The absolute ultimate comfort food, doesn't get any better than this Easy One Pot Creamy Mac and Cheese.
The macaroni's boiled with a blend of milk and water, not just water, and it's not drained after cooking.
As it boils, it releases the starch into the milk and water, thickening the sauce and giving you that perfect creamy béchamel sauce which coats the macaroni just right.
Easy, and quick, taking under half an hour to prepare and cook! The perfect delicious hearty lunch or dinner.
Tips
- The pasta is cooked in the sauce for about 10 minutes. Remember that you have to stir it every few minutes to ensure that the pasta does not stick to the bottom of the pot.
- When the pasta is almost done, tender but still firm, remove it from the heat and stir in your grated cheese. At this stage, the sauce containing the pasta should not be too thick.
- The pasta will continue cooking and the sauce will continue thickening when it is removed off the stove.
- Its best to serve immediately after cooking. However, even after an hour after cooking, the sauce may have almost completely absorbed into the macaroni but still has this smooth silky texture and taste to it.
So try out this recipe next time you are in the mac and cheese mood, the perfect easy weekday dinner!
If you like this recipe, be sure to check out my other amazing pasta recipes
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Enjoy ♥
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons / 24g all purpose / cake flour
- 3 Tablespoons / 42g butter salted or unsalted
- 2 cups / 500ml whole milk
- 2½ cups / 625ml water
- 2 cups / 125g uncooked pasta See notes
- 2 cups / 225g grated cheese See notes
- 1 teaspoon onion powder (optional)
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder (optional)
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Start by melting butter in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add flour. If you are using onion and mustard powder, then add it now and cook for 1 minute.
- Add milk and mix into butter and flour mixture and stir until it starts to thicken slightly.
- Pour in the water and add salt and pepper.
- Stir in the macaroni and mix. Stir as it starts to bubble and turn down the heat to low. Cook for 10 minutes until tender but firm. Remember that the macaroni continues cooking and the sauce thickens even after it has been removed from the stove.
- Remove from the stove and mix in the grated cheese.
- Garnish with chopped chives or parsley if you like.
- Serve immediately.
Rebecca | Becky Keeps House says
Ready in half an hour? Okay, you sold it to me. As a mother of two crazy kids, I totally appreciate the simple and quick. Going to try this soon!
The Gardening Foodie says
Oh definitely....This was my favourite recipe when my sons were little as well.It is still our favourite quick recipe. Let me know how it turns out.?
Rebecca | Becky Keeps House says
Apologies, I made this a few weeks ago but forgot to update you in the comments. Your recipe was so creamy and so, so good! I was liberal with the black pepper because we are spice lovers and I ended up tripling the recipe because my family loves pasta but even then we had barely any leftovers!
This one is definitely a keeper!
The Gardening Foodie says
OH I am so glad that you tried it out and loved it too. Thank you so much for letting me know, I really appreciate it.
Haha...I know, we never have leftovers either, no matter how much I make of this mac and cheese...it tastes so good ?
Alicia says
Perfectly creamy!!. It could be called 1-2-3 pasta because the recipe qtys are as easy as the method! Supper tonight wss a breeze? Thank you
The Gardening Foodie says
Oh, I am so glad you tried it, I think that this is the simplest and most creamiest pasta dishes I have ever made. I am really happy that you liked it as well.?
Emma - Bake Then Eat says
I adore mac and cheese, if given a choice it will be my last meal! I have never tried to make it this way, I shall definetly try it out as I love one Pot dishes 😀
The Gardening Foodie says
Thanks Emma. You know, I have tried so many mac and cheese recipes, and this one wins on all levels. I really hope that you try it out, it really is delicious:)
stacey @ The Sugar Coated Cottage says
I need a bowl of this tonight! I love this sauce, I can see how the milk would make a all the difference. And I would definitely like a little mustard powder!! Yum! Take care.
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you Stacey...This really is one of my favourite pasta recipes. Cooking it in the milk really adds to the creaminess and eliminates the dryness.
Have a great week!
Katherine | Love In My Oven says
Mmm I'm such a sucker for mac n' cheese. I LOVE that this is all one pot!! It looks so creamy and delicious. I must try it soon!
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you Katherine, this really is my lazy day recipe. One pot also means less washing up, perfect for my lazy day.
I am glad that you like the recipe!
heather (delicious not gorgeous) says
ahhh love how creamy this looks! leftover mac and cheese always gets dry to my tastebuds, but this looks like it'd stay nice and saucy (:
The Gardening Foodie says
Thanks Heather. It does stay saucy, but it really is best to serve and eat immediately....it is actually difficult to resist eating this mac and cheese straight after preparing
though:)
Patrick@looneyforfood.com says
It dosnt get much better than Mac and cheese!
The Gardening Foodie says
You so right Patrick...this is the perfect comfort food:)
Maria @ kitchenathoskins says
Creamy deliciousness...is all I can think off. All I need is a fork and that bowl, YUM!!!
The Gardening Foodie says
OH, this is creamy perfection all the way...and very difficult to refuse a second or third helping:)
Kelly @ Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats says
Mmmmm who doesn't love mac n cheese?! And homemade is always the best! This looks amazing and I love its one pot! Xoxo 🙂
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you Kelly, One pot is always best...less washing up 🙂
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness says
I make mac and cheese almost on a regular basis. Yours looks so good!!
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you Cathleen,this is my favourite recipe for mac and cheese:)
Thao @ In Good Flavor says
What a great recipe—simple and perfect! I'm dying to try this mac and cheese right now. It looks incredibly creamy and delicious!
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you for your kind words Thao. I hope you try it, it tastes awesome. Let me know how it turns out!
Kim | The Baking ChocolaTess says
I can't wait to try this!! I've been searching for something flavorful and creamy! Mac and cheese YES!
The Gardening Foodie says
Oh, I hope you do try out this recipe, it is one of our favourite ways to eat mac and cheese!
Deepika|TheLoveOfCakes says
I love the idea of cooking it with milk and water..I am sure this tastes so creamy and yummy!!
The Gardening Foodie says
Cooking it in milk and water really adds to the creaminess, and you don't have to make a separate sauce. Its the perfect all in one dish!