Description
This Creamy One Pot Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food made simple. All the cheesy richness and velvety sauce you love, with fewer dishes thanks to one-pot magic. Perfect for weeknights or potlucks, it’s a family-friendly favorite with irresistible flavor and texture.
Ingredients
2 cups elbow macaroni
4 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
4 ounces cream cheese
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon paprika
Salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs (optional)
1 tablespoon butter for toasting breadcrumbs (optional)
Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add elbow macaroni and cook until al dente according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
2. In the same pot, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly to eliminate the raw flour taste.
3. Slowly whisk in the milk and heavy cream. Continue whisking until the mixture thickens slightly, about 3-5 minutes.
4. Reduce heat to low. Stir in cheddar, mozzarella, and cream cheese until fully melted and smooth. Add garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
5. Add the cooked macaroni back into the pot and stir until noodles are evenly coated in the creamy cheese sauce.
6. (Optional) In a small skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of butter and toast the panko breadcrumbs until golden. Sprinkle over the mac and cheese before serving with fresh parsley.
Notes
For extra creamy sauce, don’t skip the cream cheese—it makes all the difference.
Freshly shredded cheese melts better than pre-shredded. Trust us, it’s worth it.
Don’t overcook the pasta in step one—it will continue to soften in the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ½ cups
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 39g
- Saturated Fat: 23g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 21g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
Keywords: mac and cheese, one pot, creamy pasta