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Satisfying your cravings for comfort food with this super simple One Pot White Cheddar Mac and Cheese recipe. Just add all of your ingredients into one pot. No need to drain your pasta or prepare a sauce in a separate pan.
What makes this mac and cheese different?
You may be thinking, “but Madeline isn’t all mac and cheese one pot?” Well yes and no. This recipe is easier than most because there is no need to drain the pasta or mix a sauce together!
All of the ingredients cook together in the same pot! No need to remove or drain the noodles to prepare the sauce.
This will save you from have to wash some extra items like an extra pan and a colander. It might not be a big deal to you, but when time is tight this recipe is awesome.
What kitchen tools will I need to make this white cheddar macaroni?
What ingredients will I need to make this one pot mac and cheese?
I wanted this mac and cheese to have the same white cheddar taste as my grandmothers classic baked mac and cheese so I used an extra sharp white cheddar. I highly recommend doing the same so your mac and cheese has lots of flavor.
- Macaroni noodles
- Vegetable broth
- Water
- Salt
- Milk
- Shredded sharp white cheddar cheese
Let’s make a One Pot White Cheddar Mac and Cheese!
Step 1: Boil macaroni noodles
To begin, add macaroni, vegetable broth, water, and salt to a large pot and mix thoroughly. Then, heat over high heat until the liquid boils, stirring occasionally.
Then, once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and cover the pot with a lid. Simmer for 6 minutes stirring occasionally.
After 6 minutes the pasta should be tender and almost completely cooked. Depending on the noodle size that you select, your pasta may cook faster or slower.
It is important to check the noodles for doneness as you cook. You are aiming for slightly al dente noodles.
Step 2: Mix in the milk and cheese
Then, once the noodles are cooked to the point of just slightly al dente, turn off the heat. Leave the pot on the stove with the heat off.
Next, pour in the milk and shredded cheddar cheese. Mix constantly until the cheese has melted completely.
Finally, take the pot off the stove and serve! I served it with fresh cracked black pepper on top.
Step 4: Enjoy!
How long will this white cheddar mac keep in the fridge?
Once prepared, allow the macaroni to cool completely and then transfer to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat with a splash of milk on the stovetop or in the microwave.
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
One Pot White Cheddar Mac and Cheese
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 8 Side Sized Servings 1x
- Category: Side
- Method: Boil and Mix
- Cuisine: American
Description
A creamy and comforting one pot white cheddar mac and cheese
Ingredients
- 1 lb dry macaroni noodles – or basically any pasta
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup milk
- 3 cups shredded sharp white cheddar cheese – I used extra sharp white cheddar
Instructions
- Add macaroni, vegetable broth, water, and salt to a large pot and mix thoroughly
- Heat over high heat until the liquid boils – stirring occasionally
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and cover the pot with a lid
- Simmer for 6 minutes stirring occasionally
- After 6 minutes the pasta should be tender and almost completely cooked – depending on the noodle size that you select your pasta may cook faster or slower so it is good to check the noodles for doneness as you cook
- Once the noodles are cooked to the point of just slightly al dente, turn off the heat
- Leave the pot on the stove with the heat off and pour in the milk and shredded cheddar cheese
- Mix constantly until the cheese has melted completely
- Take the pot off the stove and serve! I served it with fresh cracked black pepper on top
Keywords: white cheddar macaroni, white cheddar mac and cheese, one pot white cheddar mac and cheese
So good, I loved this! Really delicious.
★★★★★
Thank you, Michelle!
So good!! So creamy and delicious!!! I can’t wait to make this dish on a chilly night this winter!
★★★★★
Thank you!! Yes perfect for a winter night!
This one pot Mac and cheese was awesome! It could definitely be made with your choice of cheese if you didn’t want to use white cheddar. In the past I’ve attempted to make one pot pasta dishes and found the liquid to not be enough. This was perfect, I think that adding the pasta to the water while it is coming to a boil helps the pasta be done in the time this recipe says. We will definitely enjoy this again!
so glad you enjoyed it!! Thank you!!
Once again your recipe is perfect and a “winner winner chicken dinner” for my family! I’ve made with just the white cheddar and also mixing cheddar with some monterey jack – you can’t go wrong! I love that it’s just one pot (less dishes!) and no draining pasta required! Even easier than that boxed “junk!”
★★★★★
Thank you!!! I need to try with different cheeses!
This dish is so good!!! I love the creaminess and easy clean up. Great for kiddos too!
★★★★★
amazing! Thank you!!
Another great recipe! This has been perfect comfort food during cozy chilly nights- & it’s a crowd pleaser!
★★★★★
thats so great!! Thank you!!
Just made this tonight and it was SOOOO good! Loved the convenience of having it done in one pot, and how it was so flavorful. I didn’t have a super sharp white cheddar, so it did need extra salt, but it was so easy to customize to my palette. Overall, it was easy to make with little clean-up – how can you ask for more?
★★★★★
Ah yay!! I am glad! The best part is you can use any kind of cheese you want.
This Mac and cheese recipe was absolutely delicious! It is super simple to make. I am so excited for my leftovers. Next up, your honey mustard recipe!
★★★★★
wonderful!! Thank you so much!
I made this for my very small Christmas dinner with just my parents and brother. It was so incredibly simple and so dang delicious! We were all so obsessed with it that they asked me to make it again the next night since we had all the ingredients on hand! So good! If you have kids this is WAY better than any boxed Mac and cheese and just as easy!
★★★★★
omg amazing!! love to hear that! thank you!
Made this for Thanksgiving for the first time and it was my whole family’s favorite dish!! Have made it several times since and it is so easy to make and delicious!
★★★★★
wonderful!! thank you so much!
Sooo yummy and easy! My husband was very happy to have mac and cheese for dinner and it turned out great.
love that ! Thank yoU!
This is amazing! I truly don’t think I’ll ever make a different Mac and cheese! Loved the convenience of the one pot, and eliminating draining the noodles!
★★★★★
amazing!! thank you!!!