Single Serving Mac N Cheese

Single serving mac n cheese is a quick 10 minute lunch recipe you can make anytime you need some delicious and wholesome comfort food. 

Does anyone else think that boxed mac n cheese tasted significantly better when they were 12 versus being a full grown adult? I swear it used to taste good, and now it just tastes well... gross. No shame on anyone who loves it. I have found that it's just as easy for me to make homemade mac n cheese as it is to make it from a box, and that's what we've opted for in our home for the last few years. This single serving mac n cheese makes the perfect small batch amount to eat for lunch, dinner, or whenever you need a comfort food fix. 

Single Serving Mac N Cheese:

This single serving mac n cheese recipe is made on the stove top in just about 10 minutes. All you need to do is cook your elbow macaroni, and while that is boiling, prepare your cheese sauce. For the cheese sauce you're going to melt some butter in a pan, then whisk in some flour. Combine the butter and flour together until it gets bubbly, then stir in the milk. Once the milk is well combined, stir in the cheese until it's all melted and a smooth texture throughout. When the macaroni is done cooking, drain off all the excess water, toss with the cheese sauce, and serve immediately. 

How to Make a Roux for Mac N Cheese:

As mentioned previously, part of this recipe involves making a roux. This means you're using a combination of butter and flour to make the base for your dish that will help to thicken and add body to the sauce. For this particular roux, you will melt 1 tbsp butter in a man on medium high heat. Once the butter is melted, sprinkle in 1 tbsp of all purpose flour. Stir them together until well combined and the mixture begins to bubble. At this point you'll add in your milk, stir until well combined, and then add in your shredded cheese, again, stirring until it all comes together and is velvety smooth. 

Single Serving Mac N Cheese Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Elbow Macaroni
• 1 tbsp Butter
• 1 tbsp All Purpose Flour
• 1/2 cup Milk
• 1/2 cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1/8 tsp Black Pepper
• 1/8 tsp Nutmeg (optional)
• 1/8 tsp Cayenne Pepper (optional)

Healthy Mac N Cheese Recipe Variations:

While I'm a total fan in full fat dairy, always, I recognize some people might want some ideas of ways they can make this meal more macro friendly, or lower calorie. You do you! Here are some ideas:

• Use a plant based protein pasta such as chickpea or red lentil pasta
• Use a lower calorie milk such as skim, or a plant based option
• Use a lighter cheese such as part-skim mozzarella

Yield: 1

Author: Paige Flamm

Single Serving Mac n Cheese

Single serving mac n cheese is a quick 10 minute lunch recipe you can make anytime you need some delicious and wholesome comfort food.

Cook time: 10 MinTotal time: 10 Min

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Elbow Macaroni
• 1 tbsp Butter
• 1 tbsp All Purpose Flour
• 1/2 cup Milk
• 1/2 cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1/8 tsp Black Pepper
• 1/8 tsp Nutmeg (optional)
• 1/8 tsp Cayenne Pepper (optional)

Instructions

1. Boil your macaroni according to the package instructions. 
2. While you're waiting for the macaroni to cook, start on the cheese sauce. 
3. In a pan on medium high heat, melt 1 tbsp butter. When the butter is melted sprinkle in 1 tbsp flour. Whisk together until well combined and the mixture starts to bubble. 
4. At this point, whisk in 1/2 cup milk, and continue whisking. Finally, add in the 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, and whisk until velvety smooth. 
5. Finish your cheese sauce by stirring in your desired spices. 
6. When the macaroni is done cooking, drain off all the excess water and add your drained pasta to the cheese sauce mixture. stir to coat, and then serve!

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