Stovetop Creamy Milk Macaroni & Cheese

I have never made Macaroni & Cheese that is boiled in milk instead of water. I must admit that I was a little skeptical, however, I still pushed forward. I couldn’t believe the creaminess and thickness of the cheesy milk based sauce that is made completely on the stovetop in one pan.

Over medium low heat in a large saucepan, add the uncooked macaroni.

Poor in enough milk to just cover the macaroni then stir.

Add the butter, salt, pepper and onion powder. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, then turn to low.

Continue to stir frequently so the macaroni doesn’t stick. As this cooks the milk should always be at this level, keeping the macaroni wet. When it starts to get too thick add more milk, about 1 cup at a time. Simmer until the pasta is done to your liking.

Add your favorite cheese. I always use American Cheese and have since my Mom made it when I was a child. I would suggest not using the bagged cheese that is shredded as the additive in it doesn’t melt into the sauce very well. If you can shred, or cut small, block cheese it will taste better.

Toss until all of the cheese is melted. Let sit for a few minutes then serve.
Stovetop Creamy Milk Macaroni & Cheese
http://www.InDianesKitchen.com

Ingredients
- 1# elbow macaroni, uncooked
- 6 plus cups whole milk (approximately)
- 3 Tbsp. butter
- 1/8 tsp. onion powder
- 1/2 tsp. pepper or to taste
- 1 tsp. salt or to taste
- 8 oz. American cheese or your favorite cheese
Directions
- Over medium low heat in a large saucepan, add the uncooked macaroni.
- Poor in enough milk to just cover the macaroni then stir.
- Add the butter, salt, pepper and onion powder. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, then turn to low.
- Continue to stir frequently so the macaroni doesn’t stick. As this cooks the milk should always be at the top of the macaroni keeping the macaroni wet. When it starts to get too thick add more milk, about 1 cup at a time. Simmer until the pasta is done to your liking.
- Add your favorite cheese. I always use American Cheese and have since my Mom made it when I was a child. I would suggest not using the bagged cheese that is shredded as the additive in it doesn’t melt into the sauce very well. If you can shred or cut block cheese it will taste better.
- Toss until all of the cheese is melted. Let sit for a few minutes then serve.
http://www.InDianes Kitchen.com
Categories: Cheese, Milk Based, Pasta, Sauces, Spices/Seasoning
Good idea . Do not know if my texts reach you dear lady??
They do but when I send my replies it tells me it didn’t go through. I have a couple others doing the same thing.
I shall try this version, as I love mac and cheese…
It has an entirely different consistency, it was a nice change.
Yummy … my kind of dish! Easy-peasy and delicious! Thanks for the recipe Diane. Since Berto is away for work for the next few days, I know what I’m going to make for dinner tonight 😉.
Thank you! Cut the recipe in half at least, it makes a lot! It’s nice to hear Berto is working. 🥰
The ultimate comfort food Diane, however it’s cooked!
You are right Sheree!
Mac and cheese is my ultimate comfort food. I have never tried this before but I’m sure going to try it now.😀
It was crazy how the milk turned to a roux like consistency. This was completely different from cooking the pasta in water and fun to try, enjoy Christy!
Diane, looks simple, easy and good! I’d add parsley flakes for some pretty green color! 🙂
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Thank you Mitzy that’s a great idea!
A genuis idea – one pan cleanup. I’ll bet your grandchildren loved the creamy taste.
They aren’t here very much anymore since my daughter got her Nurse Practitioner license and job. They are in school and my daughter has 3 days off and amazing hours! We still get them, one at a time so we don’t have to deal with fighting though.🤣 My husband retired March 4th and it’s our time now.
You are 100% right about it is your time. Enjoy every moment.
Thank you Bernadette!
It’s a handy technique Diane!
Thank you Dorothy! 💕
thanks for this. I have boiled the macaroni in milk but always used the bagged cheese.
You’re welcome! How did it turn out with the bagged cheese? I was told it didn’t mix in as well.
It clumped, which was not a good thing. It can be hard to get the sauce just right. Thanks again.
You’re welcome
Oh, I am DEFINITELY doing this Diane!! Thank ya!! And because of that I will add a caveat on your difficulty measure. “Difficulty: Easy (even for lazy dudes who think cooking is hitting the hot bar at the local supermarket)
Hahaha We took a day trip to a unique supermarket on Wednesday. It had a huge apartment complex above it and all these people were coming down to buy their dinner for the day. The entire store was full of hot wings, pizza, snacks etc. I found some hot and spicy jelly with bacon!!!!! Although this Mac & cheese is super easy you have to stir often or the macaroni will stick. I figured that out in the first few minutes. Lol
Thank you for reblogging Ned!
I have done this with home made mac and it is really good. Just something different and then once made I will sometimes bake it. But mac n cheese is good no matter how you do it, great comfort food..
I agree! I was thinking about using the leftovers and making breaded amc and cheese bites but don’t you know we ended up eating it all over the next few days. Cooked this way would be perfect for the bites. I’m curious, how did baking it change it?
Baking gives it a nice baked cheesy layer on top, think its a bit thicker, creamier. Glues all that goodness together..just probably have to add a bit more liquid so it doesnt dry out.
Thank you!
Wow! It’s like my dreams have come true, Diane. Easy homemade mac and cheese it the ultimate comfort food. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome!
Thank you Yernasia!
Can you please include the amount of butter I didn’t see it in the recipe.
Thank you so much Lucy!!! I updated my recipe card and it is 3Tbsp., have a great day! 💕
It looks delicious!
Thank you!
That’s interesting Diane and looks so good! I always thought milk would burn if you boil it so I guess the constant stirring helps prevent that. Will have to try it!
Me too, however, it got thick so fast (almost like a roux) that it was more of a simmer. It took a lot of babysitting but was such a different way to cook pasta.
Wow! Mac and cheese. Get me a bowl. I’ll eat it here.
I know right! Who doesn’t love Mac and Cheese. Thank you JC! 🥰
Whoa! I have never heard of cooking the macaroni in milk. If you think about it though it would make for a creamy mac and cheese. Thanks for sharing this version.
It was the most fascinating thing to cook Linda. It almost immediately made it’s own roux and when I tasted it, it had a sweet hint to it which was so strange. I could have eaten this without adding cheese. What a fun thing to make.
Wow! That sounds awesome!!
Thank you Jessica. It was such an interesting way to cook pasta and I couldn’t believe it turned out! I’m actually eating the last of it now as I work on my comments. Lol
Hi Diane – can you access this slideshow – it is my garden from 2010?
I don’t want to send it via e-mail or Shutterfly will bug you.
https://link.shutterfly.com/ysFuqWYnpyb
Dang Linda you are welcome to come and redo my flower beds!!! Beautiful flower beds and I love the butterfly bush with the butterflies. Thank you for the link!
Thank you Diane! That was my garden in its heyday and it looks rather pitiful these days. Every day I go to the corner of the yard that was burned from the fire to look for a sign of life. I often think to myself – is it worth it to resurrect this garden with climate change and days and days of either rain or unrelenting heat. I have mixed feelings about it, but doubt it will ever look like it did. It used to take me an entire day just to set everything around and that was after the regular pruning of bushes, planting of annuals in baskets or pots … I was all about my garden back in the day! I could never compete with your wisteria though. My neighbor Marge had one in the corner of her yard where my lilac tree that got burned is – once a week I had to pull that vine out of my lilac – it was like that wisteria was possessed with its tendrils! I don’t think it ever bloomed either! Glad you, a gardener extraordinaire, enjoyed the link!
I’m so sorry the fire burned your flowers, I’m just glad it wasn’t your house and you! Plants and trees can be regrown. Yes wisteria is possessed and if I don’t keep up with mine frequently it will take over all 2 1/2 acres! Lol
You are 100% right Diane – as disheartened as I feel about the garden after all that work I put into it, I realize how lucky I am to be alive and the house was not damaged. So today we have very high winds so once again I worry about that dead tree that lost the branches that landed on the power line and caused the fire. I know you have high winds too as part of the turnpike was closed for high-profile vehicles until 8:00 p.m. tonight.down per our traffic reporter. It is very windy here right now. Yes, I spent lots of time wrestling with Marge’s wisteria!
Interesting!
Thank you!
Ooh – I love the sound of this one. I’ve never tried boiling pasta in milk, but I think I’ll give it a whirl.
It totally amazed me and was so much fun to make not to mention delicious! Thank you🥰
Diane – this looks wonderful – I love mac and cheese. I know you can make it in the crockpot as well. I am going to look for a crockpot recipe – maybe for Good Friday. This looks very creamy, just like I like it.
[P.S. – feel free to delete the flower slideshow … I only sent it to a couple of people who I have discussed flowers with and I didn’t want to send a link to e-mail as Shutterfly will become a pest with their promotions, free or otherwise.]
Thank you so much Linda!
Thank you!