A silky, glossy cheese sauce with tender, never mushy macaroni in just 20 minutes!
This stovetop Macaroni and Cheese is a perfect classic – and it just happens to be made in one pot. Butter, flour, pasta, milk, cheese and a few seasonings is all you need to make this epic classic that’s on the table super quick!
MY GO-TO MAC AND CHEESE RECIPE
Of all the versions of Mac and Cheese I have, this Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese is the one that I use most frequently because the effort vs output is off the richter scale.
It would be easy to assume that I make this in one pot for convenience. But I swear to you, that’s not the reason why. Less washing up is a side benefit. The reason I make this in one pot is because the starch released from the pasta mixes in with the sauce and emulsifies it, creating a cheese sauce that is silkier and clings better to the pasta than making it the traditional way (i.e. cooking the sauce and pasta separately).
This isn’t just a theory of mine, it’s the proper way to make Italian pastas. The way Italians have been making it ever since the dawn of time. Every single pasta recipe on my blog is finished off by tossing the almost-cooked pasta in the sauce with a splash of pasta water. Doing this thickens the pasta sauce and it clings to every strand of pasta so you don’t end up with a pool of pasta sauce at the bottom of the bowl. I chatter on about this technique in every single pasta recipe I share. (See all my pasta recipes here!)
And by applying this same technique to Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese, the sauce comes out really luscious. Silky and glossy, and it clings to every macaroni. No gluggy sauce!!!
HOW TO MAKE MAC AND CHEESE
It starts with a traditional roux made with melted butter and flour which is the thickener for the sauce. Add seasonings, milk, cheese, then add the pasta.
And it all cooks together at the same time! Because the sauce thickens as it cooks, it needs to be stirred frequently. Not constantly, but pretty frequently. A leisurely stir every now and then, taking a sip of wine in between and flicking through a magazine.
Now that’s a nice vision of preparing dinner, isn’t it?? (Just to be clear, that’s not what it’s like for me most nights….I wish it was!!)
I thought a cooking video would be especially useful for this recipe so you can see the thickness of the sauce when you take it off the stove. If there is one tip I’d give for Mac and Cheese – any Mac and Cheese, even baked ones – it’s this: take the sauce off the stove BEFORE it’s the consistency you want. The sauce continues to thicken as you stir it and serve it. And it thickens really fast.
So take it off the stove earlier, and if it’s still too thin for your taste, pop it back on later.
I know there are many fancy schamcny Macaroni and Cheese version “out there” in this big wide world. Truffled, Lobster (yes, really!), multiple types of cheeses, loaded with cream. The list goes on and on. And I’m definitely partial to playing around with Mac and Cheese myself.
But a real classic Macaroni and Cheese is something that everyone should know. I realise I’ve completely contradicted myself here because this is a one pot version which isn’t traditional! But the end result is absolutely bang on traditional. 😉 – Nagi x
THE MAC & CHEESE COLLECTION
- This Stovetop Mac and Cheese – one pot, 20 minutes
-
Baked Mac and Cheese – huge reader favourite!
-
Shrimp Mac and Cheese – outrageously delicious!
MAC AND CHEESE RECIPE
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
1 minute cooking video tutorial. Dozer fans – don’t miss him bombing the shot at the end!
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Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- 50 g / 3 1/2 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp flour
- 2 cups milk (full fat preferred but low fat is ok)
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 250 g / 2 1/2 cups elbow macaroni , uncooked
- 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese , shredded
- 1 1/2 cups cheese (Cheddar, Colby, Gruyere) , shredded (Note 1)
- Salt and pepper
Seasonings (optional)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp mustard powder
Instructions
- Melt butter in a medium pot or large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and cook for 1 minute.
- Add about 3/4 cup of milk and mix into butter mixture - it will become a slurry pretty quickly.
- Add remaining milk and mix so the slurry mixes in. Then add water and Seasonings.
- Add macaroni and mix. Stir occasionally as it comes to heat. When you see wisps of steam as you stir, lower the heat down to medium low.
- Stir regularly as it cooks for 9 - 10 minutes (it will bubble gently), or until the sauce thickens and the macaroni is just cooked - tender but still firm. It should still be saucey at this stage and thinner than you want.
- Take it off the stove and stir the cheese in quickly. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. <- In this step, the sauce thickens and reduces considerably.
- Serve immediately!!
Recipe Notes:
* Pasta keeps cooking in the sauce after you take it off the stove. So take it off when it is still a teeny bit firm!
* The sauce thickens ALOT after you take it off the stove when you stir the cheese in and simply by stirring it. It is better to take the pot off the stove too early than too late. TROUBLESHOOTING:
* If you take the pot off too late at the sauce becomes too thick, just add a splash of milk or water. Easy fix!
* If you take it off too early, just pop it back on the stove. 3. I make my stovetop Mac and Cheese in one pot because I think it comes out better, using just the traditional ingredients. The reason is because the starch in the pasta releases into the sauce as it cooks, making it silky, glossy and it clings to the pasta. This is a technique used by Italians for all their pastas. Read more in the post! 4. My Baked Mac and Cheese is made differently, but you can bake this one too. Mix panko breadcrumbs with butter and parmesan, take the pot off the stove before it's done but enough sauce has reduced so the breadcrumbs will stay on top, then pop under grill/broiler for a few minutes. During this time the pasta will continue to cook. This recipe is very forgiving so don't stress if your timing is a bit out! 5. Nutrition per serving, assuming 5 servings. I only use a pinch of salt in this because I find the cheese is salty enough.
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
His tail gets in all sorts of trouble. It can clear a coffee table of wine glasses, brush through cheese platters. And gets caught in things like a crack in the leg of this table.
The perils of having long hair, hmm?
I really loved this, however, I did think it was a little bland at the end. I know you’ve said to add “cups” of cheese, however I prefer the weight in case I went too little? Either way the consistency and dish is really beautiful, I just added some garlic salt at the end and that made it 100% perfect.
We love this mac and cheese! Quick, easy, foolproof, delicious. I’ve made it with elbow, cavatappi, and radiatore. Made it with and without the recommended seasonings. It is delicious every time. Added bonus- leftovers reheat beautifully. We add a little butter and a splash of milk and heat in the microwave. A quick stir and the sauce is beautiful again. Thanks for such a great recipe.
Hi Nagi,
Can I use cheddar cheese powder instead?
i only have cream cheese and mozzarella at home as cheddar is hard to come by in my country.
I haven’t tried the recipe yet and I’m curious
any helpful replies will very much be appreciated 🙂
Hi Amber, unfortunately not as it will make it grainy. Is there any other tasty/gouda type cheese you can get your hands on? N x
Hi Nagi, is it dried pasta you’re using??
As I’m diabetic and can’t have pasta, do you think this would work with cauliflower and, if so, how much cauliflower?
Hi Norma, it won’t work as written sorry as all the liquid ratios and cook time will be different. N x
Nagi, Would this work with a bit of sneaky veg mixed in at the end? If so what do you think would work? (Other than mushroom please). Thanks, Sally
Hi Sally, you could add some veg here – some greens like broccoli, peas or even chopped carrots/capsicum would work! N x
I put some frozen peas and grated carrot in at the end, and it was absolutely gobbled up by my 3 kids. Thank you very much Nagi, another winner from your site!
As I can’t get anywhere onion and mustard powder… can I do it with fresh garlic, onion, and simply add a little bit of mustard? Or that’s the wrong idea?
This recipe is now may favorite for mac ‘n’ cheese! I’ve played with two other stovetop recipes (seriously, why bake?!). One was a hit and the other a gloppy mess. I was skeptical about this one-pot approach of adding uncooked pasta and water, but it seemed to make sense, and frankly, this site has never let me down (though I’m still having trouble with my Pad Thai). The result was a creamy delight that I topped with fresh Dungeness crab meat. As the recipe points out, the dish firms up quickly. In the future, I might let it settle just a bit before serving. But it was a hit. For cheese, I used equal parts mozz, and sharp cheddar, and then about a half part of gruyère.
Hi! You mention not to use tasty cheese (Aus) – but I thought Cheddar was a type of tasty cheese? What brand of Cheddar do you use? Thanks! Love all your recipes – you are literally the only place I go to for recipes as I have never had one not work.
Hi Nagi, i want to adjust this recipe for 2 people. it goes from 2 cups Milk to .8 cup (does that mean 3/4 cup or what exactly is .8 of a cup) same with cheese it goes from 3/4 cup to .3 cup. is that 1/3 cup?? thanks
Hi Ada, yes just use the closest – which is 3/4 milk and 1/3 cup of cheese. N x
Hi Nagi. This looks delish but I’d like to make it with sliced mushrooms. Would you recommend separately frying the mushrooms then adding them with the cheese at the end or adding them together with the pasta and letting them cook in the sauce?
Hi Priscilla, I’d cook them separate first to get them golden and reduce the water content in them and then add them with the cheese into the Mac & Cheese. N x
I did just that and it worked out really well. Was also surprised how the sauce really came out just like it does from the oven but so much quicker! Thanks for the recipe
Super easy, super nice!! Thank you
If I want to use a full pound (454g) uncooked pasta, do I need to modify ingredients, and if so, what are the increased amounts?
Hi CC – yes you will. You can click on the servings and when scaling up it will change all the ingredients for you. N x
Thanks, Nagi! I was so excited to try this, I completely overlooked the “scaling up”! I’ll let you know how it goes. Cheers! -CC
Was hesitant to try this one pot since I’m used to doing the pasta and sauce seperately. Turned out perfect thank you! And my boyfriend thanks you since he does the dishes!
Delicious recipe, super creamy sauce! I did end up using just mozzarella as I didn’t have any other cheeses at the time. Adding extra garlic helped with the flavour, and made up for just having mozza
Everything I have made from your blog has been delicious, including this Mac and cheese! This one is super simple to make and easy to clean up (only one dirty pot)!
YES! And don’t we all LOVE a one pot recipe! 🙌
Hello Nagi,
What kind of pot is that your using ? Any links where to buy it from ?
I need to take this to a tennis match. It will be chilly out – and it takes HOURS to play all the matches – so I was thinking I’d put it in a crockpot on ‘warm’. Will it overcook? Thanks!
Hi Laura, it should be ok on a “keep warm” setting 🙂
First time making macaroni cheese and this was unbelievably simple; also came out just as I had hoped for it to
I’m so glad you loved it Shiven!!
I made this recipe for supper last night. It was delicious, comforting!!!! Didn’t realize this could be done stovetop!!! Many thanks for such a wonderful recipe!!…. I have many more of your recipes I look forward to trying!!!…..