Macaroni And Cheese Pasta Recipe

My favorite one-pot stovetop mac and cheese recipe is easy to make in 30 minutes with just 6 main ingredients and always tastes perfectly creamy, cheesy and so comforting.

Stovetop mac and cheese recipe in their back pocket. But I have to say I’m especially partial to this one because — as someone who eagerly avoids washing extra dishes at all costs — it comes together quickly and easily in just one pot! ♡

I’ve made plenty of mac and cheese recipes over the years that cook the cheese sauce separately in an additional saucepan. But the brilliance of the one-pot method is that you get the added bonus of super-concentrated starchy pasta water to work with, since you only use about half the amount of liquid typically used to cook pasta. This does wonders with helping the shredded cheese to melt and emulsify and cling to the pasta, creating an ultra-silky, creamy, cheese sauce. And even better? It all comes together in less than 30 minutes!

Our Go To Macaroni And Cheese

We’re “plain” mac and cheese fans here in our house, usually opting to serve this pasta with some roasted veggies and a simple green salad on the side. But of course, the options for stirring any of your favorite add-ins (proteins, veggies, herbs, seasonings, sauces, etc) right into the pot of mac and cheese here are limitless. I’ve included lots of ideas and tips below, so please feel free to take this base recipe and customize it exactly to your liking. And enjoy, enjoy!

Before we get to the full mac and cheese recipe below, here are a few important notes about the ingredients you will need. 

(This recipe was updated slightly in 2022, but for those of you looking for the original ingredient amounts, they are included in the notes below the recipe.)

Mac & Cheese Pasta Salad

This mac and cheese recipe is designed to be a base recipe that you can add to and customize however you’d like, so don’t hesitate to experiment and have fun with it! For example, feel free to…

My favorite one-pot stovetop mac and cheese recipe can be ready to go in less than 30 minutes and always tastes perfectly creamy, cheesy and so comforting.

Type of pasta: The pasta shape that you use here is an important factor, since the cooking time (and thus, the amount of water soaked up) by different pasta shapes can vary dramatically. I recommend using a pasta shape that lists an approximately 8-minute cooking time on its package, such as cavatappi, which is shown in the photos above. If your pasta lists a different cooking time, just note that you may need to use more or less cooking water. (You should only have about 1/2 cup of starchy pasta water remaining in the pot, removing any extra, before mixing in the cheese.)

Stovetop Mac And Cheese

Amount of cheese: My original version of this recipe called for 4 cups of cheddar, which is delicious, but also felt like a bit heavy. After remaking this recipe multiple times over the years, I prefer making it now with 2 cups good-quality white cheddar, which still tastes plenty cheesy to me. But of course, you are welcome to use whichever amount of cheese you prefer.

Recipe edit: This recipe was updated in 2022. The original recipe called for 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons flour (sautéed together first to make a roux), combined with 3 cups water, 4 cups milk, 1 pound uncooked pasta, 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/4 teaspoon ground mustard (all simmered together until the pasta is cooked), combined with 4 cups shredded cheddar and 1/2 cup Parmesan (stirred with the pasta until melted). I omitted the roux from the updated version because I found it unnecessary to thicken the cheese sauce and subbed Dijon for ground mustard keep it stocked in their kitchens.One of our favorite weeknight meals, this easy cheesy Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese can be on the dinner table in less than 30 minutes.

This is it, y’all! The dinner that’s always a winner! Easy, cheesy, and full of flavor, we make this creamy Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese at least once a week. It never ceases to satisfy!One pot and less than 30 minutes is all it takes to have this tasty meal on the table for the whole family to enjoy…

World's Best Mac And Cheese

This homemade mac and cheese is so creamy and dreamy and makes for great leftovers! That is, if you’re lucky enough to have any! And not just our boys love this mac & cheese. Brandon and I crave it all the time, too!

I like to serve it as the main dish with a side salad or some veggies. Or I make it as a side dish to some barbecued meat. Add a little hot sauce and it’s so good.

A blend of cheddar and America cheeses makes a creamy sauce they can’t resist. That means it’s the meltiest, most flavorful macaroni and cheese recipe around.

Quick Stovetop Macaroni And Cheese Recipe

I love using the large, thick cavatappi pasta for this creamy stovetop mac and cheese recipe because that shape of noodles is easier for the boys to pick up with their forks and it holds the thick cheese sauce so well, but feel free to use your family’s favorite pasta!

With as many tasty toppings as your imagination can hold, this Mac & Cheese Board turns leftovers into a delicious DIY dinner dream. Everyone will love customizing their own bowl of creamy Mac & Cheese! What will you add to your mac?

If you make this Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese, be sure to snap a picture and share it with me or tag me on Instagram @so I can see.

Baked Macaroni And Cheese

Maegan is the author of her best-selling Beautiful Boards, Spectacular Spreads and Brilliant Bites cookbooks. She started blogging in 2012 and features hundreds of original recipes on The BakerMama. She truly enjoys sharing her easy, family-friendly recipes, creative meal ideas, food board creations, and entertaining spreads to encourage others to get in the kitchen and make something memorable for their loved ones to enjoy together. Learn MoreMy kids are big fans of mac and cheese, they’re always requesting slow cooker mac and cheese, stovetop mac and cheese and this ultra decadent baked version. In my opinion, you can never go wrong with mac and cheese!

Macaroni and cheese is a timeless recipe for a reason – it’s incredibly delicious! This baked mac and cheese is the ultimate version of this popular comfort food dish. It features hearty corkscrew pasta in a super smooth and creamy sauce, with plenty of melted cheese for good measure. It’s the best mac and cheese you’ll ever taste. Serve this side dish recipe with other comfort food classics such as slow cooker short ribs, spiral ham or roasted cornish hen.

To make this homemade mac and cheese, you will need butter, flour, water, milk, pasta, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese.

Macaroni And Cheese Recipe

Start by making a roux with butter and flour, then whisk in milk and water. Add pasta and spices to the milk and bring the mixture to a simmer. No need to drain the noodles, as they will cook in the sauce. When the noodles are tender or al dente, stir in two types of shredded cheese. The final step is to transfer your mac and cheese to a casserole dish, top it with more cheese, then bake everything to gooey and melted perfection.

Cheddar cheese is my favorite choice for macaroni and cheese. It’s flavorful, melts great and gives the mac and cheese its traditional orange color. That being said, make sure you’re using a regular mild, medium or sharp cheddar cheese and not a cheddar cheese that’s extra sharp or aged. The aged cheeses can separate when melted and you won’t get a smooth and silky sauce. I often add in small amounts of other types of cheese for extra flavor, like parmesan, jack cheese or mozzarella. For this recipe, I’ve added some mozzarella because I love the creamy flavor it adds to this dish. Feel free to experiment with other types of cheese that melt well such as fontina, gouda, pepper jack, colby jack or gruyere.

Spices are a great way to accentuate the flavor of the cheese sauce. I typically add salt, freshly ground black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and smoked paprika to my macaroni and cheese. You could also use regular paprika, mustard powder, cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper, garlic salt, or chili powder.

Chicken Spaghetti Mac And Cheese

I bake my mac and cheese uncovered. This recipe calls for a shorter baking time, which means the pasta won’t have time to get dry, and baking it uncovered produces a better crust of melted cheese over the top of the dish. If you’re planning to bake your mac and cheese for an extended period of time, I would cover it, then uncover during the last 15 minutes.

I am a purist, and I love my mac and cheese simply with the noodles and cheese sauce, sometimes with a little parsley for garnish. But there are countless ways to dress up your macaroni and cheese.