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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
Brie @ ToasterOvenLove
October 18, 2015 at 6:51 pmI used to only eat the blue box until I had real homemade mac & cheese. Once you’ve had homemade you never go back 🙂 With such a simple and flavorful recipe like yours there’s no reason not to make the real stuff!
Kathy
October 19, 2015 at 4:45 amI agree!
Kalee @ The Crowded Table
October 6, 2015 at 7:47 pmNothing is better than homemade mac & cheese. I love that your stove top version is so quick and easy!!! 🙂
Kathy
October 7, 2015 at 5:03 amSometimes we need quick and easy!
Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen
October 6, 2015 at 9:45 amNothing can beat a cheesy, classic, creamy and comfy mac n cheese. This one looks super divine, Kathy.
Kathy
October 7, 2015 at 5:04 amThere’s something so wonderful about a cheesy dish!
Maya @ Treats and Eats
October 5, 2015 at 7:15 pmTotal comfort food! I love this Kathy- perfect for fall nights!
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks
October 5, 2015 at 6:51 pmMac and cheese is the best comfort food! Who needs the box stuff when you can have this amazing deliciousness!
karrie @ Tasty Ever After
October 5, 2015 at 6:47 pmLove this recipe and my Hubby will too because mac-n-cheese is his favorite! He thanks you 🙂 Too funny about your kids. I don’t have children but I cooked for four children when I was a private chef for a family a couple of years ago. I would spend all day cooking the meals from scratch and the kids couldn’t have cared less. They just wanted food from a can or a box. LOL!
Kathy
October 7, 2015 at 5:09 amThey always think the grass is greener on the other side….or the food tastier from a box!
Laura
October 5, 2015 at 6:10 amKathy, this just looks awesome. That’s all I can say! My kids won’t touch boxed mac n cheese with a 10 foot pole. They just look at it like, ewwwww. They literally just stare at it, let it cold and leave it untouched. I only made it when I felt desperate. This recipe looks so much easier than the Fanny Farmer one I typically make. Thanks for sharing.
Kathy
October 5, 2015 at 5:42 pmYou’ve got smart kids! They’ve got a sophisticated palate!
David @ Spiced
October 5, 2015 at 6:03 amOh my gosh, this is pretty much my definitely of the ultimate comfort food! I’m pretty sure I could go with a bowl of this for breakfast right now…looks awesome!!
Kathy
October 5, 2015 at 5:42 pmNothing wrong with having it for breakfast!
Michelle @ Unbound Wellness
October 3, 2015 at 7:17 pmThis looks beautiful! The pictures are just awesome! Mac n cheese always reminds me of Thanksgiving (because every holiday always had to include pasta for me growing up) and this gets me excited for Thanksgiving!!
Kathy
October 4, 2015 at 4:52 amThanks, Michelle!
Marsha @ Marsha's Baking Addiction
October 3, 2015 at 11:47 amOne of my favourite comfort meals is mac and cheese. This looks so delicious!
Kathy
October 4, 2015 at 4:53 amIt’s one of our favorites too!