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Macaroni and cheese is comfort food, pure comfort food! It’s filling, It’s warm and most of all – it’s cheesy! Stove top mac and cheese is a homemade macaroni and cheese. This delicious cheesy pasta can be made in just 20 minutes!
Macaroni and cheese is always a hit in our household with both the kids and adults and this mac and cheese is definitely one of our favorites. Making homemade mac and cheese isn’t difficult and just takes a handful of ingredients.
This cheesy macaroni is made with pasta, cheddar cheese, milk, butter, flour, dry mustard, garlic powder and a touch of salt and pepper.
Now I’ll be honest, we also eat plenty of the boxed mac and cheese and there’s really nothing wrong with that! But sometimes we want things a bit cheesier and that’s when I bust out my homemade version.
Variations on mac and cheese
Pasta
Use any type of dried pasta
- Elbow macaroni
- Rotini
- Penne
- Mini shells
Cheese
I typically use cheddar cheese, but sometimes I add a mixture to change up the taste. Just keep the portions the same and add your favorite variety.
- Cheddar
- Pepper Jack
- Monterey
- Colby
Additions
- Chopped ham
- Sliced sausages – smokies, hot dog, kielbasa
- Frozen peas
- Thinly slice sun dried tomatoes
- Cooked chicken breast
Steps for making mac and cheese
A complete list of instructions is available below! Just scroll to the bottom!
- Boil pasta according to package directions.
- While pasta is boiling, melt butter in another sauce pan.
- Add flour and stir over low heat for about 2 minutes.
- Whisk in milk.
- Add dry mustard, garlic powder and salt and pepper.
- Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally to avoid scorching. The mixture will begin to thicken as it heats up.
- Once your mixture has thickened, remove from heat and slowly stir in cheese.
- Drain pasta and return to pan.
- Pour cheese mixture over top, stir and serve.
Tips for making mac and cheese
- Drain pasta completely. Water left on the pasta can make your sauce watery
- Turn off heat before adding cheese to help prevent your sauce from breaking
- Taste sauce before adding to pasta. Add more salt and pepper, if needed
- For best results, serve right away
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator. Reheat pasta in microwave or try it cold!
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Stove Top Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 pound pasta
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon white ground pepper (or black ground pepper)
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese (about 2 cups)
Instructions
- Boil pasta according to package directions.
- While pasta is boiling, melt butter in another sauce pan. Stir in flour and cook over low heat for 1-2 minutes.
- Whisk in milk. Add dry mustard, garlic powder and salt and pepper
- Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally to avoid scorching. The mixture will begin to thicken as it heats up. Do not bring to a boil.
- Once your mixture has thickened,, remove from heat and slowly add cheese while stirring.
- Drain pasta and return to pan.
- Pour cheese mixture over top, stir and serve.
Notes
Tips for making mac and cheese
- Drain pasta completely. Water left on the pasta can make your sauce watery
- Turn off heat before adding cheese to help prevent your sauce from breaking
- Taste sauce before adding to pasta. Add more salt and pepper, if needed
- For best results, serve right away
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator. Reheat pasta in microwave or try it cold!
Nutrition
This post was originally published in October 2015. The pictures, text and recipe have been updated.
27 Comments
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
September 14, 2020 at 6:27 amMac and cheese is always a hit in our home too..I mean, what’s not to love, right? This looks so creamy and delicious, Kathy, and totally wishing I had a big bowl for lunch today!
Kathy
September 15, 2020 at 4:46 amYou just can’t go wrong with a creamy comfort food like mac and cheese!
Alex
September 11, 2020 at 10:05 pmThere is nothing more comforting than good old mac and cheese 🙂 Your version is so creamy, cheesy and delicious!
Kathy
September 12, 2020 at 7:33 amThanks 🙂
Valentina
September 11, 2020 at 1:42 pmI never met a person who didn’t love mac and cheese. This recipe looks and sounds fabulous! 🙂 ~Valentina
David @ Spiced
September 11, 2020 at 4:28 amYou know what’s funny? We were literally making Robbie mac-and-cheese last night on the stovetop, and we commented how much better it tastes than the boxed stuff. And it’s so easy, too! This post is making me crave mac and cheese like crazy right now – there’s a chill in the air, and I’m ready for some good fall comfort food!
Kathy
September 11, 2020 at 5:01 amIt really is easy peasy! 🙂
Suzi
November 7, 2015 at 4:19 amThumbs up from the “box loving”kids! So quick and easy too!
Kathy
November 7, 2015 at 7:49 amGlad you tried it and your kids loved it! Hooray!!!