Stovetop Mac & Cheese Recipe for Dinner
This stovetop mac and cheese is a quick and creamy dinner recipe that’s both comforting and packed with flavor. Made with just a few simple ingredients, this dish delivers a velvety cheese sauce in only 15 minutes—perfect for a cozy meal.
Equipment
- Large pot
- Medium-sized pot
Ingredients
- Kosher salt as needed
- 8 ounces regular or whole-wheat elbow macaroni
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1 1/4 cups grated cheddar cheese 5 ounces
- Freshly grated nutmeg to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: In a large pot, bring generously salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until it’s slightly underdone—about a minute less than the cooking time stated on the package. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a medium pot, heat the heavy cream over medium-high heat. Stir occasionally and let it simmer until it thickens and reduces by about half, which should take around 2 minutes.
- Melt the Cheese: Once the cream has thickened, add the grated cheddar cheese. Whisk continuously until the cheese has melted and formed a smooth, creamy sauce.
- Combine the Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce, stirring well to ensure the pasta is fully coated.
- Season and Serve: Taste the mac and cheese, then season with freshly grated nutmeg, black pepper, and more salt if needed. Serve immediately while warm.
Notes
- To enhance the flavor, experiment with adding garlic powder or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the cheese sauce.
- For extra creaminess, reserve a small amount of the pasta cooking water and add it when mixing the pasta with the cheese sauce.
- Whole-wheat pasta offers a more robust flavor and pairs well with the creamy cheese sauce.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!