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4.6 from 195 votes

20-Minute Stovetop White Cheddar Mac and Cheese

🧀🙌🎉 Almost as FAST and EASY as using a box but tastes a million times BETTER! So creamy, ridiculously cheesy, and the extra sharp white cheddar cheese gives this mac and cheese so much FLAVOR!

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 249 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 pound small pasta shells cooked according to package directions, drained, and set aside
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon pepper or to taste
  • pinch cayenne pepper optional and to taste
  • 4 cups 2% or whole milk
  • 1 pound 16 ounces extra-sharp white cheddar cheese, grated by hand

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. To a very large pot or Dutch oven, cook the pasta according to package directions, drain; set aside.
  2. To the same pot, add the butter and heat over medium heat to melt.
  3. After the butter has melted, add the flour, mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, pepper, optional cayenne (does not make it spicy at all, solely for depth of flavor), and whisk constantly until smooth. Note - this is a very important step and if your butter-flour mixture (roux) is not okay or is not smooth, your mac and cheese will not have the right texture or consistency.
  4. Slowly add the milk, whisking constantly.
  5. Add the cheese and whisk constantly until it's melted and the mixture is perfectly smooth.
  6. Add the cooked pasta, stir to coat and combine, and serve immediately.

Notes

  • Storage: Mac and cheese will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1serving Calories 249kcal (12%) Carbohydrates 24g (8%) Protein 7g (14%) Fat 14g (22%) Saturated Fat 8g (40%) Polyunsaturated Fat 5g Cholesterol 37mg (12%) Sodium 274mg (11%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 5g (10%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 10servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 249

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving
Calories 249kcal 12%
Carbohydrates 24g 8%
Protein 7g 14%
Fat 14g 22%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Polyunsaturated Fat 5g 29%
Cholesterol 37mg 12%
Sodium 274mg 11%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 5g 10%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.