My daughter, like most kids, would eat mac and cheese for every meal. Homemade creamy mac and cheese is her idea of pure comfort food, bliss, and happiness. This stovetop homemade mac and cheese is a basic, straight-forward, no-frills recipe the whole family will love. No breadcrumbs, no lobster, no bacon. Just classic macaroni and cheese. It’s easy, ready in 30 minutes, and uses real cheese. No processed blocks of cheese or neon orange powder!
Recipe Ingredients
To make homemade shells and cheese on the stove, you’ll need:
Pasta shells (or pasta of choice) Unsalted butter All-purpose flour Milk (I used Silk Unsweetened Cashewmilk) Salt and pepper Garlic powder Dry ground mustard Extra sharp cheddar cheese Parmesan cheese
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Mac and Cheese on the Stovetop
Making mac and cheese shells on the stove is so simple and tastes way better than anything you’d get in a box! Here are the basic steps:
Recipe Tips
Cheese: Grate your own cheddar rather than buying pre-grated because pre-shredded cheese is resistant to melting. It also tends to clump up when added to a cheese sauce. To make it creamier: After adding the pasta to the cheese sauce, you may need to add a splash of milk to loosen things up. It really just depends on how thick you like your homemade creamy mac and cheese. Reheating: If you have leftovers, be sure to reheat them gently on the stovetop. You don’t want the cheese to separate, nor do you want to dry out the pasta.
More Easy Mac and Cheese Recipes:
ALL OF MY PASTA RECIPES! Freezer: The recipe halves easily but I make it as written because I have a real mac and cheese fan. I freeze leftovers in single-serve portions and can pull them out and re-heat at a moment’s notice. I love planned leftovers. Frozen shells and cheese will last up to 3 months. To Reheat: Warm over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes or heat in 30-second bursts in the microwave. If the mac and cheese seems dry, add a splash of milk to loosen it up. Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Easy 30-Minute Taco Macaroni and Cheese – Super creamy, ultra cheesy, flavored with taco seasoning, black beans, green onions, tomatoes, and cilantro!! EASY comfort food with a Mexican flair that’s a family FAVORITE!! 30-Minute Stovetop Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese — The pumpkin flavor is present without being overwhelming and what you notice is how cheesy and creamy the macaroni tastes. One-Skillet Tex Mex Beef Mac & Cheese – An EASY recipe that’s made in ONE skillet so you don’t have to cook the pasta separately!! Loaded with ground beef, peppers, tomatoes, cheese, and cilantro! 20-Minute Stovetop White Cheddar Mac and Cheese – Almost as FAST and EASY as using a box but tastes a million times BETTER!! So creamy, ridiculously cheesy, and the extra sharp white cheddar cheese gives this mac and cheese so much FLAVOR!! Instant Pot Chili Mac — Hearty chili mac made with ground beef, onions, tomatoes, kidney beans, and two types of melted CHEESE! EASY, ready in 20 minutes, and a cheesy comfort food family favorite that’s perfect for busy weeknights! Post brought to you by Silk. The recipe, images, text, and opinions expressed are my own.
