This Creamy Stovetop Mac and Cheese is an easy 30-minute meal that your family will always agree on! It’s the BEST dinner recipe for a busy week and it’s easy to customize with different cheeses and add-ons.
Stovetop Mac and Cheese
It is really nice to have a few 30 minute meals that you can fall back on during a busy week, and this is definitely one of those recipes. It’s picky eater approved, takes no more then 30 minutes to make, and you can jazz it up all you want (more ideas on that below)!
The consistency of the cheese sauce is perfectly thick and creamy, (but not too thick). It’s just right. The flavors are enhanced with a touch of mustard powder and hot sauce, which you can’t taste at all in the recipe. (I promise).
Feel free to use a variety of different kinds of cheese for this recipe. Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Gouda, and Gruyere are all great options!
How to Make It
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Boil macaroni according to package instructions. Drain and set aside. Melt butter over medium heat and whisk in the flour. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Add the heavy cream/milk in splashes, stirring continuously. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer. Add hot sauce and seasonings.
Reduce heat to low and stir in the shredded cheese.
Add the drained macaroni and stir to combine. Serve!
What to Add to Mac and Cheese
- Pasta Options: Medium Shells, Cavatappi, Rotini, Fusilli/Bow Tie Pasta may also be used, just note that the cooking times may vary slightly.
- Cheeses: A combination of Smoked Gouda, Monterey Jack, Gruyere, Fontina, and Mozzarella may also be used. Note that extra sharp cheddar or aged cheeses won’t melt as well.
- Meats: Cooked Chicken, Ham, Pulled Pork, Bacon, Buffalo Chicken, Sausage, Kielbasa, and Hot Dogs.
- Vegetables: Corn, Peas, Mushrooms, Spinach, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Caramelized Onions, Green Onions.
Pro Tips
- Shred the cheese from a block as it will melt and taste much better than packaged shredded cheese. I use Cracker Barrel Sharp Yellow Cheese.
- You can’t taste the hot sauce or mustard powder in the mac and cheese, they are used as flavor enhancers. I usually use Texas Pete Hot Sauce. (Frank’s hot sauce is my trusty backup!)
- Love Mac and Cheese? Check out my recipes for the Crock Pot and Instant Pot. I also have a Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese, Chili Mac, Bacon Mac and Cheese and One Pot Broccoli Mac and Cheese!
Storage
Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Tools For This Recipe
(Amazon affiliate links)- Check out all of my kitchen essentials here.
- 3.5 quart dutch oven. -This is the one I use and love, excellent quality.
- Box Cheese Grater– Shredding from a block tastes and melts much better than packaged cheese.
- Pinch Bowls– for measuring out seasonings ahead of time.
- Pasta Strainer– This is the one I have and love.
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Tried This Recipe?
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Stovetop Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 cups macaroni, uncooked. (equal to 1/2 lb.)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup milk
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon each: salt/pepper
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Pro tip: Shred the cheese from a block. It will melt and taste much better than packaged shredded cheese. See notes for brand of cheese that I use.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the macaroni. Bring back up to a boil and cook according to package instructions. Set a timer to avoid overcooking. Drain once cooked.
- While the pasta cooks, melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Use a silicone spatula to stir in the flour. Continue to stir for 1-2 minutes. Add the heavy cream/milk in splashes, stirring continuously. (If you add it too quickly you’ll “break” the roux and the sauce will be thin.)
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Add the seasonings and hot sauce. Reduce heat to low.
- Gradually sprinkle in the shredded cheese. Stir continuously until smooth and combined. Add the drained macaroni and stir to combine. Serve!
Notes
- I use Cracker Barrel Sharp Yellow Cheese for this recipe.
- You can't taste the hot sauce or mustard powder in the mac and cheese, they are used as flavor enhancers. I usually use Texas Pete Hot Sauce. (Frank's hot sauce is my trusty backup!)
Love Mac and Cheese? Check out my recipes for the Crock Pot and Instant Pot. I also have a Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese, Chili Mac, Bacon Mac and Cheese and One Pot Broccoli Mac and Cheese!
I give this 5 stars for being an easy recipe to follow. That said, we are a lactose intolerant household and, with the exception of the Cracker Barrel chedder cheese, we used plant-based milk, butter and heavy cream as substitutes. I do not suggest this. It came out incredibly oily due to the nature of the plant-based products generally. If you’re a lactose intolerant individual and really want to try this recipe, I’d suggest popping a pill and following this recipe as written. Otherwise, eat something else.
Hi Stacey! I’m happy to hear that you found this recipe easy to follow! I also appreciate you giving a heads up to lactose intolerant readers, I’m sure many will find it helpful! 🙂
Does this recipe double ok?
Hi Cindy, yes it does! A wide vessel will allow the cheese sauce to reduce and thicken best 🙂
Really came together quickly, since I had already cooked macaroni in the refrigerator. I used half and half and milk, because that’s what I had, and mixed in whatever cheese I had opened. Definitely will be making it again !!
Nice work Anne! Happy to hear it came together so easily for you. Thanks so much for the review!🩷
I have made this recipe as directed, about 5 times now. Twice I have put it all in a baking dish and topped it with buttered panko bread crumbs. My family Loves it!!! Great recipe ❤️
I’m so happy that you love it Tammy, that’s great news! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! I love that you top it with panko breadcrumbs! 🙂
Can I double this recipe to use 16 oz of pasta?
Yes, you can double everything! 🙂
I left out the hot sauce and used Trader Joe’s Mexican cheese blend with shell noodles. My family absolutely loved it and happily ate seconds!
Nice work Melissa, sounds like it was a huge success! Thanks so much for the great review!
Excellent! I made this tonight for my family and we LOVED it! The cheese sauce was the perfect consistency! It is very creamy with the addition of the heavy cream. I would highly recommend this recipe!!
I’m so happy it was such a hit with the family Karen! My daughter is obsessed with this one. I think I made it for a month straight at one point lol. Thanks so much for the review!💗
It is a very good recipe, but the hot sauce does make the dish too spicy for my personal taste. Others may like it that way, but it should be noted that it can be tasted in the dish by those sensitive to spice. I made it again without the hot sauce and it was perfect.
Hi Natalie! Hot sauces can vary in terms of how much heat them pack on, I usually use Frank’s hot sauce and we can’t tell it’s there- it’s a common mac-and-cheese add-on, but understandable that if you’re spice sensitive you may want to be safe and not add it to recipes!
This is a great stove top Mac and cheese! I didn’t have mustard powder so I used a heaping tsp of Dijon and I didn’t have hot sauce so I used cayenne pepper, and I think used closer to 2 cups of cheese, came out great! I’m enjoying it with some smoked ribs.
Sounds like the perfect dinner Karen, such a great side for smoked ribs! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!💖
This is an excellent, quick Mac and cheese.
Perfect! I’m so happy that you love it Brenda!! We make this often! ❤️