How to Make Macaroni and Cheese on the Stove

November 30, 2021

Stovetop Mac and Cheese is the homemade comfort food we all crave. The best part is that this is a 5- ingredient recipe and this creamy mac and cheese on the stove is ready in 25 minutes!

A bowl of homemade stovetop mac and cheese is so comforting.

Why I love Mac and Cheese on the Stove

Gone are the days where I make boxed mac and cheese. I have nothing against making food from a box but I am glad my kids have realized there is a mac and cheese world "outside of the box". My daughter has always been a homemade lover but it took my son a bit of time to come around.

While we all love baked and fancy mac and cheese, it can take more time than I have most week nights. So I solved my problem and created this homemade mac and cheese recipe that cooks right on my stovetop. It is creamy enough where it doesn't have to be baked and there are minimal ingredients involved. It is a perfect 5 ingredient recipe!

To see details of how it's made, check out my Mac and Cheese Webstory!

Here is a close up shot of 5 ingredient recipe for mac and cheese.

What ingredients are needed for mac and cheese on the stove?

Only 5 INGREDIENTS are required! And right now I know our grocery store trips are limited so this works for me A LOT! You might even have the ingredients in your kitchen. This is what they are:

Butter - any brand works but I would not use light butter because can be watery when it melts.

Flour - All purpose flour is perfect but you could use whole wheat too.

Milk - I like to use at least 2% milk but whole milk makes it really rich. The more fat in the milk, the richer the cheese sauce so I like something right in the middle. If you use lower fat milk the sauce will be thinner.

Pasta - My family loves elbow pasta but use any small pasta you have on hand. Shells are a good choice and I have used penne pasta in stovetop mac and cheese too.

Cheese - My family likes sharp cheddar so that is what I typically use to make a creamy delicious cheese sauce. But this is where you can also get creative. Any type of cheddar works but Gouda and Monterey Jack cheese are great too. Try some pepper jack if you like spicy. I like to shred my own cheese. But since you might have to use what you have, use already shredded if that is what's in your fridge. It does contain some extra starch but should be fine in a pinch. Make sure to whisk it well because the extra starch could cause it to be a bit grainier. No judging here!

Optional Salt and Pepper - My son says this recipe doesn't need any but you can be the judge of this.

What recipes go well with this comfort food dish?

I pair this dish with a Garbanzo Beans and Beet Salad, a spinach salad, or some asparagus and dinner is on the table in 25 minutes.

Another favorite dish of mine is Braised Collard greens with Turkey Bacon. It goes so well together even though the collard greens take longer to cook!

To me this is a big hearty meal but I live with a 6 foot 3 growing teenage boy. So this is just a side dish for him.

Here are some main courses to serve with this macaroni and cheese:

Grilled Lemon Rosemary Chicken via Snappy Gourmet
Tenderloin Beef Tips and Mushrooms
Grilled Flat Iron Steak
15 Minute Lemon Dijon Pork Chops
Slow Cooker Roaster Chicken
Panko Parmesan Pork Chops
Copycat Popeye's Chicken via My Incredible Recipes

Can this 5- ingredient mac and cheese be reheated or made in advance?

This stove top mac and cheese reheats well in the microwave. It only takes 2 minutes. I add a few extra spoons of milk to make it extra creamy. You can also do the same by reheating it in a pot on the stove on low heat.

I would not freeze this homemade mac and cheese as it could change the texture.

This pasta dish is one I have made again and again. It has always been perfect for my kids to eat after a soccer game or other school event. It heats up well whether I have made several hours or the day before.

I guarantee if you make this, you will love the ease and it will go into your dinner rotation! It's one of my kids favorites.

This creamy homemade mac and cheese is so easy to make!

If you like this Stove Top Mac and Cheese recipe, please give it a 5-star rating below!

Stovetop Mac and Cheese

This easy to make mac and cheese will please the whole family.

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 30 mins

Course: entree, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy recipe, quick, vegetarian

Servings: 4

Calories: 654 kcal

Cost: $5

sauce pan

8 ounces elbow macaroni
1 ½ tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk 2% or whole milk work best
12 ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded
salt and pepper, to taste (optional)

Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat and cook macaroni according to instructions on the box for al a dente. Drain well.
In the same pot, melt the butter on medium heat and stir in the flour. Mix with a wire whisk until it becomes a paste and slowly add the milk. Cook on low heat for a few minutes until thickened.
Remove sauce from heat and slowly add the shredded cheese. Mix well until the sauce is smooth. Use a whish for best results.
Stir in the pasta and mix until hot and well combined. You can put on the stove and cook on low heat if you need it to thicken a bit more.
Season with salt and pepper to taste if necessary.

First Published May 2014; Updated October 2020

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How to Make Macaroni and Cheese on the Stove

Source: https://www.jerseygirlcooks.com/stove-top-mac-and-cheese/

Mack Thaton57