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Easy Stovetop Mac and Cheese

This Easy Stovetop Mac and Cheese recipe is the only no bake mac and cheese recipe you will ever need. Rich, decadent and super creamy, this easy 30 minute meal the perfect comfort food dish!

Easy Stovetop Mac and Cheese

Three words. Creamy macaroni and cheese.

Well, I guess that’s actually four words. Either way, I have your attention now don’t I?

Is there any more of a comfort food in this universe and macaroni and cheese? For anyone who is confused by the question… the answer is no!

That’s why this easy homemade mac and cheese recipe is one of my most popular on this website. Because we all love to be a little naughty once in a while…

Now, I love my Baked Mac and Cheese and my Green Chile Macaroni and Cheese but my go-to these days when I need a cheesy comfort food pick me up is this no bake stovetop recipe.

It’s easy, less dishes to wash and serves up your pasta in a thick and creamy cheese sauce that you just can’t replicate by baking it in the oven.

Plus it’s done start to finish in just under 30 minutes and that makes this pot of pasta my favorite easy dinner idea on busy weeknights.

spoonful of creamy no bake mac and cheese

Why this is the BEST mac and cheese

Let’s be real .. if you Google ‘Homemade Macaroni and Cheese recipe’, you will be rewarded with a billion results. I mean, who doesn’t love a big bowl of cheesy pasta?

But let me tell you why THIS recipe is going to be your favorite when it comes to your craving for classic macaroni and cheese.

  • Easy – It gets no easier than this.. butter, flour, seasonings, diary, cheese and pasta. Boom!
  • Flavor – I love my mac and cheese recipes to have a bit of bite so that Parmesan is a must have for me. You don’t see it in too many macaroni and cheese recipes and that is a true shame!
  • Time – Seriously, you have had a hard day and the kids are being dramatic and the husband it growly .. this is one easy dinner idea that is ready in under 30 minutes.
  • Customize – Want to add peas? Go for it! Think it needs bacon or ham or both? Throw it in! Want to add some different cheese flavors .. You got it, sis! Make this YOUR own macaroni and cheese recipe by customizing it any way you want.
  • Cheese sauce – Mmm .. that sauce!! I love my macaroni cheese sauce to have some bite to it so I use extra sharp cheddar cheese and add in grated Parmesan. My cheese sauce is creamy and thick.. but not too thick! .. and TASTES like mac and cheese sauce should!

pan of white cheddar mac n cheese

Stovetop Mac and Cheese Ingredients

  • Pasta – This recipe is not picky so use whatever shaped pasta you like best. I usually go between elbow macaroni or shells.
  • Butter – This is for flavor and to help build the roux which is the foundation of your homemade cheese sauce.
  • All purpose flour – The second part of your roux mixture.
  • Seasonings – Salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and a dash of cayenne
  • Sour cream – Creamy dreamy goodness, sour cream adds a bit of tang and some creaminess.
  • Sharp cheese – I prefer to use sharp cheddar or extra sharp cheddar. When I made this particular recipe post, I used a mix of sharp yellow and sharp white cheddar cheeses.
  • Parmesan cheese – My not-so-secret ingredients. Grated Parmesan cheese adds a bit of a bite to your cheese sauce.
  • Milk – Creamy dairy is always a good thing.
  • Chicken broth – Substituting out a bit of the milk for chicken broth brings some extra flavor to the cheese sauce and helps the sauce not become too thick.

No Bake Mac and Cheese Instructions

To make this no bake stovetop mac n cheese, start by bringing a large pot of salted water to boil and prepare macaroni following the instructions on the pasta box. Drain and set aside.

While your pasta is cooking, in a large saucepan or skillet, melt butter over medium high heat. Once melted, add in flour and whisk to combine. Cook for 1 minute.

Pour in milk and chicken broth and spices. Bring to a low boil, whisking constantly.

Once a low boil has been reached, add in cheeses and continue to stir until sauce is creamy and smooth.

Combine pasta and sauce and stir well to combine. 

Let your mac and cheese sit for about 5 minutes minutes to set and then serve immediately. Feel free to to garnish with fresh parsley or diced chives.

Pro Tips for No Bake Mac and Cheese

  • Cheese is always better off the block. Bags of shredded cheese are coated in anti-clumping preservatives so shredding or cutting up a block of cheese is always better.  It tastes better and always melts better than the convenience bags of pre-shredded cheese. 
  • Go crazy with your cheese choices, if you want. I like sharp cheddars but gruyere, smoked gouda, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack .. all solid choices!
  • Stir in some cooked bacon, ham pieces, leftover chicken or some diced jalapenos for extra flavor.
  • When you add your flour to the butter, be sure to continuously whisk them together to make a roux and to ensure your flour will not stick to your pan. I use a silicone whisk to do this as to not scratch my pan bottom.
  • Looking for more easy recipes that wonโ€™t break the bank? Donโ€™t forget to check out my Broke Until Payday ebook where I share 30 original recipes celebrating easy recipes with bold, restaurant-quality flavors while trying to be budget friendly to help save you money! Grab yours today HERE!

This super creamy stovetop mac and cheese is easy to bring together, super quick to make and is so creamy and dreamy that you will want to share this dish with everyone you meet.

Or maybe I should say you will want to make a second batch and share THAT with everyone you meet because you definitely are not going to want to share the first serving with anybody, you’re going to want to eat all of that yourself.

Either way, believe me, you are going to love this no bake mac and cheese recipe!

And for the record, totally not judging on the cheesy pasta hoarding… not that I’ve ever personally done that.

Right.

Looking for more easy pasta dishes? Here you go!

ENJOY!!

Easy Stovetop Mac and Cheese

This Stovetop Creamy Macaroni and Cheese recipe is the only no bake mac and cheese recipe you will ever need. Rich, decadent and super creamy, this easy 30 minute meal the perfect comfort food dish!
This Easy Stovetop Mac and Cheese recipe is the only no bake mac and cheese recipe you will ever need. Rich, decadent and super creamy, this easy 30 minute meal the perfect comfort food dish!
Heather
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Resting Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Serving Size 12 ea

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces pasta, elbows, shells, ect..
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 4 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 4 cups whole milk
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper, to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder, to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, to taste
  • 2/3 cup parmesan, grated
  • 16 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded or cut in cubes
  • 1/2 cup sour cream

Instructions

  • To make this no bake stovetop mac n cheese, start by bringing a large pot of salted water to boil and prepare macaroni following the instructions on the pasta box. Drain and set aside.
  • While your pasta is cooking, in a large saucepan or skillet, melt butter over medium high heat. Once melted, add in flour and whisk to combine. Cook for 1 minute.
  • Pour in milk and chicken broth and spices. Bring to a low boil, whisking constantly.
  • Once a low boil has been reached, add in cheeses and continue to stir until sauce is creamy and smooth. Combine pasta and sauce and stir well to combine. Let your mac and cheese sit for about 5 minutes minutes to set and then serve immediately

Notes

Pro Tips for No Bake Mac and Cheese
  • Cheese is always better off the block. Bags of shredded cheese are coated in anti-clumping preservatives so shredding or cutting up a block of cheese is always better.ย  It tastes better and always melts better than the convenience bags of pre-shredded cheese.ย 
  • Go crazy with your cheese choices, if you want. I like sharp cheddars but gruyere, smoked gouda, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack .. all solid choices!
  • Stir in some cooked bacon, ham pieces, leftover chicken or some diced jalapenos for extra flavor.
  • When you add your flour to the butter, be sure to continuously whisk them together to make a roux and to ensure your flour will not stick to your pan. I use a silicone whisk to do this as to not scratch my pan bottom.
  • Looking for more easy recipes that wonโ€™t break the bank? Donโ€™t forget to check out my Broke Until Payday ebook where I share 30 original recipes celebratingย easy recipes with bold, restaurant-quality flavorsย while trying to be budget friendly to help save you money! Grab yours todayย HERE!

Nutrition

Serving: 12ea | Calories: 233.5kcal | Carbohydrates: 13.9g | Protein: 7.3g | Fat: 16.6g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4.4g | Cholesterol: 51.4mg | Sodium: 435.2mg | Potassium: 92.1mg | Fiber: 0.7g | Sugar: 2.5g | Vitamin A: 645IU | Vitamin C: 0.7mg | Calcium: 206mg | Iron: 0.2mg

Update Notes: This post was originally published in June of 2018 but was republished with an updated recipe, new photos, step by step instructions and tips in June of 2024.

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13 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Yummy i wish i could dig my spoon into the screen right now.Perfect family comfort food.What could you subsitute for condensed cheddar soup? Not available in my country

  2. 5 stars
    Who can resist these homemade creamy macaroni and cheese? I love the crispy edges you got from finishing it in the oven. Definitely the perfect recipe to surprise my daughter with one day after school!

  3. 5 stars
    Baked creamy macaroni and cheese is an ultimate delicious comforting food! Every kid would love it…and adult too!

    1. It really is my favorite comfort food choice. If I could eat macaroni and cheese everyday, I probably would but my waistband has decided otherwise ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. 5 stars
    Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food. I’m quite partial to anything pasta and when you add cheese to it I’m in pasta/cheese heaven. I’ve never thought of adding the condensed soup to the recipe. I can see where it would make it creamier. This recipe is a keeper.

    1. I usually have a couple of macaroni and cheese recipes up my sleeve and this recipe using the soup definitely comes out creamier. It’s definitely a favorite around my house

  5. 5 stars
    My family LOVES mac n’ cheese….in fact it is requested often for “birthday dinners”. My grandson always asks me to make it….he loves taking it to school for lunches. I will have to give this a try.

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