Easy One Pot Stove Top Mac and Cheese
Easy One Pot Stove Top Mac and Cheese is the easiest way to make homemade stove top mac and cheese, and there’s only one pot to wash!
I grew up eating homemade mac and cheese and had never had the boxed kind until I was in my early 20’s. My roommate and another friend scoffed at me when I told them I’d never had the stuff in the blue box.
I ate plenty of it from then on, because I was way too busy with extra curricular activities to cook much back then. Still, my mom’s homemade mac and cheese was way better than that boxed stuff.
I’ve made plenty of boxed mac and cheese for my kids when they were little (normally the Annie’s Home Grown brand), but homemade has always been where it’s at.
This one pot stove top mac and cheese recipe has morphed over time.
It’s not the only one pot mac and cheese I’ve got on this site, as I figure there’s always room for more. See my one pot baked mac and cheese, which was one my earliest recipes on this site.
One Pot Stove Top Mac and Cheese
This easy stove top mac and cheese recipe is a revelation. There are no powdery cheese packets with ingredients that you can’t pronounce, and your family is guaranteed to forget all about the boxed kind.
This stove top mac and cheese is creamy, rich and cheesy, and you only have one pot to wash! This truly is the best mac and cheese.
How do you make stove top mac and cheese?
Normally, homemade mac and cheese requires two pots. One pot is used to boil the macaroni, and the other is used to make the béchamel sauce.
In this one pot mac and cheese recipe, the pasta cooks in the béchamel sauce, which results in even creamier pasta.
- Start by melting the butter over medium heat in a medium to large saucepan.
- Add the flour and ground mustard to the melted butter and whisk until combined. Continue whisking until the flour smells like shortbread, about 1 minute.
- Remove the pan from heat and add half of the milk a little at a time, whisking constantly until smooth. Once smooth, add the remaining cup of milk and whisk well. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly to prevent lumps.
- Once boiling, add the pasta, water and salt to taste. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid.
- Remove from heat and stir in the cheese, and add salt and pepper to taste.
How can I add flavor to mac and cheese?
There are a number of ways to add flavor to your mac and cheese!
- Spice it up with hot sauce, chili peppers or cayenne pepper. See this spicy baked mac and cheese.
- Use cheese with more flavor, such as sharp cheddar, gruyere, or smoked mozzarella.
- Top it with crumbled bacon as I’ve done here, or add sautéed greens or cooked veggies like broccoli or peas.
- Add pumpkin or butternut squash purée! See my butternut squash mac and cheese for inspiration.
Recipe tips and substitutions
- Use whole wheat elbow pasta or shells to make this recipe whole grain.
- Make the béchamel richer by substituting part or all of the milk with half and half.
- Make this a healthy mac and cheese recipe by using low fat or skim milk, less cheese, and whole wheat pasta.
What to serve with this stove top mac and cheese:
One Pot Stove Top Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon ground mustard optional
- 2 cups milk
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 8 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Heat the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, add the flour and ground mustard and whisk until combined. Continue to whisk until the roux is bubbly and smells like shortbread, about 1 minute.
- Remove from heat and add half of the milk a little at a time, whisking constantly, until the roux forms a smooth paste. Add the remaining milk all at once and whisk until there are no lumps. Place back on the stove top and cook over medium heat. Bring to a boil and add the water and elbow macaroni, stirring occasionally to keep the pasta from sticking. Cook 8-10 minutes or until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
- Remove from heat and stir in the cheese until smooth, and add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve as-is or top with breadcrumbs or bacon if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use whole wheat elbow pasta or shells to make this recipe whole grain.
- Make the béchamel richer by substituting part or all of the milk with half and half.
- Make this a healthy mac and cheese recipe by using low fat or skim milk, less cheese, and whole wheat pasta.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
22 Comments on “Easy One Pot Stove Top Mac and Cheese”
I grew up eating a mix of the homemade kind and the boxed kind, and I have to say, I never cared for the boxed version! Homemade is definitely the one to go. I love this one pot version, Marcie! It’s so easy and perfect for busy weeknights. There is no excuse NOT to make this deliciousness!
Yeah, there’s something about the boxed kind with powdered cheese, right? haha Thanks, Gayle!
This mac and cheese looks amazing, Marcie! I can’t believe it’s all made in one pot. And it looks so creamy and cheesy. I’m going to try it this week!
Thanks, Kristine — my kids are crazy about this! 🙂
Annie’s is great in a pinch, but creamy, dreamy homemade mac and cheese just can’t be beat! This looks so good and cheesy – I’m way too hungry to be surfing blogs right now because I’m totally DYING for a big bowl of this to appear in front of me!
We do still like Annie’s when we’re pressed for time, but nothing compares to homemade mac & cheese! Thanks, Rachel!
I love mac and cheese! Definitely one of my top 5 foods 🙂 And this is so easy to make- I can barely believe it 🙂
Thank you, Medha! This is so fast it is almost unbelievable!
I love homemade mac & cheese. There have been times I have tried to make myself like the boxed versions but never! Homemade rules and I love how easy your version is!!
Thank you, Ami! I pretty much have no excuse not to make homemade M&C anymore! 🙂
So I won’t lie, I’ve totally had Annie’s boxed mac n’ cheese and it isn’t bad! I mean, it’s nothing compared to homemade… but it will due in a pinch. 😉 I love this mac, Marcie! Boy is SUPER picky and will only eat stove-top mac n’ cheese, so I know he would love this!! Looks perfectly creamy and seriously dreamy! Cheers, friend!
Annie’s really isn’t bad, and I do make it every now and again. 🙂 Thank you so much and I hope you’re having a great Wednesday!
Homemade mac & cheese is the best. This one looks amazing, Marcie! Love how beautifully you have made it one pot. And that so creamy and cheesy texture is making me drool. 🙂
Thank you, Anu! 🙂
This post is making me so hungry, haha! That’s awesome that you grew up eating homemade mac n’ cheese. My mom used Velveeta on the regular…gross. Your boys don’t know how good they have it. This looks amazing!
Oh believe me, there was plenty of Velveeta in my childhood — it just wasn’t on my mac ‘n cheese! haha Thanks, Sarah, and have a great weekend! 🙂
I’ve made mac n cheese a few times, but have yet to find my favorite recipe. Maybe this is it 😉 It looks amazing, Marcie!
Thank you, Megan! 🙂
My family is mac & cheese CRAZED! This would be such a huge hit!!
Mine is too and they loved this! Thanks, Cathy!
Just wanted to say thanks! I made this last night… one pot, on the stove, highly scalable and forgiving (I didn’t measure anything). I made it extra saucy and it was just great. Great idea to start with a roux.
I was looking for this type of recipe because, well, I’m sick at the moment and needed some quick comfort food… this was good for me and my hubby loved it too. I will be making this again. 🙂
Hi Kel! I’m so glad you enjoyed this and thanks so much for the feedback! Hope you feel better soon! ?