Easy mac and cheese with cream cheese

If you’re craving the ultimate comfort food, here is the BEST homemade easy mac and cheese recipe! Made on the stove top with only real food ingredients, this mac and cheese is quick & easy, oh-so-creamy, and perfect for the entire family!

There is a several year gap in my life when I didn’t make mac and cheese because the only way I knew how to make it was from a box, and I had thrown away all the boxes because they were contaminated with hydrogenated oils.

Yes, a life without macaroni and cheese is sad. As much as we enjoy other comfort dishes like chicken and spinach enchiladas and homemade donuts, nothing beats a classic homemade mac and cheese recipe.

Not only is this stove-top recipe super easy, it is also amazing because it’s:

  • Simple. Made with a handful of easy-to-find ingredients, it’s a real food no-brainer!
  • Creamy. With cream cheese and real cheddar cheese, it’s so much creamier and more delicious than the boxed powdered stuff.
  • Quick. You can make this recipe from start to finish in 15-20 minutes!
  • Family-friendly. Believe me, this recipe will quickly become a family favorite!
  • Gluten-free friendly. Instead of regular pasta and flour, replace them with gluten free options.

Ingredients

  • elbow pasta
  • butter
  • flour
  • cream cheese
  • cheddar cheese, shredded
  • milk
  • garlic powder + ground nutmeg + onion powder + paprika
  • chili powder (optional)
  • black pepper
  • salt, to taste

Notes on Ingredients

Butter + Milk. Mac and cheese without butter and milk is just pasta and cheese. A.K.A. no creaminess whatsoever. You need our friends butter and milk to turn plain cheese into an amazing saucy sauce.

Pasta. If you are gluten-free, go ahead and swap in gluten free flour and pasta for the regular flour and pasta. Just follow the al dente cook time on the package of gluten free pasta.

Spices. I know it might seem odd to add spices to mac and cheese, but trust me, the garlic powder + ground nutmeg + onion powder + paprika seriously add an amazing depth of flavor. Please don’t skip them, and if you add some chili powder too? Yum…

Step- By-Step Instructions

Step 1. Cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Strain in a colander and set aside.

Step 2. In the same pot, melt butter. Add flour and stir so that it makes a paste with the melted butter. Allow the flour to cook for about 5 minutes, stirring often.

Step 3. Add 1 1/2 cups of milk while stirring constantly. Stir until the sauce is smooth.

Step 4. Add the cream cheese and cheddar cheese and stir often until the cheese is melted.

Step 5. Season with the garlic powder, nutmeg, onion powder, paprika, pepper and chili powder, if using.

Step 6. Rinse the pasta with water so that the noodles don’t stick together. Add the pasta to the cheese sauce and stir well, but gently so that the noodles don’t break. Taste and add additional seasoning as desired. If the sauce is too thick, thin with milk 1/4 cup at a time.

Recipe Tips

  • I should say that this mac and cheese is NOT diet friendly. It’s not carb-friendly or low-fat and doesn’t fall into any other category that agribusiness says is good for you.
  • This is full-fat, from scratch, home-style cooking you imagine and salivate for when someone says mac and cheese. It’s made with 100% real food ingredients you can feel good about serving your family and oh, by the way, it’s ready in less than 15 minutes.
  • Want to sneak in some veggies? Sub pumpkin puree or mashed sweet potato for the cream cheese! It still tastes amazing PLUS you can feed your picky eater some veggies and they won’t even know!

FAQs

What is the Best Pasta for Homemade Stove Top Mac and Cheese?

I used elbow noodles this time, but small or medium shells work great too. The key is to use a noodle that lets the cheese get inside yet still keep their shape – points for the cheesy factor.
Cute wheels and flat egg noodles? No go. Whether you use white or whole wheat pasta is up to you. I’ve used both and no one knew the difference.

What is the Best Cheese for Mac and Cheese?

Classic sharp cheddar is the main star for cheesiness, but cream cheese plays a very important supporting role to round out the creamy requirement. Plus cream cheese tends to cost less than cheddar, which means you can get away with using a little less cheddar than in most mac and cheese recipes.
Note that I said SHARP cheddar cheese – it’s another way to save on cheese (and it tastes better).

What are the Best Spices for Homemade Mac and Cheese?

Mac and cheese without spice lacks a depth, which is why you often see nutmeg listed in the ingredients. Maybe one day I’ll use whole nutmeg with a microplane, but until then, ground nutmeg will have to do.
I’ve also added a few other players too – garlic, onion and paprika – because they really kick up the comforting factor a few notches. Please don’t skip them, and if you add some chili powder too? Yum…

Are there Breadcrumbs in Stove Top Mac and Cheese?

There are none because this is STOVE TOP mac and cheese, not BAKED mac and cheese. We much prefer the stove top version.

To Serve

This homemade easy mac and cheese would be delicious served with:

  • Instant Pot Whole Chicken with Pan-Roasted Broccoli
  • Almond Crusted Baked Chicken with Caramelized Onion & Swiss Chard

More Easy Homemade Classic Recipes

  • Easy Shepherd’s Pie
  • Butternut Squash Pasta Bake
  • Easy Baked Ziti
  • Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole

Watch How to Make Creamy Stovetop Mac and Cheese

Creamy Stovetop Mac and Cheese

The best homemade mac and cheese just like your grandma would make, ready in less than 15 minutes and made from scratch with real food ingredients.

  • Prep Time: 1 min
  • Cook Time: 15 mins
  • Total Time: 16 minutes
  • Yield: 46 servings 1x
  • Category: Sides
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

  • 8 oz elbow pasta
  • 4 Tbsp butter
  • 4 Tbsp flour
  • 4 oz cream cheese, room temperature and cubed
  • 8 oz cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 22 1/2 cups milk, divided
  • 1/4 tsp each: garlic powder, ground nutmeg, onion powder, paprika
  • 1/4 tsp chili powder (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • salt, to taste

  1. Cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Strain in a colander and set aside.
  2. In the same pot, melt butter. Add flour and stir so that it makes a paste with the melted butter. Allow the flour to cook for about 5 minutes, stirring often.
  3. Add 1 1/2 cups of milk while stirring constantly. Stir until the sauce is smooth.
  4. Add the cream cheese and cheddar cheese and stir often until the cheese is melted.
  5. Season with the garlic powder, nutmeg, onion powder, paprika, pepper and chili powder, if using.
  6. Rinse the pasta with water so that the noodles don’t stick together. Add the pasta to the cheese sauce and stir well, but gently so that the noodles don’t break. Taste and add additional seasoning as desired. If the sauce is too thick, thin with milk 1/4 cup at a time.

Notes

Want to sneak in some veggies? Sub pumpkin puree or mashed sweet potato for the cream cheese! It still tastes amazing PLUS you can feed your picky eater some veggies and they won’t even know!

Keywords: homemade easy mac and cheese

Reader Interactions

What cheeses mix well together for mac and cheese?

Gruyere is a classic addition because it melts much like Cheddar, but has a lovely nutty flavor. Other classics include Gouda, Muenster, Parmesan, fontina, Havarti and Monterey Jack. Brie works well too, just make sure you remove the rind before mixing it in.

Can you put cream cheese in box mac and cheese?

Make It Extra Creamy Most boxes will instruct you to boil the pasta, then drain and add butter, milk, and cheese powder to the pot, mixing well to form a sauce. To make your mac extra creamy and rich, melt a tablespoon or two of cream cheese into your cheese sauce. You'll thank us later.

Can I use cream instead of milk in mac and cheese?

Heavy whipping cream (or half and half) is the perfect substitute for milk in mac and cheese. This is actually a great option! The thicker consistency will produce a dreamy, creamy sauce that everyone will love. The flavor is bolder and richer, too, and you may enjoy it more than the original.

Can you use cream cheese instead of butter in mac and cheese?

Cream Cheese For more flavor in macaroni and cheese, cream cheese is a terrific substitute for butter. It may be used with lighter ingredients, such as oil, to create a smooth and creamy sauce.

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