Easy way to make mac and cheese

Q: Can you make mac and cheese with just water?

Can You Make Mac and Cheese With Just Water? Yes, its possible to make it with just water. It might seem more watery, but to do this youll want to reserve about ½ cup of the cooking liquid to use.

Ingredients

700ml full-fat milk
1 onion, peeled and halved
1 garlic clove, peeled
1 bay leaf
350g macaroni
50g butter, plus a little extra for greasing
50g plain flour
175g mature cheddar cheese, grated
1 tsp English mustard
50g parmesan, grated
50g coarse white breadcrumb

Method

STEP 1
Prepare the pasta: In a small pan, warm the milk, onion, garlic and bay leaf until almost boiling. Remove from the heat, leave covered to infuse for 10 mins, then strain. Cook the macaroni according to pack instructions until just soft, but still with a little bite (this is called al dente in Italian). This will take about 10 mins. Drain in a colander, then run under the tap and stir to stop the pasta sticking together.
Table of Contents Show
STEP 2
Make a roux: (A roux is simply flour and fat, cooked together, then used to thicken sauces.) Heat oven to 190C/ fan 170C/gas 5 and butter a 25 x 18cm ovenproof dish. Melt the butter in the medium pan. When foaming, add the flour, then cook, stirring constantly, for 1 min on a low heat.
STEP 3
Finish the sauce: Slowly stir the warm infused milk into the roux until smooth. Simmer for 3-4 mins, stirring often, until the sauce has thickened and has a coating consistency (run your finger through the sauce on a spoon – it should leave a trail). Remove the pan from the heat, then add the cheddar and mustard powder. Season, then stir until the cheese has melted.
STEP 4
Assemble and bake: Mix the cheesesauce through the macaroni to coat it well, then tip into the prepared dish. Sprinkle the Parmesan and breadcrumbs over the top, then bake for 15-20 mins until golden brown and bubbling. Serve piping hot on its own or with a green salad.
STEP 5
EQUIPMENT: 1 small saucepan with lid, 1 large saucepan, 1 medium saucepan, colander, chopping board, sharp knife, grater, wooden spoon, ovenproof dish

RECIPE TIPS

CARBONARA

For a smoky kick, add a little cooked chopped smoked bacon or pancetta to the sauce.

THE WHITE SAUCE IS TOO THICK

If the sauce is too thick, simply add a little more milk or water to help loosen it. Remember, the addition of cheese and hot macaroni will thicken the sauce further.

TRY SOME NEW FLAVOURS

Macaroni cheese is a very versatile dish – you can add extra flavours you love or use up leftover ingredients.

SPECIAL CHEESE

Add some of your favourite cheese to the sauce instead of the cheddar. Blue cheese works really well, especially a creamy Gorgonzola, or try using some nutty-tasting Gruyère.

THE MACARONI STICKS TOGETHER

Keep running water over the macaroni and break the pieces apart with your fingers. Ideally, time the macaroni so that it is cooked at the same time as you finish the cheese sauce, then mix the two together straight away.

CREAMY VEG

Gently fry some leeks and mushrooms in a little butter, then stir into the pasta along with sauce. Top with a layer of thinly sliced tomatoes instead of using Parmesan and breadcrumbs.

A quick recipe for mac and cheese for one. Easy, cheesy, and oh so good.

Is it lunchtime? Is it dinner time? Are you starving? Do you need a mac and cheese fix? Yes? Well, I’ve got just the thing for you: mac and cheese for one.

This homemade macaroni and cheese is just as quick as the kind that comes out of a box, is one thousand times more delicious, and won’t leave you with a mass of gross congealed leftovers. (Seriously, have you ever tried to reheat leftover boxed mac and cheese? It’s not pretty and neither is food waste!)

I grew up in a boxed mac and cheese household, and just like when I learned how to make homemade mashed potatoes, when I discovered how easy homemade macaroni and cheese was to make, I had no idea why we hadn’t just been making it from scratch all along.

It takes exactly the same amount of time, and if you keep a basic stocked kitchen, cheese and any sort of pasta in your house, YOU HAVE THE INGREDIENTS TO MAKE THIS.

Ingredient Notes

Macaroni or pasta of choice: You can use traditional macaroni pasta if you have it or whatever pasta shapes you have on hand. Conchiglie, farfalle, and even larger tube pastas like penne or rigatoni will all work fine. Just pay attention to how you measure your pasta. This recipe calls for 2.5 ounces of pasta, which is 1/2 cup of macaroni, but different pasta shapes have different volume measurements, so if you don’t have a scale to measure your pasta, use a pasta weight to volume table like this one to make sure you’re using the correct amount.
Salted butter: I call for salted butter here, but if using unsalted, simply add a generous pinch of salt and then adjust salt to taste when making the sauce.
Shredded sharp cheddar cheese: Any cheddar cheese will work fine, but I prefer sharp cheddar because of the stronger flavor it gives the sauce. You can also try mixing in other melty cheeses like Pecorino Romano (my favorite!!), gouda, or gruyere.
Milk: You can use any percentage milk you have on hand. The higher fat the milk, the richer and creamier your sauce will be.

How to Make Single-serve Macaroni and Cheese

In a small pot, boil some pasta, and while that cooks, in a separate pot, stir together a little butter and flour. Whisk in milk until the sauce thickens and then add cheese.
Add salt and pepper to taste along with a bit of cayenne and nutmeg if you’d like and then pour the sauce over the drained pasta and done!

In under 20 minutes, you’ll have rich cheesy mac and cheese for one, portion-controlled and so good you could cry. And if you are feeling extra hungry or want to make it for two or more, the recipe sizes up with just a slightly longer cooking time (see doubling notes).

Variations

Want to up your mac and cheese game? Try these upgrades:

Hot dog & ketchup: 1/2 cooked hot dog + ketchup. You know what to do with them. (I do not approve of or endorse this upgrade, but everyone I know insists it’s delicious. 😉 )
Sausage mac & cheese: 1/2 cup sliced smoked sausage browned in a skillet over medium-high heat. Transfer sausage slices to a paper towel-lined plate, and blot gently before stirring into your prepared macaroni and cheese.
Short rib mac & cheese: Use the meat from 1 or 2 leftover braised short ribs and stir them into your mac and cheese.
Deluxe mac & cheese: Generously butter both sides of a slice of white bread and use a serrated knife to slice it into 1-inch cubes. Pour your cooked mac and cheese into an oven-safe dish and sprinkle an additional 1/4 cup of shredded cheese over the top, followed by the bread pieces. Bake at 375°F for 5 to 10 minutes until bread is toasty.

FAQ

Can I double this recipe?

Absolutely. The recipe doubles with no preparation changes except the sauce will take slightly longer to thicken when you add the milk. To change the recipe yield, hover over the serving size in the recipe card below or click if you’re on mobile, and slide the slider.

Can I make mac and cheese ahead of time?

Like any macaroni and cheese, this recipe is best when eaten right after it’s cooked. You *can* refrigerate and reheat it, but the sauce won’t be as smooth and creamy.

▢ 2.5 ounces (½ cup) uncooked macaroni or pasta of choice*
▢ 1 tablespoon salted butter
▢ 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
▢ ½ cup milk any percentage
▢ ½ cup (2oz) shredded sharp cheddar cheese *
▢ Salt and pepper
▢ Pinch of cayenne optional
▢ Pinch of nutmeg optional

Bring a small pot of lightly salted water to boil over high heat.
While your water heats, shred cheese, measure out the rest of your ingredients.
Cook macaroni according to the instructions on the box.
While your pasta cooks, in a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook until a thick paste forms and turns golden, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk, whisking out any lumps as they form. Cook, whisking constantly until mixture thickens and begins to bubble around the edges, 2 to 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and stir in cheese until completely melted. Add salt and pepper to taste, remembering that the pasta will cut the level of spice once added. If you like nutmeg and cayenne (I do!), start with a sprinkle, taste, and work your way up. A little of both goes a long way!
Once pasta is cooked, drain and stir in cheese sauce. Serve immediately and enjoy!

*If using a pasta other than macaroni, be sure to measure it by weight and not volume. Different pasta shapes will have different cup measurements for 2.5 ounces, so 1/2 cup is not universal for all pasta.

*You can use whatever mix of melty cheeses you would like. When I have it on hand, a bit of Pecorino Romano mixed in is my FAV.

Doubling notes: No changes when doubling, except sauce will take a minute or two longer to thicken once the milk is added.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission if you make a purchase using them. There is absolutely no additional cost to you.

How do you make Easy Mac?

Pour 2 macaroni pouches into 1-qt microwaveable bowl. Add 1 cup water. Microwave on high 4-1/2 to 5 min or until macaroni is tender. Continue as directed, adding 2 cheese sauce pouches.

Can you make mac and cheese with just water?

Can You Make Mac and Cheese With Just Water? Yes, it's possible to make it with just water. It might seem more watery, but to do this you'll want to reserve about ½ cup of the cooking liquid to use.

Is it better to make mac and cheese with milk or water?

In order to get the full creaminess factor, I recommend using whole milk or at least 2%. Can you use water instead of milk for mac and cheese? You can use water instead, but your mac n cheese will lack in creaminess.

Is it cheaper to make your own mac and cheese?

The average cost of fancy mac and cheese is 7 bucks and above. Obviously, storebought is much cheaper, but making your own oven mac and cheese with multiple kinds of cheese can be done for as little as 1 dollar per serving. And it's better than 99 percent of the other mac and cheeses out there. Take it or leave it bud.