5-Ingredient Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese

Prep: 5 mins

Cook: 10 mins

Difficulty: Easy

Servings: 4 Servings

This stovetop macaroni and cheese is the recipe I grew up on. It’s got a creamy sauce, perfectly chewy pasta, and plenty of cheese. Homemade baked macaroni and cheese is undeniably delicious, but this stovetop recipe is equally as delightful and requires way less work. As a kid, this always felt like a special treat, but now that I’m older I suspect that my mother liked making it because it’s an easy dinner that requires just five ingredients and almost no thought to pull together at the end of a long day.

Ingredients

1 pound dried short pasta, such as macaroni
1 1/2 cups whole or 2% milk, divided
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 to 3 cups shredded cheese, such as cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Colby
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon powdered mustard
Optional extras (cook before adding): ham, cooked bacon, onions, peas, mushrooms, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower
Large pot
Medium saucepan
Whisk
Spatula
Measuring cups and spoons
Colander or strainer
Large serving bowl
Mixing bowls

Instructions

Cook the pasta. Bring about 4 quarts of salted water to a boil over high heat in a large pot. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Depiction of the instructions in Instructions step 1
Warm the milk. Place 1 cup of the milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Meanwhile, place the remaining 1/2 cup of milk and flour in a small bowl and whisk together until there are no lumps. When you just start to see whisps of steam rising from the warming milk, whisk in the milk-and-flour mixture. Continue whisking gently until the milk thickens slightly to the consistency of heavy cream, 3 to 4 minutes.
Depiction of the instructions in Instructions step 2
Make the cheese sauce. Turn the heat to low and begin mixing handfuls of cheese into the milk. Stir in the salt and mustard. Stir until all the cheese has melted and the sauce is creamy. Taste and adjust the seasonings as desired. Remove the sauce from the heat.
Depiction of the instructions in Instructions step 3
Combine the pasta and cheese sauce. Place the pasta and 1/2 of the cheese sauce in a large serving bowl. Stir to coat the pasta evenly. Add the remaining sauce and any extra add-ins and stir to combine. If you'd like a looser sauce, add up to another 1/4 cup milk if desired. Serve the mac and cheese immediately while still warm.
Depiction of the instructions in Instructions step 4