Rich, cheesy, and satisfying, this Single-Serving Mac and Cheese recipe comes together on the stovetop just as easily as macaroni and cheese from a box, but it tastes so much better!
Since she’s home everyday for lunch now, my daughter Tessa often wants a warm, comforting lunch, especially now that the weather is finally cooling down.
A kid need something to look forward to after a morning of Zoom classes, right?
Since she loves to cook, we’ve been working on a super-easy Single-Serving Mac and Cheese recipe that she can make for herself in less than 15 minutes.
This rich, cheesy dish is just as easy to prepare as macaroni and cheese made from a box, but it tastes about 100 times better!
How to Make Single-Serving Mac and Cheese
Boil water in a small-to-medium saucepan. Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package.
In the meantime, measure out the butter and milk and grate the cheese.
Drain the pasta in a small colander and return it to the pan. Add the butter and milk and warm the mixture over low heat, stirring, until the butter melts.
Mix in the cheese, stirring until it melts into a smooth sauce that coats the pasta.
Stir in garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper and serve. If you’re feeling fancy, sprinkle a little extra cheese on top and add a dash of paprika.
Get Creative with the Cheese
It’s fun to try different cheeses for variety, or to mix various cheeses together for new and exciting flavor combinations. Experiment with any cheese that melts well, like Colby Jack, Gruyere, fontina, provolone, or mild cheddar.
If you like cheddar cheese, you’ll want to avoid sharp and extra sharp varieties as they make the sauce feel gritty. As for Gouda cheese, avoid smoked and aged varieties as they don’t melt well at all!
If you like flavorful cheeses that don’t melt super well, like goat, feta, or blue cheese, mix them together with meltier cheeses, using no more than half of the less-melty variety.
Mixing up the cheeses each time you make this dish makes it feel new and different every time!
Quick and Easy Single-Serving Stovetop Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup elbow macaroni (2 ounces)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 3/4 cup grated cheese (1¾ ounces)
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon paprika
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook macaroni according to the instructions on the package.
- Drain the pasta in a small colander and return it to the pan.
- Add the butter and milk. Stirring over low heat, warm the mixture until the butter has melted.
- Add the cheese to the pan, mixing until the cheese has melted and incorporated into a smooth sauce that coats the pasta.
- Stir in garlic powder and papkrika, as well as salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately.
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