Prepare to have your world rocked: this is the simplest macaroni and cheese recipe I’ve ever made and it is REALLY good!
Last year, I made a really easy mac and cheese that I was really happy with, but I think this recipe might top that one as my new favorite.
So why is it revolutionary? You cook the pasta in milk, then stir in grated cheese, which means you skip the boiling and draining step. I stirred in a can of tuna and baked it to make a tuna casserole, but you can also eat it just off the stove-top and it’s creamy and perfect.
My kitchen here is pretty bare-bones so I don’t even have a cheese grater. I just chopped the cheese into small dice and it worked really well.
Recipe:
(adapted from White on Rice)
2 cups dried pasta (I used bowties)
2 cups 2% milk
1 cup loosely packed shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dijon mustard
1 can tuna (optional)
Combine the pasta and milk in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring, with the heat low for about 20 minutes (until the pasta is soft). Make sure the milk doesn’t boil!
Stir in the mustard, salt, and cheese (if you’re going to bake it, reserve about 1/4 cup of the cheese for sprinkling over the top).
Cover and let stand for about 5 minutes, then stir well to serve.
If baking: put the pasta in an 8″ round pan and sprinkle with remaining cheese. (If you’re using tuna, stir that in before sprinkling with cheese).
Put in 375 degree oven and bake about 10-15 minutes, or until cheese on top is nicely melted.
Paradigm shift!
What a great new way to make mac n cheese!!!
Found your blog from thenest.com – this mac and cheese looks so good and so easy I’m going to pick up the indredients and have it for dinner! Thanks!
We love your adaption of the recipe. The bow-tie pasta is such a nice touch, and the tuna variation is sounding super tasty. We might have to do that tonight.
Glad you loved the recipe!
T & D
I think I’m gonna cry!
Beautiful… so simple, so amazing.
I gotta try this! A bit dubious about the mustard, though–you know what an old-fashioned girl I am.
Ooh I love this idea! I need to try it!
Oh my. Sweet, sweet mac and cheese. This looks like a giant bowl of golden-cheesy-goodness!
Mmmmm… Now that’s comfort food!
This IS revolutionary!! Holy smokes!
Yum! This looks delicious.
Mac and cheese and my favorite comfort food. I also add mustard to my sauce for extra zing
Check my version at http://www.phamfatale.com/id_50/title_Le-Mac-and-Cheese/
This looks absolutely amazing and revolutionary like you said! Totally trying this next time I want to make mac & cheese!
This sounds great, I bet it was deliciously creamy. What a neat idea to cook the pasta in milk.
I just made this, and I will NEVER go back!! Soooooo good!
pretty much the best mac & cheese idea ever.
I’m off to make this right now.