This 5 Minute Mac and Cheese Recipe is super easy to make in the microwave, and it’s so much better than store bought macaroni and cheese! You can’t fail with this easy, cheesy, creamy mac n’ cheese recipe!
5 Minute Homemade Mac and Cheese
Last week was raining and I knew just what I wanted to whip up for dinner….a quick and easy homemade mac and cheese.
Who needs a box mix when you can have homemade mac in 5 minutes?! I will say, that I had cooked pasta in my fridge from a previous dinner, so make sure you cook some extra pasta to have ready for this recipe.
This is too easy to not try for yourself, give it a go and let me know if you love it as much as we do!!
Can you even handle all of the ingredients you need? I don’t know if I can.
How to Make This Creamy Mac & Cheese
Pour in your cheese pleeeease.
Add your milk. I used whole milk here.
Every last drop!
Add some salt.
….and freshly ground black pepper.
Grab a spoon and stir it all together.
Cover loosely with plastic wrap and microwave for 3 minutes. Stir and microwave for an additional 2 minutes.
Stir until creamy dreamy smooth.
Oh yah!!
Dig in!
5 Minute Homemade Mac and Cheese
Equipment
- Microwave
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb cooked pasta we used small shells
- 2 cups Mild shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Place pasta, cheese, milk, salt and pepper into a microwave safe bowl. Stir to mix.
- Cover lightly with plastic wrap and microwave for 3 minutes. Stir and microwave for an additional 2 minutes. Stir until creamy and smooth, then serve immediately.
Nutrition
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Have a great day! Come back soon 🙂
Can I use any other cheese ?
Is it important to use cheddar cheese ?
Would cream work instead of milk? I love creamy mac’n’cheese.
I really want to try this and it looks quick and easy. But I have a question, can yellow cheese be used as a replacement for cheddar cheese?
An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a coworker who was doing a little homework on this.
And he actually bought me lunch because I stumbled upon it for him…
lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending some time to discuss this topic here on your website.
Can you tell me how much 1/2 pound of pasta is in cups? I just made this and it is very milky. Perhaps I didn’t have enough pasta? Also, when you microwave it, is that on high?
Hi Colleen, if you have any questions use my contact page. Email is jenny@picky-palate.com. I answer emails daily, but unfortunately don’t go through my blog comments like I used to.
This is great! My picky teenager even said “This is good.” I did change the recipe a bit, however. I took other recommendations and used a mixture of 4 cups of cheddar and mozzarella cheese. I had a hard time getting it to mix after the recommended microwaving time, so I put about a tablespoon of cornstarch in about a 1/4 cup cold water and mixed well. I then added about half of it to the mixture (lots of milk in the bottom of the bowl) and microwaved it for a total of 3 minutes more, stirring intermittently. It thickened up quickly and became very creamy! Will make again! Thanks!
Yeah,Big John all Johns use microwaves.Are you sure you are named John?
All Johns use microwaves.
What about a regular oven I have no use for a microwave!!
Who has no use for a microwave?
🙁 Worst mac and cheese I have ever made.
Jenny needs to stop deleting negative comments.I am appalled by this act.How is the reader supposed to know what modifications need to be made,if Jenny continues to do this.
If those who are having clumping problems are shredding their own cheese it may be that it’s lacking whatever powder the commercially shredded cheese is tossed in. It can be anything from cellulose to corn starch or flour, and often contains anti fungal agents as well.
I sprinkled some flour on my clumped up mess and microwaved it a couple more times. I had used 2% milk! then added a pat of salted butter and cut back on the added kosher salt. The flour did help some and the sauce got fairly creamy. I used 3/4c jack and 1/4c mozzarella since it’s what I had and it’s still clumping, but that’s more likely because of the stringy mozzarella than anything. I think the flour would have fixed it if had only been jack cheese. I pulled out the congealed mozzarella and the rest was pretty tasty!
It was too peppery!I am the real Jenny!
i was skeptical, but this actually works!
So glad you enjoyed it Jenni! Thanks for the feedback 🙂
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I tried this and it melt perfectly and it tested wonderful
So glad it was a hit, thanks Hannah!
Thank you so much! Now I can make it for my son who’s begging for something good these days!
Killer recipe! I made it for my mother and sister, and they loved it. My mom was especially surprised at how well it came out.
Thanks a bunch! -Elizabeth
Awesome recipe ! My kid brother who’s 10 and I (13) tried it today and it came out perfect. We loved the fact that it was so easy to make.
So glad to hear it Kim! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Just made this last night- I used spiral pasta and mozzarella cheese and it was AMAZING. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!!!!
Like others said, this did not work for me. I shredded my own cheese from a cheddar block, and after only one minute in the microwave, the cheese had bubbled through a gap in the plastic and spilled all over my microwave. I took it out, and there was milk and clumped cheese at the bottom, and noodles at the top. Disappointed because this looked so good.
Can I use oven instead of microwave? I don’t have microwave 🙁
Looks delicous
I used skim milk and it didnt turn out as well
My mother was sleeping and I was trying to look up easy resipies when this one caught my eye…. And it seems like my type of easy meal hope it works, thanks!
you just saved my husbands life im 4 months pregnant and craving some real mac and cheese really bad but all the other recipies take like an hour to make ohh yay microwave beeper went off time to eat!!!
Not so great, mostly runny
I personally loved this recipe, but the kids I was babysitting said it was a little salty, so don’t overkill! I love the microwaving idea though!
Thank you so much for the feedback!
I’m a special ed teacher who works with the 18-22 year old developmentally disabled population. I’m periodically looking for VERY SIMPLE meals that my students can learn to make for themselves, independently. Thank you for this simple dish with pictures and step included. I have to provide picture schedules as step by step instructions for students that cannot read. I’ll be looking at your site more often for other “simple” recipes that my students can do on their own! Again, thank you.
Thanks for the recipe! Seems really yummy and so quick… I’ll be trying it soon.
this has to be a joke…… that is not how you make it im sorry.
Just tried this and it did NOT work 🙁
I was really bummed and my son was too.
I did everything the same. Didnt change one thing so I have no clue what happened.
I tried it but it didn’t get creamy for me. it was a bit chunky and I stirred it plenty. I used one cup of pasta and one cup of cheese and half cup of milk. 🙁
Wow this looks really great? Have you tried it scaled down to one person?
I followed exactly and it’s the worst Mac and cheese I’ve ever made. It’s clumpy and liquidy. I shredded cheese from a block. Does that make a difference?
Bloodly Brillant!