Three Cheese Stovetop Mac and Cheese
Three cheese stovetop mac and cheese is a real indulgence you can whip up quickly and enjoy by itself or with a simple salad. Thank goodness for a dish even picky eaters will enjoy!
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I’ve had a new mac and cheese on my recipe plan for awhile. My baked macaroni and cheese is my most requested recipe and cooler weather is a great time to throw this super creamy three cheese stovetop mac and cheese version out there.
This one is just as tasty, but doesn’t require baking. Just whip up the cheese sauce and mix in cooked pasta. Easy as that.
What goes well with stovetop mac and cheese?
It’s best to balance the richness and starch of the pasta with lighter dishes, green vegetables or a hearty protein. Try:
- Fried chicken tenders
- Classic stuffed bell peppers
- Homemade meatloaf with brown sugar glaze
- Traditional seven layer salad
There’s even more macaroni and cheese to love! Make these next:
- Spicy baked macaroni and cheese
- Baked mac and cheese with tomatoes
- Fast microwave easy macaroni and cheese
- One pan homemade hamburger helper (hey–it’s almost mac and cheese!)
Creamy Three Cheese Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese
Super creamy, warm and full of flavor this easy three-cheese macaroni and cheese will be on the table in a flash.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup 2% or whole milk
- 1/2 cup half and half or you can use more whole or 2% milk in its place
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Colby cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 ounces cream cheese cut into cubes, 1/4 of a block
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil for the pasta.
- Add in the pasta and cook until al dente–check your box for the right time, usually about 10-12 minutes. Don’t overcook it. Set aside and start the sauce.
- In a separate medium saucepan or skillet, melt the butter and add the flour. Cook on medium heat one minute until the flour browns just slightly.
- Add the milk and half and half (if using), and a dash of salt and pepper.
- Cook until thickened and starting to bubble; about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the mustard and stir to combine followed by the cheddar and Colby cheeses.
- Stir until the cheese melts.
- Add the pasta, and toss.
- Add in the cream cheese and stir until the cubes melt and the sauce is completely smooth.
- Serve hot.
Nutrition
Calories: 365kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 14gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 276mgPotassium: 191mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 643IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 284mgIron: 1mg
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It was going great till I grabbed the minced onion instead of the garlic lol
But it tastes great n looks good in just going to leave out onion next time ha ha
Thanks great simple m very creamy Mac n cheese
Well just be glad you didn’t put something worse in it…like cinnamon. 😉 I’m glad you liked it anyway Nancy! Try it again soon and thanks for letting me know it wasn’t a total loss. –Rachel
I want to run home right now – after I stop at the store! That sounds amazing!
I think I want to try this one…one question: is it possible to bake this one for, say, 30 minutes?
You know Doug, since this is a stovetop version I’ve never tried it in the oven. You can give it a try and see what you think but I would recommend cooking the pasta a minute or two short of done so it doesn’t turn to mush in the oven. If you want a great baked mac and cheese you should check mine out–it’s a winner! Good luck!
We love it! I made two boxes of pasta and had to up the recipe ingredients 10 x for a family of 6. I could have used more mustard and we only use 1/2 block of cream cheese. This was the first from scratch recipe I made. It’s rich. It has great flavor. Made for my daughters birthday. We could no stop picking at it. I would have loved to maybe put it in a tray to bake add bread crumbs to the top. Then as we were making it we thought how great it would be with some bacon bits. Thank you for the great recipe!
You’re right Tamara! It’s very rich! I’m glad your family liked it. It’s always nice to have a dish people enjoy. I also have a baked mac and cheese recipe here on the blog you might like. It isn’t as rich, but it’s my #1 post with lots of happy people out there who’ve made it. Stronger cheeses like sharp cheddar work best in it. You might want to check it out. Glad you liked the stove top version!
This is the only recipe I found on Pinterest that I’ve made probably 5 times now. I am in love with it. I’m making it again tonight with Hook’s aged white cheddar which is a Wisconsin cheese (where I’m from.) This is honestly one of the best cheeses EVER so I cannot wait to substitute it into your recipe. I can’t get over how easy this recipe is. Thanks for sharing.
That’s wonderful to hear Nicole! And that’s a big compliment considering how much there is floating around on Pinterest. An aged white cheddar would be great. As I’m typing I’m snacking on an aged alehouse cheddar…yum. 🙂 You’ll have to let me know how it turns out–I hope you find lots of other easy tasty recipes on the blog as well. Thanks for taking the time to send me your feedback! –Rachel
Great recipe, just made it. Seems that it barely serves my family of 2 adults, 1 toddler, & 1 preschooler. This is a small batch, half the size of the other recipes I try for Mac and cheese.
Wow Amber, you all must be big eaters! 🙂 My recipe made a full 9-inch skillet, as you can see in the picture. That’s the good thing about it though–it’s easy to double. I’m glad you enjoyed it. –Rachel
I totally feel you on fall, Rachel. We had a tease about a week ago, and I honestly just cannot wait to be bundled up in a sweater with a warm drink in my hand and just soak in the fall weather. It can’t come soon enough!
This mac-n-cheese sounds DIVINE! You’re using some of my favorite cheeses, and not only does it sound great, but it looks lip-smackin’ good!
Now this is some seriously cheesey and delicious mac and cheese. Craving a bowlful right now.. it’s the perfect comfort food!
Thanks Thalia! It was really cheesy–you’re right about that. I hope you get a chance to make yourself a big warm pan full very soon. 🙂
Wow you made mac-n-cheese look even better with these skillet photos. Goodness!
Thank you Memoria!
Oh. My. Makes me comfy and happy just looking at those pics. I may or may not have absentmindedly tried to lick my iPad.
Oh hahahaha Morgan! That’s terrible! No licking the electronics!! Just make a batch–I promise that will taste better. 🙂