• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Get our Freezer Meal Quick Start Guide
freezer meal quick start guide

Get Our Freezer Meal Quick Start Guide

Loading

About
Free Resources
Contact

Instagram

Facebook

Pinterest

YouTube

TikTok

Thriving Home

Food & Lifestyle

  • Recipe Index
    • Course
      • Breakfast
      • Lunch & Dinner
      • Sides & Salads
      • Soups & Chilis
      • Appetizers
      • Snacks
      • Desserts
      • Baked Goods
      • Beverages
      • Condiments
    • Method
      • Freezer Meals
      • Stovetop
      • Oven
      • Slow Cooker
      • Instant Pot
      • Grill or Smoker
      • 6 Ingredients or Less
    • Diet
      • Gluten-Free
      • Dairy-Free
      • Vegetarian
    • Ingredients
      • Chicken & Turkey
      • Beef
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Pasta & Pizza
    • Holiday
      • Birthday
      • Christmas
      • Easter
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
      • Valentine's Day
    • All Recipes
  • Freezer Cooking
    • Start Here
    • Freezer Meal Recipes
    • 1 Hour Freezer Prep
    • Cookbooks
  • Menu Plans
  • Shop
    • Cookbooks
    • 1 Hour Freezer Prep
    • Shop Our Favorites
    • Gift Guides
Search...
Home Stovetop

Easy Stovetop Mac and Cheese

★★★★ 3.7 /5 Updated: 1/26/23
Jump to Recipe Rate Recipe

This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

A one-pot wonder full of 100% real food ingredients. This easy stovetop mac and cheese is creamy, comforting, and much healthier than boxed mac!

whole wheat mac and cheese in bowls on white plates with steamed broccoli on the side

Did you know you can make your own delicious version of Mac and Cheese from only five simple real food ingredients in about 20 minutes using just one pot? Seriously. I’ve been making this Easy Stovetop Mac and Cheese for quick homemade lunches and dinners for years. My kids beg for this stuff.

What’s In 5-Ingredient Mac and Cheese?

This mac is comforting, convenient, and made with all real food ingredients. The ingredients below are enough to make 4 (1 cup) servings, but feel free to double everything!

What You Need From the Store:

  • 2 cups whole grain elbow pasta (white elbow pasta will work, too)
  • 3 cups milk
  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, plus more for topping each serving

What You Need From the Pantry:

  • Salt, to taste

A Few Important Cooking Notes

easy stovetop mac and cheese
  • You may be surprised at how this recipe works. You cook the pasta in milk. The starch from the pasta thickens the milk creating a creamy sauce as the pasta cooks. I started adding Greek yogurt at the end, which makes for an even creamier sauce and adds in extra protein. Whoever invented this cooking method was probably a mom who didn’t want to clean another dad-gum pot!
  • Make sure you have plenty of hungry mouths available when you make this, because it loses a bit of its “wow” after it gets cold. But, I did have it rewarmed the other day and it wasn’t half-bad.
  • I have tried using whole milk, 2%, and even some almond milk in this recipe, and they all work great.
  • I have tested this recipe with whole wheat elbow pasta and whole wheat egg noodles, and they both have worked well. But, depending on the pasta you use, you made need a little more milk at the end.
  • You can bake the mac at the end, if you want, with some cheese on top or eat it straight from the pot. Our family likes it both ways, so I often skip the baking step.

What to Serve on the Side

Serve your delicious homemade Mac and Cheese with some Oven Roasted Broccoli and Slow Cooker Cinnamon Apples (or just apple slices), and you’ve got a down-home, well-rounded meal on the cheap!

whole wheat mac and cheese in bowls on white plates with steamed broccoli on the side

Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

whole wheat mac and cheese in the instant pot
★★★★ 3.7 from 3 reviews

Easy Stovetop Mac and Cheese

A one-pot wonder full of 100% real food ingredients. This easy stovetop mac and cheese is creamy, comforting, & much healthier than boxed mac!

Yield: About 4 (1 cup) servings 1x
Cook: 25 minutesTotal: 25 minutes
Print Recipe Rate Pin for Later
  • Email
Units:
Scale:

Ingredients

  • 2 cups whole grain elbow pasta (or any other small whole wheat pasta)
  • 3 cups milk (I used 2%)
  • 1 tsp salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (I used fat free)
  • 1/4 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, plus a bit more for topping

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

  1. Combine pasta and milk in a medium-sized pot. Bring to a simmer over medium high heat (just until bubbles start breaking the surface), stirring frequently to ensure milk does not scorch on the bottom. Stir in the salt and then reduce the heat to maintain a low simmer (do not boil!). Continue to cook and stir often for 15-20 minutes, until pasta is soft and milk is reduced and thickened.
  2. Remove from the heat. Stir in the plain Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard (optional), and shredded cheese until combined. If not creamy enough, add milk a little at a time, and gently stir. Taste and season with more salt, if needed.
  3. Cooking Note: It’s ready to eat at this point, but you can also bake it with some additional cheese on top for more cheesy goodness. To bake, place in a greased baking dish and top with a generous sprinkling of cheese. Bake at 375°F for about 10 minutes until cheese has melted.
© Author: Thriving Home
Cuisine: American Method: Stove Top and Baked

Did you make this?

Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

Rate Recipe

Tag Us on Instagram

280 shares
  • Share
  • Email
Rachel Tiemeyer

Rachel Tiemeyer

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Rachel dreams about creating recipes (literally) and uses her husband, her 3 kids, and even the neighbors as guinea pigs several nights a week. She believes that good food has the power to bring families and friends closer together and continues to wake up excited about her job each day, even after 10+ years!

Read more...

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question or comment below.

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. AvatarMorgan says

    Posted on 11/25/21 at 9:08 am

    Trying this for Thanksgiving dinner today. Crossing my fingers and trusting you ladies!

    ★★★★

    Reply
  2. AvatarKristin says

    Posted on 11/15/21 at 1:02 pm

    The Greek yogurt added a sour taste to the mac and cheese. I think butter would be best for this recipe, similar to the instant pot recipe. I will not make this one again but loved the instant pot mac and cheese recipe on your site!

    ★★

    Reply
  3. AvatarB says

    Posted on 2/20/18 at 11:46 am

    I tried this as is. Yummy!
    Could squash puree be added? If so, when?
    Thanks! Love the blog and cookbook!

    Reply
  4. AvatarBethany Haid says

    Posted on 2/4/18 at 6:57 pm

    I think you should bump this post or remind others in a re-link! We made it for dinner tonight, not while wheat, with Vermont white cheddar and BOOM! While it’s piping hot it’s as good as Panera!! It’s less good reheated the next day… we add milk … but it’s still better than Annie’s or Velveeta shells!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 2/6/18 at 10:52 pm

      Sweet, thanks for the feedback, Bethany. Great idea.

      Reply
  5. AvatarKristin says

    Posted on 4/9/17 at 12:37 pm

    Is it okay to cook the pasta in the milk given that they are not supposed to drink milk til 1 year? My little one is 10 months old and I’m desperately trying to figure out meals that the whole family will love and eat

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 4/12/17 at 10:24 am

      I’m not sure. I would ask your pediatrician. I did feed my kids milk in cooked meals like this, but I’m not a medical expert. 😉

      Reply
  6. AvatarKelli says

    Posted on 10/6/16 at 7:35 pm

    Do you think this would work with gluten free pasta?

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 10/9/16 at 8:31 am

      I’m not sure. The starches in the pasta are what thicken the sauce. I’m not sure if a GF pasta would have as much starch.

      Reply
  7. AvatarLois says

    Posted on 7/7/15 at 5:56 pm

    This recipe is phenomenal!! We just finished this for dinner and it got a very enthusiastic “two thumbs up” from all 4 of my children and hubby! I can’t thank you enough for your recipes. We made the Whole Wheat Pumpkin Pancakes last night and again, it was also a hit!!

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 7/7/15 at 9:05 pm

      Oooo, I love hearing that! Those are two of our regulars as well.

      Reply
  8. AvatarBecky says

    Posted on 6/19/15 at 10:31 pm

    would you recommend making this as a freezer meal and if so, could you give me directions for that portion?

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 6/21/15 at 8:45 am

      Hi Becky, I actually wouldn’t suggest this one for a freezer meal. The sauce gets way too thick when I’ve saved it in the fridge in the past. So my gut tells me (although I haven’t actually tested it in the freezer), that this wouldn’t be the best way to make freezable mac and cheese. You could try my “Better Mac and Cheese (with Sneaky Sweet Potato)” recipe, though. It freezes well.

      Reply
  9. AvatarKathy says

    Posted on 11/7/13 at 7:58 am

    Looks yummy. My mom used to make home made mac and cheese before boxed varieties were available. To add a little more creaminess (and nutrition), she would whip an egg and stir it into the hot pot of m&c just before serving it.

    Reply

sidebar

polly and rachel

Welcome

We’re moms, cookbook authors, and freezer cooking evangelists. Our mission is to help your home thrive, one delicious meal at a time. Let’s make the most of your time in the kitchen! Read more.

Follow Us On Instagram!

freezer cooking

Order On:

Amazon • Target

Autographed Copy

Learn More

freezer to table

Order On:

Amazon • Target

Autographed Copy

Learn More
freezer meal quick start guide

Get Our Freezer Meal Quick Start Guide!

We’ll send you the best of the best recipes, tutorials, and freezer meal expertise. A $9.99 value for free!

Loading

Reader Favorites

marinades for chicken breasts in freezer bags

7 BEST Chicken Marinades

freezer meal

The 70+ Best Freezer Meals on the Planet

20+ Easy Crock Pot Recipes

smoothie packs

7 Frozen Smoothie Packs (+ Printable with Shopping List)

freezer meal update
New to freezer cooking?

Grab Our Freezer Meal Quick Start Guide!

5 days of recipes & tips from freezer meal experts.

Loading

Instagram

Facebook

Pinterest

YouTube

TikTok

About
About Us
Work With Us
Press
Recipes
All Recipes
Freezer Meals
Menu Plans
Shop
Cookbooks
1 Hour Prep Sessions
Gift Guides
Explore
Free Resources
Shop Our Favorites
Facebook Group
Privacy Policy
Accessibility
Disclaimers
Contact
© 2023 Thriving Home
Site Credits
Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top
280 shares