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An extreme close-up shot of a fork lifting a scoop of homemade mac and cheese, showing off the velvety cheese sauce.

Creamy Stovetop Mac and Cheese: The Ultimate 30-Minute Recipe

The ultimate creamy stovetop mac and cheese recipe! This easy, 30-minute dish uses a blend of cheeses and a foolproof method to create the richest, most velvety cheese sauce right on your stovetop—no baking required.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 650

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb elbow macaroni or other short pasta
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1.5 cups whole milk room temperature is best
  • 1 cup evaporated milk
  • 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese freshly grated
  • 4 oz Gruyère cheese freshly grated
  • 4 oz low-moisture mozzarella freshly grated
  • 1 tsp mustard powder
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper freshly ground

Equipment

  • 1 Large Pot
  • 1 Large Saucepan or Dutch Oven
  • 1 Whisk
  • 1 Box grater

Instructions
 

  1. Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook according to package directions for al dente. Drain well and set aside.
  2. While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Once melted, whisk in the flour. Cook for 1 minute, whisking constantly, until it's bubbly and smells fragrant.
  3. Gradually pour in the whole milk and evaporated milk while whisking vigorously to prevent lumps. Continue cooking, stirring often with the whisk, for about 5-7 minutes, until the sauce has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.
  4. Remove the saucepan from the heat completely. Add the grated cheddar, Gruyère, and mozzarella in three batches, stirring until each addition is completely melted and smooth before adding the next.
  5. Stir in the mustard powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until well combined. Add the drained pasta to the cheese sauce and stir gently until all the pasta is coated. Serve immediately.

Notes

Grate Your Own Cheese: For the smoothest sauce, avoid pre-shredded cheese. It contains anti-caking agents that make the sauce grainy.
Don't Boil the Sauce: After adding the milk, keep the sauce at a gentle simmer. Boiling can cause it to break. Always remove from heat before adding the cheese.
Salt Your Pasta Water: This is the only chance you have to season the pasta itself. Be generous with the salt!
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