Name: Stove Top Mac and Cheese
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 5 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 lb pasta of choice; 3 tablespoons unsalted butter; 3 tablespoons all purpose flour; 3 cups whole milk; 3 cups cheddar cheese; 1 cup spring vegetable of choice

This creamy and downright delicious Stove Top Mac and Cheese is ready in under 20 minutes. Who knew that making it from scratch was this easy? Is there a more kid-friendly recipe that mac and cheese? Pasta enveloped in an ooey gooey cheese sauce? I mean, what’s not to love? This Stove Top Mac and Cheese requires very little effort and since the flavors are super simple and comforting, kids go absolutely crazy for it. Mine included!

Pasta

20 m

American

Weelicious

March 13, 2026

Weelicious.com

From the Cook

1/6

Stove Top Mac and Cheese

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Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Stove Top Mac and Cheese

1 lb pasta of choice(ziti, elbow, rigatoni or penne work great)

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

3 tablespoons all purpose flour

3 cups whole milk

3 cups cheddar cheesegrated

1 cup spring vegetable of choice fresh or frozen peas, cauliflower florets, sautéed leeks or chopped asparagus.

Instructions

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Instructions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add 2 tbsp salt, add pasta and cook according to the package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.

Melt the butter in a separate large pot over medium heat and immediately sprinkle in the flour. Whisk vigorously for 3 minutes or until the butter and flour make a paste.

Add the milk, bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and whisk 3-4 minutes or until the mixture thickens.

Add the grated cheese and whisk until melted. Stir in the pasta and spring vegetable and coat the pasta throughly. The vegetables will warm during this process. If sauce is too thick add a little pasta water to loosen.

Nutrition

My Calorie Intake

0
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Tips & Tricks (5)

Toast Your Roux for Depth 🔥
Cook the butter and flour mixture for 1-2 minutes over medium heat, stirring constantly, to eliminate the raw flour taste and create a deeper, more complex base for your cheese sauce.
Temper Your Cheese Addition 🧀
Remove the pan from heat before adding shredded cheese, then stir in slowly—this prevents the cheese from clumping and ensures a silky, smooth sauce every time.
Salt Your Pasta Water Generously 🧂
Use salt levels similar to sea water when cooking pasta; this is your only chance to season the pasta itself and will enhance the overall dish's flavor profile significantly.
Reserve Starchy Pasta Water 💧
Save 1 cup of pasta cooking water before draining—use it to adjust the sauce consistency if it becomes too thick, creating a restaurant-quality creamy texture.
Add Vegetables at the Right Time 🥦
Sauté spring vegetables separately for 2-3 minutes before folding them into the finished mac and cheese to preserve their texture and prevent them from becoming mushy.