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 to make Gordon Ramsay's 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.

Do you use milk or water for mac and cheese? ›

You most definitely can use water in place of milk in any pasta recipe including mac and cheese. It is how I make mine, in fact, and it is just as healthy and delicious. The thing is that it will make it not as creamy and perhaps less thick.

What cheese to add to mac and cheese? ›

What Is the Best Cheese for Mac and Cheese? Sharp cheddar is the overwhelming popular choice, but for extra-creamy results, we think medium cheddar is even better. Other delicious options include Gruyère, smoked Gouda, and Monterey Jack.

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

Note 1: Milk: The evaporated milk lends a really nice flavor and creaminess, it's the "secret" to this mac and cheese! It also thickens faster since it's not straight from the fridge and cold. If you'd prefer to not use evaporated milk, whole milk or 2% works (whole is best).

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.

What is the best milk for mac and cheese? ›

Milk: Keeps our cheese sauce super creamy. I use whole milk or reduced-fat milk. Mustard and spices: A combination of Dijon mustard, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt makes this macaroni and cheese extra delicious. Cheese: I use white cheddar and parmesan or pecorino cheese.

Do you need a roux for mac and cheese? ›

But I absolutely loved macaroni and cheese. So, I was determined to get around my little issue. I thought a roux was an absolute must for this recipe at the time. We'll let me just tell you, not only do shells and cheese not need a roux, they're actually even better without one.

What happens if you make mac and cheese and don't have milk? ›

If you're wondering about making boxed mac and cheese without milk, such as Kraft mac and cheese, you can do that, too! Simply replace the milk with chicken broth or water, melt in a bit of cream cheese, and you'll still end up with a tasty, cheesy meal.

What kind of cheese is Velveeta? ›

Velveeta is a brand name for a processed cheese similar to American cheese. It was invented in 1918 by Emil Frey (1867-1951) of the Monroe Cheese Company in Monroe, New York. In 1923, The Velveeta Cheese Company was incorporated as a separate company. In 1925, it advertised two varieties, Swiss and American.

Which president made mac and cheese? ›

You can thank Thomas Jefferson for the mac and cheese on your Thanksgiving table. The story of how macaroni and cheese came to America, and has now become the most popular Thanksgiving side dish in Virginia, tells a story of America.

What can I add to mac and cheese to make it taste better? ›

8 Ways to Elevate Your Macaroni and Cheese Dinners
  1. Add extra cheese to your dish.
  2. Mix in some hot sauce and chicken to make buffalo chicken mac n' cheese.
  3. Add in vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and spinach.
  4. Sprinkle some bacon bits or breadcrumbs on the top of your dish.
  5. Add spices and fresh herbs to your dish.
May 21, 2022

What are the ingredients in Gordon's 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 Gordon Ramsay's best recipe? ›

Gordon Ramsay's best recipes include Beef Wellington, Coq au Vin, Beef Stroganoff, Chicken Piccata, Rack of Lamb, Baked Salmon with Lemon and Dill, Shrimp Scampi, Beef and Guinness Stew, Spaghetti Carbonara, and Beef Burgundy.

What recipe did Gordon Ramsay make? ›

Gordon Ramsay recipes
  • Rack of lamb with warm salad of mixed beans & slow-roast tomatoes. ...
  • Pan-fried sea trout, peas & chorizo fricassée. ...
  • Frozen banana & praline parfait. ...
  • Spaghetti with seafood velouté ...
  • Beef bourguignon with celeriac mash. ...
  • Chocolate marquise. ...
  • Beef wellington. ...
  • Lemon tart with summer berries.

How do you make mac and cheese taste better? ›

Here are five tips to elevate your next dinner to include extra flavor and texture.
  1. Add extra cheese to your dish.
  2. Mix in some hot sauce and chicken to make buffalo chicken mac n' cheese.
  3. Add in vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and spinach.
  4. Sprinkle some bacon bits or breadcrumbs on the top of your dish.
May 21, 2022

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