Notice: Scroll to the recipe card on the backside for the substances portions and full detailed methodology.

Milk – I like to recommend utilizing full cream milk for the creamiest mac and cheese.
Macaroni pasta – often known as elbow pasta.
Butter – including butter to at least one pot mac and cheese provides the macaroni cheese a easy, silky texture and provides to the wealthy, comforting style. I like to recommend utilizing unsalted butter to forestall your macaroni cheese from tasting too salty.
Cheddar cheese – grated. For the very best outcomes use block cheddar cheese and grate it your self. Prepared grated cheese incorporates anti-caking substances which imply it will not soften as nicely in to the sauce.
Mozzarella cheese – grated. As with the cheddar cheese, it’s best to grate the mozzarella your self moderately than purchase pre-grated mozzarella cheese.
Salt and pepper – to season.

Ingredients needed to make this recipe weighed out and placed in individual bowls.

Gear Required

All you should make this simple mac and cheese is a giant inventory pot. That is it!

Step By Step Directions

This stovetop one pot mac and cheese is SO simple to make, and is able to get pleasure from in simply 20 minutes!

Notice: Scroll to the recipe card on the backside for the substances portions and full detailed methodology.

Step 1 – Warmth The Liquid

Place the water and milk into the giant inventory pot and warmth, whereas stirring, over medium-high warmth till it involves the boil.

Scale back the warmth barely in order that the liquid is simply simmering.

Step 2 – Add The Pasta

Add the macaroni and prepare dinner, stirring each 30 seconds, in accordance with the packet directions till al denté.

Macaroni pasta cooked in warm liquid in the pot.

Step 3 – Stir By The Cheese

Take away the pot from the warmth and examine the liquid quantity (see notes beneath), including slightly extra liquid, or taking some out, if wanted.

Add the butter, grated cheddar, grated mozzarella and season with salt and pepper.

Grated cheeses and seasonings added to pasta in a pot.

Stir till the cheese has melted and coated the pasta.

Cooked mac and cheese being stirred with a wooden spoon in the pot.

Step 4 – Serve

Serve one pot mac and cheese instantly whereas the pasta is creamy and tacky.

Close up of the creamy macaroni cheese in the cooking pot.

Professional Suggestions

Liquid – once you take away the cooked pasta from the stovetop (earlier than including the cheese), there needs to be roughly ¼ – ½ cup of liquid remaining within the pot. If there’s much less, add as much as ½ cup of boiling water and stir. Alternatively, when you’ve got an excessive amount of liquid, take away the surplus till you could have simply ½ cup remaining.
Pasta – use macaroni or elbow pasta (each of that are very small). Bigger pasta won’t prepare dinner within the period of time listed and would require extra liquid.
Stirring the pasta – stir the pasta each 30 seconds to stop it from sticking to the underside of the pan.
Greens – if you wish to add in some veggies, add a handful of frozen peas or sweetcorn kernels 5 minutes earlier than the tip of cooking.
Serve instantly – the pasta continues to soak up the liquid because it sits, that means that it will not be as easy and creamy if not served instantly after making.
Serving concepts – while this mac and cheese is scrumptious by itself, for a tasty facet, attempt serving it with walnut and pear salad, pumpkin and feta salad, or broccoli and bacon salad.
Storage & freezing – one pot mac and cheese is finest eaten instantly, nevertheless, it can save you your leftovers for as much as 3 days within the fridge in an hermetic container. This recipe just isn’t appropriate for freezing.

Macaroni coated in cheese sauce in a serving bowl.

FAQs

What’s the finest pasta for one pot macaroni cheese?

Small pasta shapes like macaroni or elbow pasta are the very best to make use of on this recipe as they take much less time to prepare dinner, and do not require as a lot liquid as bigger pasta shapes would.

Why is not my selfmade mac and cheese creamy?

Ensure that to make use of full fats milk for the creamiest mac and cheese, in addition to butter which creates a silky texture and additional creamy style. Additionally, overcooking the mac and cheese can lead to it changing into slightly dry, so serve it instantly as quickly because it’s prepared for probably the most scrumptious tacky pasta!

What cheeses can I exploit in stovetop mac and cheese?

I like to make use of cheddar cheese for flavour, with some grated mozzarella for further creaminess. Nevertheless you may as well add slightly grated parmesan or Gruyere if you happen to like a extra distinctive tacky flavour.

What spices can I add to my mac and cheese?

Garlic powder, onion powder or smoked paprika are basic spices so as to add to mac and cheese, or add slightly dijon mustard or mustard powder to convey out the tacky flavour. For an added kick you may add a pinch of cayenne pepper or chilli flakes too.

Extra extra simple and scrumptious pasta recipes, take a look at these household favourites: