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Creamy Stovetop Mac and Cheese is a family favorite, easily customized with different cheeses and ready in 30 minutes.
Try some of my other mac and cheese recipes like Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese or Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese.
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
I love to put a spin on a good homemade mac and cheese recipe, like Jalapeno Popper Mac and Cheese or Taco Mac and Cheese, but classics like this easy stovetop version never go out of style.
- Old Fashioned Comfort Food – Creamy cheese sauce over tender pasta is as simple combination and about as good as it gets.
- Thick, Creamy Sauce – The sauce is ultra creamy and just thick enough to coat the noodles perfectly.
- Three Kinds of Cheese – You’ve got sharp cheddar for tang, cream cheese for creaminess, and Parmesan for a slight nuttiness.
Ingredients + Variations
- Pasta – I like elbow macaroni or small shells the best. Penne, rotini, cavatappi or rigatoni will all work.
- Butter and Flour – For the roux.
- Milk and Cream – For the bechamel (white sauce). It can be used as a sauce for vegetables or the base for a gravy or cheese sauce.
- Cheese – I use a combination of cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, and cream cheese. You can also use Gouda, Gruyere, Fontina, or Monterey Jack.
- Dry Mustard Powder – Adds a tangy flavor that you can’t distinctly taste in the finished dish.
How To Make Mac & Cheese from Scratch
Making macaroni and cheese from scratch is much easier than most people think. It involves first making a roux, then a bechamel, and finally a cheese sauce.
The Roux. Melt butter and whisk in flour, cooking for a couple of minutes until it’s light golden in color.
The Bechamel. Once you’ve cooked the roux, add milk to make a bechamel. The flour will thicken the milk, which is the base for the sauce.
The Cheese. Remove the pan from the heat, then slowly whisk in shredded cheese in small batches, fully incorporating each addition before adding the next.
The Pasta. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain, then add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce and stir to cook. Serve immediately.
What Cheese is Best for Mac and Cheese?
Cheddar and parmesan are my favorite combination for cheese sauce. I also almost always add cream cheese. It helps to make the sauce extra creamy, and keeps it from breaking.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Reheat gently in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add a splash of milk if needed.
Can You Freeze Mac and Cheese?
Yes, Mac and Cheese actually freezes quite well. Allow the pasta to cool completely, then portion into freezer bags or containers, getting out as much air as possible. Freeze for up to 6 months.
Thaw in the fridge before reheating. Heat on the stovetop in a saucepan over medium-low heat. You can reheat in the microwave but make sure to use 50% power and add a splash of milk to help keep the sauce from breaking.
Pro Tips
- Grate cheese off the block. Pre-shredded cheese won’t melt properly into the sauce.
- Once grated, let the cheese sit out while you cook the pasta
- Grate your cheese before you start and let it sit out while you cook the pasta. Cold cheese will almost always separate the sauce, resulting in a gritty texture. Room temperature cheese melts quicker and easier.
- Move the pan off the heat when adding the cheese. This will keep it from separating.
- For extra creaminess, add two tablespoons of cream cheese to the white sauce and stir until it’s melted before adding the cheddar. This will keep your sauce from breaking.
- Try adding proteins like shredded chicken or ground beef or veggies like broccoli or spinach for different variations.
More Mac and Cheese Recipes to Try
- Crab Mac and Cheese
- Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
- Spaghetti Mac and Cheese
- Jalapeno Popper Mac and Cheese
- One Pot Mac and Cheese
Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 pound small pasta like shells or elbow macaroni
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup flour
- 3 cups nonfat milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 3 cups freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil 4-6 quarts of water in a large pot. Add a tablespoon of kosher salt and pour in uncooked pasta. Cook until al dente, according to package directions.
- Drain pasta into a large colander and set aside.
- Add butter to the pot over medium-low heat and melt. Stir in flour and cook for several minutes, stirring often, until golden brown.
- Meanwhile, pour milk and cream into a microwave safe glass bowl and heat for 2 minutes. (Alternatively, heat milk in a small saucepan on the stove until hot, not boiling). Pour milk/cream mixture into the flour mixture and stir often, bringing to a simmer while it thickens. You will know it's done when the sauce is thick and coats the back of a spoon.
- Stir in cream cheese, a pinch of salt and pepper and dry mustard. Whisk until the cream cheese is melted.
- Remove from heat and add cheddar cheeses, stirring constantly until completely melted.
- Stir pasta into the cheese sauce. Divide into bowls and serve hot.
This is the best homemade Mac & Cheese I have made. It had lots of sauce which is key for me. I did add a Con Queso spice I had for extra flavour. Most important was when reheated as leftovers it was not dried out! I don’t usually like Mac n Cheese as leftovers and this was really good. Will definitely make again!
Nice! Love the feedback Bev! Thanks for stopping by.
I’m trying to make for my dish I bring to Christmas. I have to travel about 2 hours. Can I put the mixed Mac and cheese into a crock pot and add milk and heat it up that way? I’ve never made Mac and cheese from scratch so any tips are helpful! Thank you!
You should try my Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese! It would be great for transporting.
Oh Kristin! This is exactly what I was looking for today. I think I had this recipe before and lost it. So glad to have it back! I DID add a can oft tuna and some green peas for color. It is soooo good! I will definitely be adding bits and pieces of other cheeses to use them up. I bet that tastes even better! Thanks for this. I will use no other recipe from now on.
You are so welcome Wendy! Awesome feedback!
Made this last night and it was the best Mac and cheese I’ve ever made!!! How can you go wrong with a stick of butter? Lol! But seriously thank you for the recipe – it turned out perfectly and now I know how to make that perfectly silky cheese sauce thanks to your instruction !
That’s awesome Haley! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave some positive feedback.
Looking for a good Alfredo sauce
Look no further – https://www.yellowblissroad.com/homemade-alfredo-sauce/
Do I put the shells back in at the end?
Yes
New to your blog and what a recipe. So delicious thank you xoxo
When you put it that way: Roux and Béchamel – How can we resist being a little classier with our Mac and cheese habits! Lol.