Skip to main content

Homemade Instant Mac and Cheese

3.0

(30)

Image may contain Cutlery Fork Food Macaroni and Pasta
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone

What do people want from boxed mac and cheese? More cheese! This D.I.Y. version is extra cheesy but just as easy. Plus you can make it with any shape pasta you choose.

Cooks' Note

Cheddar cheese powder can be purchased at specialty food stores and online. Organic and conventional options are available.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    20 minutes

  • Yield

    4-6 servings

Ingredients

1 pound dried short pasta, such as macaroni, penne, or fusilli
Kosher salt
1 1/4 cups whole or low-fat milk
1 cup cheddar cheese powder (see Cooks' Note)
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until just al dente. Meanwhile, whisk milk and cheese powder in a medium bowl.

    Step 2

    Drain pasta and return to pot. Heat over low. Add butter and stir until melted and evenly coated, about 2 minutes. Add milk mixture and cook, stirring, until pasta is well coated and sauce thickens, 3–5 minutes. Taste and season with salt, if needed (some cheese powders will not require additional salt). Serve immediately.

Read More
Mexican pasta probably isn’t something you’ve thought about before, but this poblano sauce may have you rethinking your devotion to the red variety.
All the cozy vibes of the classic gooey-cheesy dish, made into a 20-minute meal.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Creamy and bright with just a subtle bit of heat, this five-ingredient, make-ahead dip is ready for company—just add crudités.
You can consider this recipe a template for creating a gooey, cheesy instant ramen dish with an appetizing golden crust in the oven.
Cool off with this easy zaru soba recipe: a Japanese dish of chewy buckwheat noodles served with chilled mentsuyu dipping sauce, daikon, nori, and scallions.
Cabbage is the unsung hero of the winter kitchen—available anywhere, long-lasting in the fridge, and super-affordable. It’s also an excellent partner for pasta.
An ex-boyfriend’s mom—who emigrated from Colombia—made the best meat sauce—she would fry sofrito for the base and simply add cooked ground beef, sazón, and jarred tomato sauce. My version is a bit more bougie—it calls for caramelized tomato paste and white wine—but the result is just as good.