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One Pot Mac and Cheese

May 7, 2020 by Caitlin Monson Leave a Comment

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NO flour, NO butter and all the delicious cheesinesss of traditional mac n’ cheese! Plus it’s only 7 ingredients and takes 10 minutes to make!

This easy one pot mac n' cheese recipe only requires 7 ingredients and is full of flavor! It's the perfect comfort food!

Can you think of anything more nostalgic than macaroni and cheese?! Because I sure as heck can’t. (In fact, I’m pretty sure I lived off EasyMac for the better part of my childhood and I still have no complaints about it whatsoever. 😉 ) But now that I’m an adult, I felt like I should really be doing more “adult” things…like learning how to make my own mac and cheese. And honestly, I was terrified! (It just sounded so complicated..) But this recipe couldn’t be any easier loves! So get ready mac and cheese lovers because I’m sharing my insanely simple one pot mac and cheese recipe today that will knock your socks off!

Ingredients

Can you believe this recipe is only 7 ingredients?! And there’s NO flour and NO butter in it too?! Usually mac and cheese recipes have you creating a roux first mixture of flour and butter) which is then used to thicken your cheese sauce but for this recipe, it’s not needed at all! That’s because we boil the pasta in the milk and water to form a “starchy” liquid that can thicken the sauce all on it’s own! Check out the ingredients below:

  • Milk: You can use any type of milk you want; full fat, fat free, even almond milk works too! (I used almond milk for this specific recipe.)
  • Water: Can be replaced with chicken/vegetable broth. (Broth can be very salty so you may not need to use as much salt if you choose to replace the water for broth.)
  • Dry pasta: DO NOT cook the pasta before hand! (We’ll be cooking the pasta in the milk and water.)
  • Cheddar cheese: I used extra sharp cheddar for my recipe but feel free to use your favorite type of cheddar too! (See next section for more info)
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Ground mustard: Used to add a little tang to your sauce
One pot macaroni and cheese is such a great option for a simple weeknight meal. It's made with dry pasta, milk, cheddar cheese and spices!

What type of cheese is the best to use?

Cheddar! Always use cheddar if you want a traditional tasting mac and cheese! That being said, what type f cheddar you use is completely up to you. I love really big and bold flavors so I love using extra sharp cheddar or even white cheddar for this recipe. But mild or regular would work just as well.

Healthy, decadent and so cheesy too! This is the best and easiest mac n' cheese recipe you will ever make!

What kind of noodle should I use?

Traditionally, mac and cheese is made with elbow macaroni noodles. (But since when have I ever done anything traditional… 😉 ) I think a lot of people don’t realize that you can actually make macaroni and cheese with almost any kind short noodle you want! You can use penne, bowties, rotini (like I did) or even shell pasta. I would NOT suggest using any long noodle though, like spaghetti or fettuccine. Leave that for those dishes please! 😉

This delicious macaroni and cheese is a healthier take on a childhood classic! Plus it's all made in one pot too so clean up is a breeze!

How do I reheat one pot mac and cheese?

Because I love leftovers, I always make a huge pot of this mac and cheese and just heat it up later. That being said, there are a few different ways you can do this.

  • Microwave Method: Put however much mac and cheese you want in a microwave safe bowl and add a splash of milk. Cover the bowl with a paper plate and heat it at 30 second intervals until the milk and pasta mix together to become creamy. (Stir between each interval.)
  • Stove Top Method: Put your mac and cheese in a sauce pan with a splash of milk and heat it over medium heat. Stir the pasta and milk together until it becomes creamy again and reaches your desired temperature.

*Note: If you add too much milk to either method and the pasta becomes “soupy”, just add a little more cheese to even it out.

I hope you all enjoy this recipe and have the very best day loves! 🙂

More recipes like this:
  • Easy Spinach Lasagna Rolls
  • BBQ Chicken Tortilla Pizzas
  • Pasta with Vodka Sauce
  • Italian Turkey Meatballs with Homemade Marinara Sauce

[Made one of my recipes? Make sure to tag my social media @kalefornia_kravings – I love seeing what you create!]

This easy one pot mac n' cheese recipe only requires 7 ingredients and is full of flavor! It's the perfect comfort food!
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One Pot Mac and Cheese

Easy, healthy and made in one pot! This incredibly simple macaroni and cheese is made with only 7 ingredients and is a flavor bomb of deliciousness!
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time10 mins
Total Time15 mins
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: 30 minutes or less, American, Easy, Pasta
Keyword: healthier, mac n’ cheese, macaroni and cheese, one pot, pasta
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Caitlin Monson

Ingredients

  • 2¼ cups milk (use your favorite type of milk)*
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 cups dry pasta (use your favorite type of short noodle)**
  • 1-1¾ cup cheddar cheese
  • ½ tsp ground mustard
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • Black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Pour the milk, water and pasta into a large sauce pot and bring it to a boil. Reduced the heat to medium high and boil the pasta for 8-10 minutes. (The liquid should reduce down to half and the pasta should be tender.)
  • Once done, take the pot off the burner and add your cheese, ground mustard, salt and pepper. Stir it together until the cheese is fully melted.
  • Serve immediately!

Notes

*I used unsweetened almond milk for my mac and cheese.
**I used rotini pasta for this recipe.
Note: I’ve made this recipe a few times now with different pastas and I’ve noticed that some pastas vary in their cooking time (take more or less time to cook). I would suggest checking the pasta at 8 minutes to see how much more time it needs to cook.
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Filed Under: Main Dish, Meatless Tagged With: easy, healthier, mac and cheese, macaroni and cheese, no butter, no flour, one pot, pasta

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Meet Caitlin

Hey there!

I’m Caitlin and I’m here to simplify California cuisine! I’m just your every day Cali girl with a huge passion for cooking and sharing simple healthy eats with a few sweet treats.

Welcome to my kitchen!

Recent Posts

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AVOCADO, TOMATO & MOZZARELLA SALAD! Can I get a he AVOCADO, TOMATO & MOZZARELLA SALAD! Can I get a hell yeah?!🙌🏻
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One thing you’ll learn about me - I put avocado on EVERYTHING!🤗 (Which is a little ironic considering I hated avocados as a kid...😳 Weird...I know.) But dangg was it delicious in this salad! It’s super simple to make, loaded with fresh & bright flavors & a fun spin on your classic caprese!😍
P.S. Try it on some sourdough for a fun toast topping too!
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Hope you’re all having a great Thursday loves!😊💕
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Avocado, Tomato & Mozzarella Salad🥑
Cherry tomatoes, halved
Mozzarella balls
Avocado, diced
Fresh basil, sliced thin
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar (you can add 1 Tbsp of coconut sugar to this too if you like it sweeter)
Salt & pepper, to taste
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1. Bring your balsamic vinegar (& sweetener if using) to a boil in pot on the stove over medium high heat. Let it simmer for 8-10 minutes or until it’s slightly thickened. Let it cool completely.
2. Then add your tomatoes, mozzarella, avocado & fresh basil to bowl & toss with your balsamic “dressing”.
3. Sprinkle it with salt & pepper to taste & serve immediately. 
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#kaleforniakravings #dinner #caprese #capresesalad #salad #healthydinner #easyrecipes #easymeals #dinnerideas #healthyeats #healthylunch #wholefoods #lunchideas #healthfood #healthyfood #quickmeals #foodblogger #glutenfreerecipes #glutenfreefood #feedfeed #healthyrecipes #huffposttaste #realfood #thekitchn #healthyfoodshare #mealprep #foodblogfeed #goodmoodfood #healthyfoodporn @thefeedfeed @thekitchn @huffposttaste
Another day, another salad... And I’m about to d Another day, another salad... And I’m about to dive head first into this CHOPPED APPLE & MANDARIN SALAD with CREAMY POPPY SEED DRESSING!😍 [Ad]
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Does anyone else love making their own salad dressings? Because SAME. HERE!🙋🏼‍♀️ (It actually feels a little weird whenever I use store bought dressing now...😳) But I just love that I can tailor them to fit my taste buds & use better for you ingredients too. Just like this easy poppy seed dressing!🤗 It’s protein packed with Greek yogurt & helps support a healthy immune system with a good dose of apple cider vinegar. Not to mention it’s absolutely delicious on this fresh & fruity salad too!😉 (Side note: @sprouts is the only place I get my ACV because they have the best pricing for all organic vinegars.) So pop on over to your local @sprouts & pick up all these ingredients ASAP!
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Hope you’re having a great Tuesday loves!😊💕
(Full recipe & tips are on my website. Link in bio⬆️)
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Chopped Apple & Mandarin Salad🍎
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Poppyseed Dressing: 2 Tbsp olive oil + 2 Tbsp ACV + 2 Tbsp maple syrup + 2 Tbsp plain Greek yogurt + 1 tsp poppy seeds
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1. Massage the kale in 1 Tbsp of your dressing. Then add your apples, mandarins & dried cranberries.
2. Toss the salad in your dressing & top with pecans right before serving!
Currently craving a big ol’ bowl of this ONE POT Currently craving a big ol’ bowl of this ONE POT BROCCOLI MAC & CHEESE!🤗
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Creamy, cheesy & made with minimal ingredients too?? It doesn’t get much better than that in my book by loves! (And the fact that it only takes 10ish minutes to make too is just icing on the cake.😉) Bring on all that cheesy goodness please!😍
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1. Pour the milk, water, pasta & salt into a large pot & bring it to a boil. Boil the pasta for 8-10 minutes or until most of the liquid has evaporated.
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3. Once the broccoli is cooked, add your cheese, ground mustard & pepper & stir until the cheese has melted. Serve immediately!
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#kaleforniakravings #macandcheese #macaroni #healthydinner #dinnerideas #healthylunch #lunchideas #comfortfood #easyrecipes #healthyeats #simplerecipes #wholefoods #easymeals #quickmeals #feedfeed #meatlessmonday #foodblogger #huffposttaste #glutenfree #glutenfreefood #healthyrecipes #healthyfood #realfood #foodblogfeed #healthyfoodshare #healthfood #easydinner #goodmoodfood #healthyfoodporn @thefeedfeed @thekitchn @huffposttaste
Weekend plans include: Devouring this SOURDOUGH FR Weekend plans include: Devouring this SOURDOUGH FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE with BLUEBERRIES & all the maple syrup!🤗
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French toast has always been my jam. (Even as a little one!) But I’ve never tried making a casserole with it until now. All I can say is...holy moly have been missing out!😱 It’s super soft & “custardy” in the center, perfectly toasted on top & then you get that juicy burst from a warm blueberry... Ohhhh baby, that’s breakfast heaven right there!🤤 Swipe ➡️ to see that close up!
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Hope you’re having a great Friday loves!😊💕
(Full recipe & tips are on my website. Link in bio⬆️)
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Sourdough French Toast Casserole🍞🫐
5 cups sourdough bread, cut into cubes
2 eggs
3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
2 Tbsp maple syrup
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
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1. Whisk the eggs, milk, syrup, vanilla & cinnamon together & set it aside.
2. Spray a 7x11” pan with nonstick cooking spray & spread half of your bread cubes on the bottom. Then sprinkle half of your blueberries over the top & repeat the layers.
3. Pour your egg mixture over the top and cover the pan with foil. Let the pan sit in the fridge for 2 hours - overnight.
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#kaleforniakravings #frenchtoast #frenchtoastcasserole #breakfastideas #healthybreakfast #brunchideas #breakfastrecipes #breakfastlover #dairyfree #comfortfood #quickmeals #wholefoods #easyrecipes #easymeals #simplemeals #healthyish #foodblogger #huffposttaste #thekitchn #thefeedfeed #healthyrecipes #healthyfrenchtoast #realfood #healthyfood #healthyfoodshare #thenewhealthy #feedfeed #goodmoodfood #healthyfoodporn @thefeedfeed @huffposttaste
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