Super easy and creamy Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese. A no fail mac and cheese recipe that is ready in no time, it makes the perfect weeknight dinner idea.
Why is it that I am so ashamed to order macaroni and cheese at a restaurant? Is it because it is almost always exclusively on the kid’s menu? Or maybe I am worried that the people that I am eating with will judge me so hard. I mean, how sophisticated is this “food blogger’s” palate if they are ordering mac and cheese?
So I have been reduced to only ordering mac and cheese when I am eating with John who judges NO ONE, and at home.
No one can judge my for eating homemade mac and cheese, right?
By homemade, I mean made from scratch. No Kraft Dinner for this girl. I ditched those boxes of pasta and powdered cheese years ago. My go to has always been my baked macaroni and cheese which, even though it uses CRAZY amounts of cheese, I wouldn’t change the recipe for the world.
But when I don’t want to wash up 5 different pots and pans and I have less time on my hands, I will make this Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese version.
Made with a lot less cheese, but still so good.
The cheese sauce is really the star of this recipe. It is so creamy, I seriously could eat it all with a spoon.
Even though I make this mac and cheese countless times a month, when I was making it for this photo shoot, I totally screwed up the order in which I add the ingredients to the cheese sauce. I added everything to the saucepan at once, causing the cheese to curdle and the milk to separate. I was going to take a fail photo of it, because it looked like a disaster!
But one of the best things about this recipe is that it is seriously no fail. I thought I would need to throw the whole thing out after that disaster, but I continued to cook the cheese sauce on low, stirring constantly. Eventually, the cheese melted, the milk mixed in fully, and the sauce came together into a thick and creamy mixture.
After making this homemade Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese, I can’t imagine you would want to go back to the box mixes. This one is only made with 6 ingredients, and ready on your table in under 30 minutes.
Let’s take mac and cheese off of the kids menu and onto our dinner plates. If you sprinkle paprika on top, it makes it fancy enough for the adults table, right?
If you make this Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese recipe, let me know how you liked it! Rate it, leave a comment and tag me with #atasteofmadness on Instagram! I always love seeing what you are creating!
Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 cup elbow pasta
- 3 Tbsp salted butter
- 3 Tbsp all purpose flour
- 1 1/4 cup milk
- 1 1/2 cup cheddar cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
- paprika (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain.
- Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, melt the butter on medium heat. Whisk in the flour. Add in the milk and cheese and cook until thickened. (If you need to thicken it further, add more flour or some cornstarch). Season with salt and pepper.
- Pour the cheese sauce over the cooked pasta and mix well. Serve in bowls with a sprinkle of paprika, if desired.
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Food of the Gods! Love Mac and cheese and for speed I tend to make it on the stove top. I order mac and cheese all the time at restaurants I just can’t resist it, so good!
Ok good! I’m glad I’m not the only one 🙂
Oh man there’s nothing like mac and cheese, This is total comfort food!
Agree!! Thanks Mary
Talk about easy! Your stovetop macaroni and cheese looks awesome! It’s exactly what I want in a mac and cheese, creamy and scrumptious!
That is exactly what I aim for too! Thanks Elaine!
Your mac n’ cheese looks PERFECT! So creamy <3 I love how simple this recipe is…homemade is always better!
Thanks so much Tammy!! I can never go back to the box 😉
Now that is really easy. I love stovetop macaroni and cheese. My kids favorite!! They need to have this at least once in a few weeks. Saving this for later. Sounds yum.
It’s so good, and always a hit with kids!
This is classic. Love how creamy and delicious mac and cheese looks. Absolutely delicious!
Thanks!! I am addicted to making this for dinner!
Only 6 ingredients and 30 minutes? I. AM. IN!! This looks like such a better version of a childhood favorite. And great that it uses less dishes than a lot of other recipes. Looks perfectly cheesy and delicious.
Right?? I am all for the less dishes. Hope you try this Ashley 🙂
Pasta? Cheese? How can you possibly go wrong? I judge no-one in their food preference! Now in an adult version I may add diced jalapeños to it and we love smoked paprika. Then to go to the gourmet level and some crunched up taco or potato chips on top. Voilà! You have gourmet mac and cheese. My mouth is watering.
Yes!! That sounds like amazing add ins!! My mouth is watering too!
I love mac and cheese and and would eat it almost every night if it didn’t take so long to cook I’m very excited to try your stove top version so that I can have it more often!
YES!! I make this all the time! 🙂
Nothing beats a big pot of homemade mac and cheese! I agree, oven baked is good, but when you need a quicker option, stove top is definitely a great option.
It is always my go-to when I want it to be quick, or it’s the summer and it is TOO HOT!!
Oh god, I love mac and cheese SO MUCH. It’s one of the meals I’ve tried to give up as part of my “wedding diet” but screw it – I’m making this tonight lol!
Haha, I do not have a wedding diet at ALL!! In fact, all I have been eating these past few days is cake and burgers :p But yesss! Do it girl 😉
I’m obsessed with mac & cheese, and always do a milk sauce for my baked mac & cheese…but I’ve never thought to add milk to the stovetop version. What a great idea, and I must try that out
I hope you do. It is so good!
I’ll take mac and cheese just about any way I can get it. This recipe looks easy to make and super tasty. I love that you use flour to make a roux instead of adding processed cheese. Can’t wait to try this!
It is actually pretty hard to find processed cheese where I live! Thanks Kim 🙂
Homemade mac n cheese is like the best food EVER! But I hear you about the feeling guilty at the restaurant….I feel the same! Your recipe sounds divine!! Looking forward to trying it!!
isn’t it??? Thanks Amanda 🙂