Creamy Stovetop Mac and Cheese Recipe
This is my favorite mac and cheese recipe and it only requires 5 ingredients and about 15 minutes!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 17 minutes
Makes: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 12 oz dried macaroni pasta
- 12 oz evaporated milk (regular milk will not work)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 3 cups mixed shredded cheese* (I used a blend of sharp cheddar, fontina and freshly grated parmesan)
Instructions
- Place macaroni in a wide, shallow braiser or skillet (I don't recommend using a deep pan - wide and shallow is key here). Cover with cold water so that the macaroni is just submerged and no more.
- Place the pot over a medium heat burner and bring to a simmer, stirring often. Because this recipe requires less water and no draining, the macaroni is more likely to stick and requires a bit of stirring.
- After about 6-7 minutes, the pasta should be al dente and the remaining water in the pan should be very thick. Add the evaporated milk and bring to a simmer. After 2-3 minutes the pasta should be cooked through.
- Add the heavy cream and butter and stir until butter is melted. Remove from heat and stir in the cheeses. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
Notes
*Please do NOT use pre-shredded cheese! The mix of cheeses is up to you, but I like to use a blend of a flavorful cheese (sharp cheddar), a melty cheese (fontina, monterey jack, or similar), and a salty cheese (freshly grated parmesan). My ratio was 1 1/2 cups cheddar, 1 cup fontina and 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan.
Feel free to add whatever mix-ins you like! Crispy bacon or caramelized onions would be delicious stirred in at the end.
This recipe can be multiplied as many times as necessary to feed a crowd.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cupCalories: 340kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 11gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 500mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5g
