Name: Stovetop Mac and Cheese
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: serves 6 people
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 60 g (1/2 stick) unsalted butter; 50 g (1/2 cup) all-purpose flour; ½ tsp ground garlic; ¼ tsp ground nutmeg; 750 ml (3 cups) milk; 650 ml (2 1/2 cups) water; 1 bay leaf; 1 sprig of fresh sage; 300 g (10.5 oz) elbow macaroni; ½ tsp salt; ¼ tsp ground black pepper; 100 g (1 cup) Gouda, grated; 120 g (1 cup) Cheddar, grated

Stovetop Mac and Cheese

Mac and Cheese is a popular pasta dish for its cheesy, creamy, and delicious taste. It's a favorite among kids and adults alike and can be prepared in just 30 minutes, making it a convenient midweek meal. For this recipe, we have used a combination of Cheddar and Gouda cheese, but you can choose other types of cheese as well. This beginner-friendly recipe is easy to learn and perfect for anyone who loves mac and cheese.

The creamiest Mac and Cheese

We usually make Mac and Cheese when we need a little coziness and comfort. These are the top reasons why you should make this recipe soon:

extra creamy, hearty, and cozy sauce
when we are using small pasta, we can get all those delicious flavors
a simple, beginner-friendly recipe
this dish is made in 30 minutes
one-pot recipe

Essential ingredients

As the name suggests, this pasta dish calls for macaroni and cheese. However, we need a few more ingredients. You can read more about them below.

Béchamel sauce—For thickness and creaminess, make Béchamel sauce. To make it, you will need butter, flour, milk, and spices.

Pasta - choose your favorite pasta. We adore elbow macaroni for Mac and Cheese. This recipe is sponsored by Zlato Polje, and we used their navihančke in this recipe. If you don't have Zlato Polje navihančki, you can use any other small pasta like penne or shells.

Cheese—In this recipe, we use freshly grated Gouda and Cheddar cheese. They are both great, as they melt well. Instead of Gouda, use whole mozzarella (shredded) or Gruyere instead.

Storing

We don’t recommend storing the Stovetop Mac and Cheese, as it's best to serve it fresh and warm. If you plan on reheating it in the next couple of hours, make sure to add some water while reheating on the stove, to make the sauce creamy.

How to make Stovetop Mac and Cheese at home (video)

Check this quick video to master this Stovetop Mac and Cheese recipe at home.

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Ingredients

Mac and Cheese

60 g (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

50 g (1/2 cup) all-purpose flour

½ tsp ground garlic

¼ tsp ground nutmeg

750 ml (3 cups) milk

650 ml (2 1/2 cups) water

1 bay leaf

1 sprig of fresh sage

300 g (10.5 oz) elbow macaroni

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp ground black pepper

100 g (1 cup) Gouda, grated

120 g (1 cup) Cheddar, grated

Tools and equipment

pot

grater

whisk

METHOD

Béchamel sauce

Add butter to a pot. When the butter melts, add the flour and stir to combine. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally for the flour to cook and it becomes light brown. Add spices and half of the milk. Stir well with a whisk and cook until thick, then add the rest of the milk and stir to combine.
cook the pasta and finish

Add water, bay leaf, and sage to the pot and bring to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook for 12 - 14 minutes or until cooked al dente. Remove from the heat, season with salt and pepper, and add grated cheese. Stir well to combine, then divide between six plates and serve. Optionally sprinkle with chopped chives.

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Stovetop Mac and Cheese