Alton Brown's Stovetop Mac and Cheese - Recipe Diaries (2024)

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Alton Brown's Stovetop Mac and Cheese - Recipe Diaries (1)

In this episode of Good Eats, Alton shows little Alton how to make mac and cheese like the Kraft Macaroni and cheese. I'm a huge fan of boxed mac and cheese and my favorite is the Velveeta shells and cheese. This recipe is really close to that.

The eggs get combined with the evaporated milk and spices. Then on low heat (or off the stove top) you combine the noodles, egg mixture, and cheese together until every thing is combined. It is so simple and such an easy method and the eggs will not curdle this way and turned to scrambled eggs.

By far the best Mac and Cheese recipe that comes close to Kraft Mac and Cheese.

How to Stove Top Mac and Cheese

For the full recipe, please see the recipe card below.

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add a sprinkling of salt, then boil your noodles according to package directions. Once al dente, drain the pasta and return it to the pot. Add the butter and stir until butter has melted.

Meanwhile, in a separate small bowl, whisk together the eggs, evaporated milk, cayenne, 1 tsp. salt, pepper, and mustard. Once the noodles are cooked, drained and the butter has melted, stir the milk mixture into the noodles until incorporated. Add in the cheese and stir over low heat until cheese has melted, approximately 3 minutes. Serve immediately.

Other Alton Brown Recipes to Try

Homemade Candy Corn

Homemade Peanut Butter

Chocolate Fudge

The Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie

If you’ve tried this Stove Top Mac and Cheese or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out. Snap a picture and upload it to share on Pinterest

Alton Brown's Stovetop Mac and Cheese - Recipe Diaries (2)
Alton Brown's Stovetop Mac and Cheese - Recipe Diaries (3)

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Alton Brown's Stovetop Mac and Cheese - Recipe Diaries (4)

Alton Brown's Stovetop Mac and Cheese

  • Author: Alton Brown
  • Prep Time: 15 min
  • Cook Time: 10 min
  • Total Time: 25 min
  • Yield: 6 to 8 1x
Print Recipe

Description

An easy recipe for stovetop mac and cheese that is a good dupe for Kraft Mac and Cheese. If you love boxed mac and cheese you will love how easy this recipe is!

Scale

Ingredients

  • ½ pound elbow macaroni
  • 4 tbsp. butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 6 oz. evaporated milk
  • ⅛ tsp. ground cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt, plus more for boiling
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ tsp. stone ground mustard
  • 10 oz. shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add a sprinkling of salt, then boil your noodles according to package directions. Once al dente, drain the pasta and return it to the pot. Add the butter and stir until butter has melted.
  2. Meanwhile, in a separate small bowl, whisk together the eggs, evaporated milk, cayenne, 1 tsp. salt, pepper and mustard. Once the noodles are cooked, drained and the butter has melted, stir the milk mixture into the noodles until incorporated. Add in the cheese and stir over low heat until cheese has melted, approximately 3 minutes. Serve immediately.

Notes

myWW points: Blue 11; Green 11; Purple 11

  • Category: Side
  • Method: Stove Top
  • Cuisine: Mac and Cheese

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup
  • Calories: 368
  • Sugar: 2g
  • Sodium: 537mg
  • Fat: 29g
  • Saturated Fat: 16g
  • Carbohydrates: 16g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 17g

Keywords: alton brown's stovetop mac and cheese

More Appetizers/Sides

  • 3 Ingredient Tartar Sauce
  • Air Fryer Shrimp co*cktail
  • Paula Deen's Green Bean Casserole
  • Cheesy Garlic Ciabatta Bread

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Courtney says

    Hello,
    Can I use powdered mustard instead in this recipe? I don't care for wet mustard. If so, what is the ratio?

    Thanks,
    Courtney

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  4. Cassandra says

    Saw this on Pinterest. Sounds delish!

  5. jgisvold says

    Thank you! 🙂

  6. Lindsay @ Pinch of Yum says

    Ohhhh yummy! I can just feel the cheesy goodness! Great photos!

Leave a Reply

Alton Brown's Stovetop Mac and Cheese - Recipe Diaries (2024)

FAQs

How does Gordon Ramsay make the best mac and cheese? ›

Preparation
  1. In a large pot over medium heat, combine the pasta and milk. ...
  2. Once the pasta is cooked, remove the pan from the heat and add the butter, cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper. ...
  3. Divide between serving bowls and top with the bread crumbs.
  4. Enjoy!
  5. All your favorite recipes, stored in one place.
May 4, 2023

Why evaporated milk in mac and cheese? ›

Evaporated milk is a highly concentrated source of milk protein micelles—bundles of proteins that can act as powerful emulsifying agents—which help to keep the sauce creamy and smooth.

Can you make mac and cheese ahead of time and reheat? ›

Cool completely. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to bake, up to 4 days. Bring to room temperature. Bake at 400° F until golden and warmed through, 25 to 35 minutes.

How do you keep mac and cheese from drying out? ›

For all methods, to keep the mac and cheese from drying out, stir 1 tablespoon milk into each 1 cup mac and cheese before reheating. Before you reheat mac and cheese, you want to make sure it's stored properly.

What are the 3 best cheeses for mac and cheese? ›

Cheddar, Gruyère, Monterey Jack, mozzarella, Fontina, and Gouda cheese are good options.

Is heavy whipping cream or evaporated milk better for mac and cheese? ›

It is better to use heavy cream for Mac and Cheese instead of milk, or better yet, use evaporated milk which has the thickness of heavy cream without all of the fat! Furthermore, it is more stable than heavy cream so your Macaroni and Cheese is less likely to curdle or separate.

What happens if you use heavy cream instead of milk in mac and cheese? ›

Heavy cream is, in my opinion, the best milk substitute for kraft mac and cheese. It's thicker and more luxurious than milk, so I actually think this makes a better end result! just add the heavy whipping cream in the same way you would add the milk.

Is milk or evaporated milk better for mac and cheese? ›

It will be richer and creamier. It's actually a very good substitute for regular milk. I've often used evaporated milk in mac&cheese which makes it better than milk. Both heavy cream and evaporated milk are much better in mashed potatoes, too!

Is it OK to prep mac and cheese the night before? ›

Make ahead: This recipe is designed to be assembled and refrigerated up to 2 days ahead before baking. Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Should I add milk when reheating mac and cheese? ›

Reheating mac and cheese on the stove is quick, efficient, and will guarantee a delicious leftover meal. In fact, it's even easier and tastier than making a boxed mac and cheese. Here's how you do it: Add the mac and cheese and one tablespoon of milk (per cup of mac and cheese) to a saucepan or pot.

How do you keep mac and cheese creamy when reheating? ›

Add 1 tablespoon of milk per cup of mac and cheese and mix to incorprate as much as possible. *If you'd like to add more creaminess and flavor, substitute half-and-half or cream. 3. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and place in the oven at 350°F for 20-30 minutes, or until heated through.

Can you put too much cheese in mac and cheese? ›

Can you put too much cheese in mac and cheese? Yes, adding more cheese than a recipe calls for will not improve the dish. Too much cheese will result in a dish that is heavy and greasy.

Why is my mac and cheese so dry after baking? ›

Use less thickener

This is key. Throw in too much flour, and sure the sauce might get thick, but it also might taste floury and be lumpy. Even if you get the roux right, use too much or reduce your sauce down too far, and the macaroni and cheese will turn out dry.

How does Gordon Ramsay make macaroni and cheese? ›

Gordon Ramsay's mac and cheese is a simplified recipe. Just boil pasta in milk and then, add butter, cheese, salt, and pepper to it. Merge all the elements and Gordon Ramsay's mac and cheese will be ready in no time.

What are the ingredients in Gordon Food Service mac and cheese? ›

COOKED ENRICHED MACARONI PRODUCT (WATER, SEMOLINA [MILLED WHEAT, NIACIN, FERROUS SULFATE, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID]), WATER, CHEDDAR CLUB CHEESE (CHEDDAR CHEESE [CULTURED PASTEURIZED MILK, SALT, ENZYMES], WATER, SALT, ANNATTO [COLOR]), CHEDDAR CHEESE (PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES ...

What is the most perfect cheese to use on Mac & 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.

What makes mac and cheese taste so good? ›

Great mac n' cheese needs one or more cheeses that melt well, and one or more cheeses that bring the flavor. The best melters include monterey jack, fontina, baby swiss, asiago, provolone, mozzarella, and alpine-style. Cheeses for flavor: cheddar, havarti, smoked gouda, gorgonzola, feta and any other of your favorites.

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