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5 ingredient stovetop mac n cheese
one pot meals

Stovetop Mac and Cheese

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
Makes: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 12 oz dried macaroni pasta
  • 12 oz evaporated milk
  • 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.  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

This recipe can be multiplied as many times as necessary to feed a crowd.
The best results come from using a wide, shallow pan like a braiser or large skillet.
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.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 340kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 11gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 500mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5g