Ditch the blue box and it’s endless ingredient list for this 20 minute, 9 ingredient REAL macaroni and cheese. Your kids are going to love it and you don’t have to worry about feeding them ingredients you can’t pronounce!
How do I make one pot mac and cheese?
You’ll start by adding the uncooked noodles and cheese to a large pot.
Then add butter, half and half and vegetable stock.
Add garlic powder, onion powder and a large pinch of salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Heat pot over medium high heat and bring to a simmer.
Simmer over medium to medium low heat for 10 minutes or until noodles are cooked al dente and the sauce is thick and creamy.
The combo of butter, half and half and veg stock is going to combine with the shredded cheddar to give you the creamiest, dreamiest mac and cheese you’ve ever tasted.
THAT’S RIGHT FOLKS. NO NEED TO BOIL THE NOODLES IN A SEPARATE POT!! This means one less dish for you to wash (actually two less if you use a strainer) – woohoo!
Types of pasta that work well in mac and cheese:
- shells
- elbow macaroni
- cavatappi
- farfalle
- campanelle
- penne
- rotelle
- rotini
Basically, any short cut of pasta is going to work well for this dish. Save your spaghetti and fettuccine noodles for another time though!
Tips for making one pot mac and cheese:
- Depending on what brand of noodles you purchase, the cook time may vary slightly. I used these noodles and 10 minutes of simmering was perfect. If you find that your noodles are not quite done but your sauce is getting too thick, just add more half and half, veg stock or even milk.
- Be sure to stir the mac and cheese every few minutes or so. This will ensure that the noodles don’t get stuck to the bottom and that they cook evenly.
- Feel free to use other kinds of cheese! Mac and cheese isn’t just for kids and we make “adult versions” all the time. Try smoked gouda with crumbled bacon. Or freshly shredded Parmesan with steamed broccoli. Use this recipe as a blueprint and make it your own!
Other one pot pasta favorites your family will love:
- Lemon & Garlic One Pot Pasta
- One Pot Fettuccine Alfredo
- One Pot Sausage Rigatoni
- Mediterranean One Pot Pasta
- One Pot Smoked Gouda & Sun Dried Tomato Pasta
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? LEAVE A REVIEW!
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Ditch the blue box and it’s endless ingredient list for this 20 minute, 9 ingredient REAL macaroni and cheese. Your kids are going to love it and you don’t have to worry about feeding them ingredients you can’t pronounce!
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 16 oz. medium shells
- 8 oz. extra sharp cheddar, shredded
- 16 oz. half and half
- 32 oz. vegetable stock
- 1 teaspoon salt + more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a large pot. Stir to combine and turn the heat to medium high.
- Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium or medium low and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Stir the mac and cheese frequently so that the noodles don’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
- You’ll know it’s done when the noodles are al dente and the sauce is thick and creamy.
Notes
Depending on what brand of noodles you purchase, the cook time may vary slightly. I used these noodles and 10 minutes of simmering was perfect. If you find that your noodles are not quite done but your sauce is getting too thick, just add more half and half, veg stock or even milk.
Be sure to stir the mac and cheese every few minutes or so. This will ensure that the noodles don’t get stuck to the bottom and that they cook evenly.
Feel free to use other kinds of cheese! Mac and cheese isn’t just for kids and we make “adult versions” all the time. Try smoked gouda with crumbled bacon. Or freshly shredded Parmesan with steamed broccoli. Use this recipe as a blueprint and make it your own!
Keywords: easy mac and cheese, macaroni and cheese, stove top mac and cheese
So easy and delicious!!
★★★★★
You got that right!!!
Another quick and easy family favorite dinner from Midwest Foodie!
★★★★★
I love that this is made in one pot!! I need to try this ASAP 🙂
One pot dinners give me life during the week!! I look to cook and make messes on the weekend but during the week I need fast, simple and easy and this recipe checks all of those boxes! Thanks Sarah!!