I’m popping in quickly today to share an easy meal or side dish to add to your dinner rotation- one pot mac and cheese! It’s a perfect side dish for crockpot BBQ chicken sliders or an easy lunch to feed a crowd of kids on a weekend.
Mac and cheese is my favorite food, and it’s no surprise that it’s my kids’ favorite food too. It’s pretty much the only food that everyone will eat all the time. Baked mac and cheese is my go-to dish to bring to a pot luck but it is a time commitment. I’m not against boxed mac and cheese, but when I am trying to make mac and cheese a side dish to a weeknight dinner, it feels a little too much like a kids’ meal if I open a box of Annie’s.
This one pot mac and cheese recipe is the perfect way to have homemade mac and cheese without a ton of time or a ton of dishes. If you’ve never cooked a one pot pasta dish like this, I’m about to change your life!
Ingredients
- 1 lb. box (16 oz.) pasta, any shape
- 3 cups water
- 3 cups milk
- 3 tablespoons of butter
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup of grated romano or parmesan
- 1/4 tsp. paprika (optional)
Directions
- In a large pot, bring water, milk, butter and salt to a boil.
- Add box of pasta, stirring until the water and milk come to a boil again.
- Adjust heat to keep a slow, steady boil, stirring occasionally. Cook pasta for 1 more minute than the indicated cooking time on the box.
- Turn off the heat and stir in the cheeses and paprika.
- Let stand for a few minutes then serve.
