Stove Top Macaroni and Cheese recipe for Secret Recipe Club! This easy Mac and Cheese comes together with only one pot and is packed with three types of cheese.
Secret Recipe Club
It is time for the Secret Recipe Club again! For those who haven’t seen my previous Secret Recipe Club posts, this club includes a group of bloggers who are assigned a different blog each month and secretly make a recipe to post on their specified reveal day. I look forward to my assignment email every month and discovering new blogs. It is also fun to see what someone chooses from your blog.
This month I was assigned to Rebekah’s blog, Making Miracles. Rebekah first started her blog in 2006 as a way to chronicle her experiences in the surrogacy of four baby girls, but it has now evolved to include her children, life, and recipes. She has resided in a few areas of the United States and in Senegal and now lives in Georgia with her two children. You will find mostly family-friendly, easy meals on her site, but she also loves to experiment and get more creative. She says she “would prefer not to ever make the same thing twice, because there are so many new and fun things yet to be tested out in my kitchen.” I definitely get that feeling.
I came across her recipe for Easy Stove Top Macaroni and Cheese and suddenly had a craving. Plus it was a huge hit with the kids. I also saved these recipes for later: Cheesy Breakfast Potatoes, British Scones, Brown Sugar and Balsamic Glazed Pork Roast, Baked Gouda Mac n Cheese, Cottage Pie, Italian Sliders, Sheboygan Grilled Brats, Chicken Mushroom Fettuccine Alfredo, Shepherd’s Pie, Orange Garlic Rice, Chocolate Chip Cookie Souffle, and Gorditas Dulces de Harina de Trigo.
This Stove Top Macaroni and Cheese is the perfect recipe for a quick lunch. It was so easy to prepare and best of all uses only one pot. I often double to recipe to feed our family of four.
Uncooked elbow macaroni (or another favorite small pasta shape) is simmered in chicken broth and milk until tender. Once the pot is removed from heat and the mixture stops bubbling, Cheddar, Mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese is added a handful at a time to create a smooth and creamy sauce.
Do not add the cheese until the chicken broth and milk have stopped bubbling. If the mixture is still too hot when the cheese is added, there is a chance it may curdle. Gently place back over low heat only if needed to melt the cheese.
If the sauce is too thick after all the cheese has been incorporated, mix in a splash more broth or milk. Be careful to not add too much. If too thin, add a little more cheese or even a bit of cornstarch. Letting the mixture sit for a few minutes off the heat may also help.
Rebekah recommends folding in some diced tomatoes or bacon. For a kick of heat, add a pinch or so of red pepper flakes.
This macaroni and cheese can also be made in the rice cooker, though I have not personally tried it. Add the pasta, chicken broth, and milk, then cook until the macaroni is tender, 30-40 minutes. Mix in the cheeses and seasonings until smooth. Let it sit on warm for 10-15 minutes to develop a crust on the bottom.
Looking for more macaroni and cheese recipes?
Try my Beer Mac and Cheese, Caprese Macaroni and Cheese, and Macaroni and Cheese Soufflé.
Check out what everyone else made:
- Pineapple Mango Salsa from My Wholefood Family
- Cheese Tortellini Soup with Kielbasa, Kale, and Cannellini from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Lemony Potato, Broccolini, and Goat Cheese Salad from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
- Pull-Apart Buttery Garlic Dinner Rolls from Lavender and Lovage
- Chocolate Chess Pie from Lemon and Cheese
- Mexican Pizza from Life on Food
- Pizza Rolls from A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Apple Oat Muffins from Making Miracles
- Waffles & Eggs with Creamy Sage Sauce from Fantastical Sharing of Recipes
- Ricotta Cheesecake Parfaits from I am a Honey Bee
- 4-Ingredient Nutella Brownie Bites from Fearless Homemaker
- Beef Pot Pie with Herbed Biscuits from The Spiffy Cookie
- Allergy-Friendly Grain-free Waffles from Natural Noshing
- Lebanese Potatoes and Eggs from Our Good Life
- Breakfast Grilled Cheese from Caleigh’s Kitchen
Stove Top Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
Adapted from Making Miracles, from Allrecipes
Stove Top Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups dried pasta elbow macaroni, small shells, or similar shape
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup milk
- 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine the pasta, chicken broth, and milk over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until al dente, barely tender, about 15 minutes. If the liquid evaporates before the pasta is done, add a little more broth or milk.
- Remove from heat and wait for the liquid to stop bubbling. Stir in the cheese, a handful at a time, until smooth. Season with paprika, salt, and pepper to taste.
Karen @ Karen's Kitchen Stories
Awesome Tara! This looks so delicious and I can understand how it was a big hit! Love Rebekah and her blog. Gorgeous photos and love the red spoons!!
Karen
Mac and cheese is ALWAYS welcome on my table especially when it’s a cold and wintry February evening! Great SRC pick! Karen xx
Lauren @ Sew You Think You Can cook
Love Rebekah! This recipe is perfect! Looks like I know what I’m having for lunch Friday. 🙂
Susan @ My Wholefood Family
That looks so delicious, if only I could eat dairy! Have pinned it to show hubby. Love Rebekah’s blog, great pick!
Rebekah @ Making Miracles
Yumm!! I’d forgotten about this one – I love quick and easy stove top recipes like this. It looks fantastic with the pasta you chose!! 🙂 Happy reveal day!
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie
Mmm I love a good creamy stovetop mac and cheese! Love all the different kinds of cheese in there.
Emily @ Life on Food
Now I have a huge craving for mac and cheese. Happy Reveal day!
Wendy, A Day in the Life on the Farm
It’s always fun reading Rebekah’s blog. Great choice for this month.
Amy (@amy_donovan)
This sounds wonderful, and I adore Rebekah and her blog. I’ve been meaning to try a stovetop mac + cheese for my own kiddo, and I’ll have to give this one a try! Your pictures are lovely.
sallybr
If you want comfort food, it’s hard to beat a little macaroni and cheese…. I feel warm inside just thinking about it!
Great pick for your assignment…