Easy Stove Top Mac and Cheese
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Creamy macaroni and cheese made on the stove top with cheddar cheese, evaporated milk, and lots of spices plus it’s ready in less than 30 minutes! This recipe originally posted in November 2011.
I don’t know about you but whenever I make macaroni and cheese I bake it. I think it tastes amazing but it takes a while because you have to boil the noodles, mix up the sauce, and then bake it. A stove top recipe made in under 30 minutes sounded pretty good to me.
- elbow macaroni noodles
- butter
- egg
- evaporated milk
- hot sauce
- salt and pepper
- mustard powder
- nutmeg
- garlic powder
- sharp cheddar cheese
Another great thing about this recipe is that it can be made all in one pot. I started out by boiling the macaroni noodles. Once they were cooked and drained I returned them to the pot along with the butter and mixed until it had melted.
Meanwhile, I combined the egg, evaporated milk, hot sauce, and seasonings in a bowl and then added it to the macaroni noodles. After mixing that well it was time for the cheese.
The type of cheese you use is totally up to you. I used half sharp cheddar and half white Vermont cheddar cheese. Other great cheeses would be Gruyere, gouda, or cream cheese. Use what you like best for the taste you are looking for.
Once you add the cheese you simply cook it over low heat until it has melted and the macaroni and cheese is smooth and creamy. This may be the best macaroni and cheese that I’ve had that isn’t baked in the oven.
The first bite was delicious. The mac and cheese was creamy and had a sharp flavor from the cheddar cheese. I loved the small addition of the hot sauce because it gave the macaroni just a little bit of spice in addition to the other seasonings. This will definitely be my go to quick macaroni and cheese recipe!
Stovetop Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 12 oz. elbow macaroni
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- 1 egg
- 8 oz. evaporated milk
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1 t. salt
- 1 t. black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 1/2 c. sharp cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- In a large pot cook the macaroni according to the package directions. Drain and return to the pot.
- Reduce heat to low and add the butter to the macaroni in the pot and toss to coat.
- Whisk together the egg, milk, hot sauce, salt, pepper, mustard powder, and nutmeg. Pour over the macaroni noodles and stir until well combined.
- Add in the cheddar cheese and mix until it has melted. Continue to cook over low heat for 2-3 minutes.
This will be on the menu soon as I have all the ingredients on hand. We love a good creamy mac and cheese.
I love a good creamy stove top mac and cheese! This recipe is perfect for a weeknight!
This looks so creamy and delicious and I love how easy it is to make!
I’m not a big mac and cheese fan but my little guy would love this – the creamier, the better in his opinion!
I love the spices and hot sauce that you added! Looks like we will be having mac and cheese for lunch!
I love making this on the stove top but never thought to add the evaporated milk – genius! I also add the dry mustard and nutmeg to all my mac and cheese recipes.
The mustard and nutmeg add such a great flavor.
I absolutely love mac and cheese and this gooey recipe! I’d never used evaporated milk or hot sauce in our version and just love how creamy it is and John loved the hot sauce kick. This is our new go-to recipe!
It’s so easy and quick to make! You’ll love it!
This is such a wonderful, classically creamy mac and cheese recipe! I love the richness the evaporated milk gives it and how easy it is to make on the stovetop without heating the oven.
I’ve always been a baked mac and cheese lover too, so it’s good to get a recipe from a like-minded person for stove top!
Another use for my evaporated milk! Love it! Perfect for those times when I’m out of real milk and/or heavy cream!
Yes! My son drinks milk like crazy so we are often out of it but we always have evaporated milk in the house!
I’ve never made it with an egg before – very interesting! I bet it add a thickness to the sauce. Stovetop mac and cheese is perfect for weeknight dinners.
I just love your Stovetop Mac N Cheese. Simple and tasty, we would really enjoy your recipe. Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and come back soon!
Miz Helen
What is it about fall and mac and cheese? I am always craving it! I love the evaporated milk in there 🙂
Hi Heather. Glad you enjoyed this recipe! It’s my go-to mac and cheese :).
We typically make our “stove top” mac & cheese in the rice cooker… but I’ve seen this recipe floating around. Must mean I should give it a try. Can you taste the hot sauce? Or, is it okay to omit it, as we don’t have in our house 😉