Ooey Gooey Stovetop Mac & Cheese
Fall is right around the corner and one of my favorite comfort foods of the season is my Stovetop Mac & Cheese. If you’re like me, then you love getting warm with a super quick, and delicious meal. Growing up, Kraft Mac & Cheese was my go to (I’d eat a whole box for lunch everyday in the summer), but now I’ve come to love a little crunch and fresh cheese flavor in stovetop mac & cheese. Thus, I’ve created this insanely simple, 10-ingredient meal, which is a fresher version of Kraft and has a special, unexpected ingredient that makes all kinds of mac & cheese better!
the details of my ooey gooey stovetop mac & cheese
Mac & cheese is a very simple, delicious meal that is loved by all ages. I love making it as the weather cools down for my main dish and even a side. What makes this mac & cheese so delicious is my use of breadcrumbs and my favorite cheeses. To start, breadcrumbs, specifically toasted breadcrumbs, are essential to this meal. They give the stovetop mac & cheese both extra flavor and a new texture through their natural seasoning and the crunch they provide. I love toasted breadcrumbs and adding them on my stovetop mac & cheese because they simulate my favorite, baked mac & cheese, but take half the time to cook.
The most important part of any mac & cheese is the type of cheese you use. While there are many cheeses, it is very important to use a melting cheese, like American, Cheddar, Asiago, Fontina, etc. My favorite cheese combination to use is sharp cheddar and Colby Jack cheese. I think the two cheeses pair super well, plus they just happen to be two of my favorite cheeses for eating with crackers. If you don’t know where to start and want a classic mac & cheese flavor, then try this combo! I promise it is delicious!!
Finally, the secret ingredient to any mac & cheese is hot sauce. Unless you are making a buffalo mac & cheese, you only need a little bit of hot sauce, but just a teaspoon will help enhance the cheese flavor. Plus, if you had half a teaspoon extra, the hot sauce will add some more flavor of its own, but not too much where the mac & cheese will turn spicy.
mac & cheese subsitutes
When it comes to mac & cheese, you can easily substitute the type of cheese you use. Some pairings you could do are: Jack and cheddar, American and cheddar, yellow cheddar and Parmesan, Fontina and Asiago. You could also simply switch out yellow cheddar with white cheddar or use twice the amount of your favorite melting cheese instead of two cheeses.
When it comes to toppings, you can top mac & cheese with bacon, pepperoni, jalapenos, hot sauce, chili, etc. You could also mix cooked chicken or beef in with your mac & cheese to add some protein!
Overall, if you make this recipe, please leave a comment below, tag me on Instagram, pin it, or go like my page/share on Facebook! Be sure to sign up for my newsletter, 4 Secret Recipes of the Month, for new fall recipes!
Ooey Gooey Stovetop Mac & Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 lb pasta shells, elbows, penne, etc.
- 12 oz evaporated milk
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp ground mustard
- 1.5 tsp hot sauce preferably Frank's red hot
- 1 lb extra sharp, yellow cheddar grated
- 1 lb Colby Jack cubed or grated
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 stick butter cut into fourths
- a handful of seasoned panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil and place pasta in saucepan. Cook until al dente, following instructions on the box.
- While the pasta is cooking, combine milk, eggs, mustard, and hot sauce until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, toss the cheeses and cornstarch together.
- Place breadcrumbs in a skillet over medium heat. Stir until toasted, about 3-5 minutes.
- Once the pasta is done, drain it and return to saucepan. On low heat, stir in the butter until fully melted. Next, add the milk mixture and cheese mixture. Stir constantly until the cheese is completely melted and the dish is creamy.
- Serve the mac & cheese immediately and add desired amount of breadcrumbs. Enjoy!
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