Do you want to learn how you can cook creamy delicious mac and cheese but without using an oven? Here is the stovetop mac and cheese recipe with the ingredients that are common and easy to find. I purposefully used these three types of cheese as they make a perfect fit that you definitely will appreciate. This mac and cheese turns perfect every time that I make it. Moreover, a sprinkle of fried breadcrumbs just makes this dish something extra.
It is not your typical oven-baked mac and cheese. I had to find a way to make cheesy mac and cheese without using an oven (as I had none at the moment) so the recipe was born simply out of the necessity. This recipe is purely tailored to my preferences. As I have already mentioned, I like to use three types of cheese. Cheddar cheese I use for its vivid color, Parmesan for a distinct taste, and Mozzarella for its soft texture. For some, my choice of spices will seem pretty minimal (nutmeg and smoked paprika) that is why here you can go wild and add as many options as you like. But I would definitely advise you to stick to the amount of other ingredients in the list.
Learn all the tips and tricks on How to cook pasta
I love Mac and Cheese with a crunchy crust straight out of the oven, so I tried to incorporate the ingredient somehow to the stovetop option of the dish.
Here are my other favorite one-pot meal recipes:
- Classic Cabbage Rolls with Minced Meat in Tomato Sauce
- Minced Meat Potato Casserole
- Easy Shrimps Fried Rice
Mac and Cheese Ingredients:
- 450 g Tortiglioni pasta;
- 50 g Cheddar cheese;
- 150 g Mozzarella cheese;
- 40 g Parmesan cheese;
- 500 ml milk;
- 20 g Panko breadcrumbs;
- 70 g butter, unsalted;
- 60 g all-purpose flour;
- 5 g smoked paprika spice;
- 2 g ground nutmeg.
How to make no-bake homemade creamy mac and cheese:
- The first step for making mac and cheese is boiling pasta. I have several separate articles that can help you to cook perfect pasta for the recipe that I am going to link at the end of this recipe. However, here is the most basic recipe: for every 100 g of pasta, you need 1 liter of water and 10 g of salt. Add Tortiglioni pasta to boiling water in a pot on the stove and cook until al dente. Cooking time for the type of pasta that you have should be on its package, for sure. Drain water using the colander.
- In a skillet, melt 20 grams of unsalted butter. Add breadcrumbs.
- Fry them on the medium heat before they turn caramel color. Then transfer to a paper towel and set them aside.
- For making mac and cheese roux, take other 50 grams of butter and once again melt it in the skillet and, now, add flour. Keep stirring the mixture until well combined for 1 minute. It should be enough to get these ingredients mixed into a smooth mixture.
- Preheat milk beforehand. It should be hot but there is no necessity to get it to boiling. Pour a thin stream of milk into the skillet with the roux and start stirring the mixture with a whisk at once. The stove should be still at medium heat. Basically, we are making Béchamel sauce right now. Keep whisking until smooth and lumps-free.
- Make sure to shred all three cheeses in advance. Add them to the skillet with the white sauce. Next, add ground spices: smoked paprika and nutmeg. Stir the mixture thoroughly.
- Now is the time to add boiled pasta.
- Mix everything in the skillet and your mac and cheese is ready.
- Remember breadcrumbs that we fried in butter in the beginning. Sprinkle them over mac and cheese before serving. Enjoy your meal!
If you liked this Mac n Cheese Recipe, I would appreciate it so much if you would share it on Pinterest or you could give the recipe a star review!
The unique feature of the recipe is that can be used to cook mac and cheese in the oven. You simply have to add one more step. After mixing all the cooked ingredients in the skillet you can transfer mac and cheese to the baking dish or casserole, sprinkle the set-aside breadcrumbs as a top layer, and let it bake for 10-15 minutes at 350ºF/180°C. And you have Baked Mac and Cheese with Breadcrumbs straight out of the oven.
If you looking for a detailed guide on how to cook pasta, here is the link:
Stovetop Mac and Cheese Recipe with Breadcrumbs
Ingredients
- 450 g Tortiglioni pasta
- 50 g Cheddar cheese
- 150 g Mozzarella cheese
- 40 g Parmesan cheese
- 500 ml milk
- 20 g Panko breadcrumbs
- 70 g butter, unsalted
- 60 g all-purpose flour
- 5 g smoked paprika spice
- 2 g ground nutmeg
Instructions
- The first step for making mac and cheese is boiling pasta. I have several separate articles that can help you to cook perfect pasta for the recipe that I am going to link at the end of this recipe. However, here is the most basic recipe: for every 100 g of pasta, you need 1 liter of water and 10 g of salt. Add Tortiglioni pasta to boiling water in a pot on the stove and cook until al dente. Cooking time for the type of pasta that you have should be on its package, for sure. Drain water using the colander.
- In a skillet, melt 20 grams of unsalted butter. Add breadcrumbs.
- Fry them on the medium heat before they turn caramel color. Then transfer to a paper towel and set them aside.
- For making mac and cheese roux, take other 50 grams of butter and once again melt it in the skillet and, now, add flour. Keep stirring the mixture until well combined for 1 minute. It should be enough to get these ingredients mixed into a smooth mixture.
- Preheat milk beforehand. It should be hot but there is no necessity to get it to boiling. Pour a thin stream of milk into the skillet with the roux and start stirring the mixture with a whisk at once. The stove should be still at medium heat. Basically, we are making Béchamel sauce right now. Keep whisking until smooth and lumps-free.
- Make sure to shred all three cheeses in advance. Add them to the skillet with the white sauce. Next, add ground spices: smoked paprika and nutmeg. Stir the mixture thoroughly.
- Now is the time to add boiled pasta.
- Mix everything in the skillet and your mac and cheese is ready.
- Remember breadcrumbs that we fried in butter in the beginning. Sprinkle them over mac and cheese before serving. Enjoy your meal!
Notes
I hope that you enjoyed my spin on this classic recipe. If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comment section.
