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2 brown bowls with cooked macaroni and cheese with black spoons.
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One Pot Mac and Cheese

This One Pot Mac and Cheese is outrageously creamy, smooth and cheesy! Made in the stovetop using 5 main ingredients, it is the easiest and comforting weeknight dinner that is ready in under 20 minutes.
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Keyword one pot mac and cheese, stovetop mac and cheese
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 709kcal
Author Maria Doss

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 2 cups milk, preferably whole
  • 2 cups water
  • ¾ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 8 ounces macaroni pasta
  • 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese (use medium or sharp)
  • teaspoon paprika

Instructions

  • Melt butter in a medium pot over medium heat. Add flour, stir constantly and cook 40 to 50 seconds, until toasted (don't let it get darker in color).
  • Pour milk, give a good mix. Add water, salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until it gets to very gentle simmer (don't let it boil).
  • Add macaroni, give a good mix, reduce heat to low-medium and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally (the pasta tends to settle in the bottom, so it needs to mixed around on an occasional basis) until the pasta is a shy of aldente and the sauce is pretty runny.
    Tip 1 - Pasta keeps cooking after you remove from heat. So remove when it is about a minute short of al dente.
    Tip 2 - The sauce might look very runny but it thickens a lot with the addition of cheese and as it cools.
  • Remove from heat and stir in shredded cheddar and paprika. Gently stir until cheese is melted and is silky smooth. Serve hot!
    Tip - If the sauce looks very thick, then stir in a splash of milk or water.

Video

Notes

Use a cheese block and not pre shredded - Store-bought shredded cheeses are coated with an anti-clumping mixture that prevents them from melting smooth. Use a block cheese and shred it yourself.
Salt - Adjust salt based on your preference.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 Serving | Calories: 709kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 26g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 139mg | Sodium: 1004mg | Potassium: 398mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1523IU | Calcium: 958mg | Iron: 1mg