Creamy One Pot Macaroni and Cheese

This One Pot Macaroni and Cheese is so easy! Cook the macaroni right in the milk that helps to make the sauce. Ready in 15 minutes!

Creamy One Pot Macaroni and Cheese

I have all kind of macaroni and cheese recipes on the blog, and today I have a Creamy One Pot Macaroni and Cheese to add to the collection. This is a great recipe to make for lunch when your kids are in the mood for something simple, hot, and filling, and you need something that comes together in without any fuss. This recipe is so easy and we loved the extra creamy results.

This recipe is extra easy because you cook the macaroni right in the milk that helps to make the sauce. There’s no water to boil or noodles to rinse. You just cook it all in one pan and it’s done in about 15 minutes. This is literally just as easy as that blue box stuff, but it tastes like real food and doesn’t have a fluorescent orange glow to it. Trust me, that fake mac ‘n cheese is just gross once you start making your own.

My other stove-top macaroni and cheese recipe is still a favorite, but I don’t always have canned milk on hand. The difference between the two is that this recipes makes a really thick and sticky macaroni and cheese (it almost has the texture and taste of baked macaroni to me), and the other recipe has almost a runny sauce to it. They are both excellent but different enough that I wanted to share both recipes.

What pasta is best for mac and cheese?

I prefer elbow macaroni but you can mix it up with bow tie, fusilli or penne pasta.

How do you fix runny mac and cheese?

If you end up having too much liquid in your macaroni and cheese, just simply  bring the contents back to a boil. Boil the milk down to the desired level. Make sure you stir constantly or the milk or cheese will burn on the bottom of your pot.

Can I use water instead of milk for macaroni and cheese?

You can use water instead, but your mac n cheese will lack in creaminess.

Creamy One Pot Macaroni and Cheese

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★★★★★

4.3 from 15 reviews

• Author: Melissa Griffiths-Bless this Mess
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: serves 4 1x

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Description

This One Pot Macaroni and Cheese is so easy! Cook the macaroni right in the milk that’s used to make the sauce. Creamy, delicious & ready in 15 minutes!

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Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups whole or 2% milk
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups dry elbow macaroni
• 1 to 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• More salt and pepper to taste

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Instructions

1. In a large pot add the milk, butter, and macaroni noodles. Turn the burner on to medium and bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring often. Reduce the heat if the milk seems to stick to the bottom of the pan and stir often until the noodles are cooked though, about 15-18 minutes. Slow and low if your friend here, if you cook this step too fast and hot, the milk will curdle.
2. Stir in the cheese and salt until everything is melted.
3. Depending on the type and sharpness of cheese you may want to add up to another cup of cheese. Taste it and see. I used a moderately sharp cheddar and liked it at about 1 and 1/4 cups of cheese. If I had used something milder I think I would have used more. I’ve made this a handful of times and each time I seem to use a different amount of cheese, depending on my mood and how much cheese I have in the fridge.
4. Serve right away.

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• Category: Dinner
• Method: Stove-Top
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: Serves 4
• Calories: 397
• Sugar: 7.9g
• Sodium: 268mg
• Fat: 18.6g
• Carbohydrates: 39.9g
• Protein: 17.2g
• Cholesterol: 53.9mg

Keywords: mac and cheese, mac n cheese, macaroni and cheese, homemade mac and cheese, best mac and cheese, easy mac and cheese recipe, how to make mac and cheese

Macaroni and Cheese recipes you need to try:

• Easy Homemade Mac and Cheese
• Butternut Squash Macaroni and Cheese
• Easy No-bake Homemade Macaroni and Cheese
• Buffalo Chicken Mac-n-Cheese from Bakeaholic Mama
• Creamy Baked Macaroni and Cheese with Bacon
• Meatless Monday Baked Macaroni (dairy free!)
• Skinny Macaroni and Cheese

One Pot Macaroni and Cheese is so easy! Cook the macaroni right in the milk that’s used to make the sauce. Creamy, delicious & ready in 15 minutes!

About Melissa

Melissa is dedicated to helping parents figure out the nightly questions, "What's for Dinner?!" with her no-fuss approach to cooking. Read more...

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