This One Pot Mac and Cheese Recipe makes for an easy, less mess, delicious vegetarian dinner! Asiago, Monterey Jack, and Cheddar Cheese make this extra yummy!
Gosh I love Fridays.
Although, Trevor and I both work from home now…and we tend to work on Saturday’s and Sunday’s… so, I guess, Friday’s really mean nothing to us anymore…
Regardless. There’s still something about Friday’s that’s totally satisfying.
I makes me feel like I don’t have to get thaaaat much work done, because it’s been a long week and I CAN have that cocktail at 5 o’clock, or go out for dinner. It makes me feel like I can even sit at home in my jammies with a big ol’ bowl of this creamy, dreamy, ultra cheesy one pot mac and cheese.
You have two choices tonight:
1. Go out and have that cocktail and dinner out.
2. Join me, and make this one pot mac and cheese recipe, watch Spy, and have some eggless edible cookie dough for dessert.
I’d go for option #2…but that’s just me. 😉
Just like my Easy Asian Noodles, this One Pot Mac and Cheese Recipe was born, because I actually had the will power to turn down take-out. You guys, Trevor suggested we order take-out 3 times last week, and I said no all 3 times.
Who am I?
Although I’m sliiiightly regretting that decision, overall, I’m glad we didn’t get take-out, because it meant we got to eat super yummy food that was super easy to make all while saving some money and probably a few calories, too. 😉
This mac and cheese is, you guessed it, made in one pot. Which, as you guys probably know, is one of my very favorite things in life. The less I have to do dishes, the better.
Let me tell you a little, semi-embarrassing story and then I promise I’ll tell you all about this one pot mac and cheese recipe. Promise.
Usually, I’m very good about cleaning up after myself. I’m almost too good. I thank my mom for that. I’m definitely a picker-upper. For example, I’ll put stuff away before people are done using it, because I hate clutter and I hate things just hanging around.
Last week, however, was a different story.
It took me, hmm, let me think, a WEEK before the kitchen was 100% clean.
A load would go into the dishwasher, and I’d still have a stack of dirty dishes hanging around the sink. Being a food blogger, I kept recipe testing, but the dishwasher just couldn’t keep up and I could not force myself to just do the darn dishes!
It was reeeeeally bad.
This is exactly why I need more recipes like this one pot mac and cheese recipe in my life.
Less mess? Check!
Now let’s talk about how easy this recipe is.
Place vegetable stock, milk, a touch of butter, and some shells in a stockpot. Let it cook, stir in some cheese – yeah, we’re using three cheeses: Asiago, Monterey, and Cheddar and let’s call it a day.
Seriously. That’s it.
H-O-W-E-V-E-R.
If you want to do one little extra thing, you can spoon the finished mac and cheese into individual ramekins, top them with a little more shredded Monterey/Cheddar, a few sprinkles of breadcrumbs, and pop them under the broiler… you definitely wouldn’t hear any complaints. 😉
Less mess. Check!
Easy. Check!
But most importantly, let’s talk about about freakin’ delicious this tastes.
Ugh! It’s good.
And I don’t say that lightly, because I am, yes, I’ll admit it, a Kraft Mac & Cheese Girl. I can’t help it, I <3 boxed mac and cheese. Gimme the Kraft, gimme the Annie’s, gimme the Velveeta. I’ll take it all. And honestly, I’ve never been a fan of homemade mac and cheese.
But after making this one pot mac and cheese recipe… so looooong boxed mac and cheese.
It doesn’t create more of a mess, it’s just as easy, and I have to say, it tastes better!
This mac and cheese is so creamy, the noodles are perfectly al dente, and the combination of nutty Asiago, creamy Monterey, and sharp cheddar is outta this world, blow your mind, can hardly handle it amazing.
Less mess. Check!
Easy. Check!
Freaking delicious. Check!
Skip the take out and after work drinks tonight, make yourself a cocktail and some of this one pot mac and cheese, and I promise you’ll have a comfy, cozy, really great Friday night in. 🙂
Happy Friday!
– Jennifer
If you’re like me, you absolutely ♡ One Pot Wonders, so you’ll also love these:
Crockpot Butternut Squash Soup
One Pot Mexican Chicken & Rice Soup
And for dessert?
Show me the yummy!
- 1 (16 oz) box medium pasta shells uncooked
- 3 cups vegetable broth
- 2 cups skim milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon salt more or less to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper more or less to taste
- 2 oz shredded asiago about 1/2 cup
- 2 oz shredded Monterey jack cheese about 1/2 cup that’s been loosely packed, don’t buy pre-shredded!
- 4 oz shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese about 1 cup that’s been loosely packed, don’t buy pre-shredded!
- Garlic & Herb Breadcrumbs for topping
- Extra Monterey/Cheddar shredded, for topping
- Place shells, vegetable stock, milk, and butter in a large stockpot.
- Over medium/medium low heat, bring the mixture to a low simmer (this will take a few minutes), stirring regularly.
- Once simmering, simmer for about 7-10 minutes or until shells are al dente. Stir constantly. You may need to adjust your heat to keep it at a low simmer.
- Once the shells are al dente, lower the heat to the lowest setting and stir in salt, pepper, and the three cheeses.
- Stir until the cheese has completely melted.
- Taste and re-season, if necessary.
- Remove from heat and serve immediately!
- Spoon finished mac and cheese into 4 individual oven safe ramekins.
- Sprinkle with more Monterey/Cheddar cheese.
- Top with garlic and herb breadcrumbs.
- Broil on top rack for 1-2 minutes, watching carefully, until cheese is melty and the top has slightly browned.
*Pre-shredded cheese doesn't melt as well! I'd suggest taking a few extra minutes to shred your own Monterey Jack and Cheddar! 🙂
Option #2 without a doubt! You had me and cheesy noodles and cookie dough 🙂
Yes!! The perfect Friday night 😉
That blend of cheeses looks absolutely dreamy! I’m so glad I’m not the only one who considers pajamas and a bowl of mac and cheese an evening well spent 🙂
Thank you! Ha, I’m glad we’re in this together! 😉
Oh my goodness mac and cheese is my weakness! This version looks amazing! I would love to stay home with some of this!
Thanks Shelby!! 🙂 I’m eating a bowl as we speak! 😉
Love your version. Looks so delicious and yummy.. I love cheese and can finish off this one in no time 🙂
Thanks Kushi! Me too 😉
I absolutely LOVE one-pot wonders like this mac & cheese! It looks so creamy & cheesy… very comforting! I could eat this for breakfast!
Mac and cheese is my single favorite food and I love it homemade, so I don’t say it lightly when I say that this was AMAZING. My new go-to version.
PS. If you ever make it out to the Bay, we have a mac and cheese restaurant here that serves — among many other types — jalapeno popper mac. Seems up your alley!
Ahh! I KNEW you’d like this, Whitney! I’m so glad you made and loved this! 🙂 We’d love to come visit you guys…and that mac and cheese sounds incredible. Guess I’ll have to make my own, until I get to try that version! 😉
This is the best mac and cheese on the planet.
Haha thank you so much, Michelle! I’m glad you agree 😉
I use gluten free brown rice pasta and have used almond or cashew milk and it was still super amazing!!
Oh I LOVE cashew milk… that sounds delicious 🙂 Glad to hear that a gluten free pasta works, that’ll be great for the gluten free readers! Thanks for sharing Michelle!
I even made it at a campsite on a propane burner. My favorite mac and cheese!
Genius!!! Thank you so much!
Used Almond milk instead and added some canned organic squash from TJ and some mustard to counter the sweetness…was excellent!! (Don’t do milk but can handle cheese)..
Love it!!! Thanks so much Nicole! 🙂