For more pasta-full goodness, try my One Pot Creamy Parmesan Garlic Gnocchi, Creamy Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel or Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese.Use a Variety of Cheeses: Cheddar isn’t the only cheese to use. Keep this one in your back pocket for any of those times - or just because. When winter doesn’t seem to ever end in your neck of the woods, or you’re in desperate need of cozy-but-fancy comfort food, or you just can’t take another night of chicken nuggets and want to make the family something special but simple, this creamy stovetop macaroni and cheese is your BFF. Really, the world is your macaroni and cheese-loving oyster here. You can also swap the pancetta for diced ham or bacon, and the spinach for steamed peas or broccoli. Don’t love pancetta and/or spinach? Feel free to leave them out. Gah, now I just want to go eat a hunk of cheese.ģ. That being said, feel free to adjust the ratios to your preferences, or use entirely different cheeses, such as sharp yellow cheddar, Fontina, Monterey Jack or even Gouda. I tested this recipe with multiple cheeses and measurements of said cheese, and I found the equal ratio of sharp white cheddar cheese and mild cheddar cheese to be the perfect flavor combo - a little tangy and complex with some sweetness. Since you’ll be stirring the hot noodles into a hot sauce, they’ll continue to cook a bit more once everything is incorporated, and nobody likes a soggy noodle.Ģ.

Be sure to cook the noodles to “ al dente,” or firm to the bite, and no more. I’ve already waxed poetic on all the reasons I love this mac and cheese the most (again, that white cheddar cheese sauce, yesssss), but let me spill my secrets/tips on how to make the best version of your life:ġ. TIPS FOR THE BEST HOMEMADE MAC AND CHEESE It really is that simple, it all comes together in less than 30 minutes, and it makes enough for a crowd, which makes it perfect for big families, dinner parties or as leftovers throughout the week (hellooooo, mac and cheese lunches, you complete me). No matter how you cook it, the process is easy: cook the noodles and the pancetta, make the sauce, stir in the cheese, then stir in the noodles, spinach and cooked pancetta. This mac and cheese recipe is basically a one-pot meal, and could actually be one if you decide to cook the noodles first and then proceed to make the recipe in the same pot once the noodles are drained.

Stove top creamy mac and cheese recipes