Easy Stovetop Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow noodles
- 1/2 cup salted butter
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 3 cups milk
whole, 2%, or 1%
- 8 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Directions
- 1
Fill a large saucepan with water, and bring to a boil. Stir in the macaroni; cook until al dente. Drain well.
- 2
Meanwhile in another large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour, salt, pepper, onion powder, and mustard powder and cook 1-2 minutes.
- 3
Pour in milk and whisk until smooth. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, for 3-5 minutes until the sauce starts to thicken. Turn off the heat and whisk in cheese until melted.
- 4
Pour cooked pasta into the cheese sauce and stir well to combine. Serve hot.
Easy Stovetop Mac and Cheese
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About this Recipe
Craving that ultimate comfort food, homemade mac and cheese, but short on time? This Easy Stovetop Mac and Cheese recipe lets you skip the box and enjoy the real deal, delivering rich, creamy goodness in just 15 minutes.
The genius of this recipe lies in its efficient, one-pot-sauce approach, allowing you to build a luxuriously rich and velvety cheese sauce directly on your stovetop. It combines simple pantry staples – butter, flour, milk, and sharp cheddar – with the subtle yet impactful additions of onion powder and ground mustard. These spices don't overpower but instead deepen the savory notes, creating a complex flavor profile that elevates the classic mac and cheese experience. The result is a genuinely homemade dish that’s both quick and incredibly satisfying.
Get ready for a truly indulgent and deeply comforting meal. You'll find perfectly cooked elbow noodles, tender yet with a slight chew, enrobed in a smooth, luscious cheese sauce. The sauce, made with robust sharp cheddar cheese, offers that quintessential tangy and savory flavor you crave. Each spoonful is rich, creamy, and wonderfully cheesy, with a hint of warmth from the carefully selected spices. This is the kind of heartwarming dish that promises to please both kids and adults, making weeknight dinners feel special and effortless. It’s an easy win for any home cook looking for maximum flavor with minimal effort.
This recipe offers a fantastic base for personal touches. While sharp cheddar provides that signature flavor, you can certainly blend in other great melting cheeses like Gruyere, Colby, or Monterey Jack to fine-tune the cheesiness to your preference. For the ultimate decadent sauce, whole milk is your best friend, but 2% or even 1% milk will still yield a wonderfully creamy result, just slightly lighter. Don't be afraid to adjust the level of salt and white pepper to taste, ensuring every bite is perfectly seasoned for your palate.
Serve this classic Easy Stovetop Mac and Cheese as the star of a comforting weeknight meal or a beloved side dish at your next potluck. It’s the quintessential comfort food, pairing beautifully with anything from simple grilled chicken to a crisp green salad, ensuring a truly enjoyable dining experience.