Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese

best-southern-stovetop-mac-and-cheese-recipe

This easy, creamy Southern Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese is made entirely on the stove, no baking required! Ready in minutes, it’s the ultimate comfort food for busy weeknights.

Course Pasta, Side Dish

Cuisine American, Southern

Keyword easy-mac-and-cheese-recipes, macaroni-and-cheese, stovetop-macaroni-cheese

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 15

Total Time 35

Servings servings

Calories 508kcal

Ingredients

3 cups milk
3 cups water
1 tsp salt
1 16 oz box elbow macaroni
4 Tbsp butter
2 oz plain cream cheese plus additional as needed
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp dry mustard powder
few dashes hot sauce optional
2 cups shredded colby cheese or a blend of cheddar cheese
1 cup easy melt creamy cheese such as monterey jack, fontina, queso quesadilla

Instructions

In a large deep pot, heat milk, water and salt until steaming, just before boil. Watch carefully so it doesn't boil over. Add macaroni, stir to prevent sticking to bottom.
Cook pasta over medium- high bubbling for 12-15 minutes or until al dente and tender, stirring occasionally. Do not drain. Turn heat to low.
To the cooked pasta add butter, cream cheese, black pepper, mustard, hot sauce (if using). Stir until fully combined and the cream cheese melts.
Add shredded cheddar and monterey jack cheese, mix again until cheese has completely melted.
Remove from heat and serve immediately.

Notes

Pasta: I use classic elbow macaroni in this stovetop mac recipe, but you could adapt using medium shells, penne or any other shape that you enjoy.
Cheese: The sky's the limit with variations of cheese. You can adapt this recipe using monterey jack cheese, sharp cheddar cheese, fontina, mozzarella cheese, gouda, queso quesadilla, gruyere cheese, swiss cheese, colby jack cheese or pepper jack cheese for spice.
Hot Sauce: The hot sauce is completely optional and may be omitted without any other adjustments.
Protein: You could add crispy cooked bacon, rotisserie chicken, pulled pork or cubed ham to the mac and cheese for a one pot meal.
Vegetables: You could add vegetables such as sautéed onion, spinach, roasted asparagus, mixed vegetables or steamed broccoli.
Adjust the Sauce: If you need to thicken the sauce further at the end of cooking you can add 1 ounce of cream cheese at a time. If you need to thin the sauce, add more milk in small amounts mixing until the desired consistency is reached.

Nutrition