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This mac and cheese for one is a creamy, homemade single serving of macaroni and cheese made on the stovetop in about 15 minutes. Tender elbow macaroni gets coated in a smooth cheddar cheese sauce built from a simple roux, no boxed mix, no leftovers.
Featured Comment
“This mac and cheese is beyond delicious!…”
– Nicki
Quick Look
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Equipment: 1-quart saucepan
- Cook Method: Stovetop
- Servings: 1
- Difficulty: Easy
This mac and cheese for one is a single serving of elbow macaroni tossed in a homemade cheddar cheese sauce, made from scratch on the stovetop in about 15 minutes.
Why I Make This Mac and Cheese for One
When I want homemade mac and cheese but don’t want a whole casserole staring at me from the fridge for three days, this is the recipe I make.
It’s the version I’ve been making for myself for years, and it comes together with one small saucepan, one bowl, and one perfect portion.
The sauce is what makes it. You build a quick roux with butter and flour, whisk in cold milk until it thickens, then pull the pan off the heat before stirring in the cheese. That last step matters. Adding cheese off the heat keeps the sauce silky instead of grainy. It’s the same technique I’d use for a full-size batch, scaled down for one bowl.
I use sharp cheddar because the flavor stands up to the milk and butter. A pinch of dry mustard sharpens the cheese without anyone tasting mustard. That’s it. No cream cheese, no evaporated milk, no shortcuts that make the sauce taste flat.
What you get is tender elbow macaroni in a thick, glossy cheese sauce that coats every piece. The sauce clings to the pasta instead of pooling at the bottom of the bowl. The cheddar tastes like cheddar, not like the powder from a box.
If you like this single serve mac and cheese, you’ll probably like my single serving slow cooker mac and cheese for hands-off days, my small batch chili mac when you want something heartier, or my single serving baked ziti for another quick pasta night.
Watch How To Make Mac & Cheese For One
Table of Contents
- Quick Look
- Why I Make This Mac and Cheese for One
- Watch How To Make Mac & Cheese For One
- Ingredients
- How Much Dry Pasta Is In One Serving?
- Recipe Variations
- How to Make Mac and Cheese for One
- Expert Tips
- Troubleshooting
- Serving Suggestions
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
- Mac and Cheese For One Recipe
Ingredients
Each ingredient in this single serving mac and cheese earns its place. If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
Elbow macaroni: Use 2 ounces of dry elbow macaroni, which is about ½ cup. The small curved shape holds onto the cheese sauce better than long pasta. Shells, cavatappi, or rotini work just as well if that’s what you have. Other pasta shapes have different cup measurements per 2 ounces, so check the pasta conversion chart below. Use leftover macaroni in small batch macaroni salad, single serving tuna casserole, or goulash for one.
Salted butter: Butter is the fat in your roux. It carries flavor and helps the flour cook into a smooth base before the milk goes in. I use salted butter and add only a small pinch of salt at the end. If you only have unsalted butter, add a slightly more generous pinch of salt to the sauce.
All-purpose flour: Flour thickens the sauce. When you whisk it into melted butter and cook it for a minute, you’re making a roux, the foundation of any classic cheese sauce. The flour also keeps the cheese from breaking or separating once it’s stirred in.
Whole milk: Whole milk gives the sauce body and richness. 2% works in a pinch but the sauce will be thinner. For a dairy-free version, unsweetened almond milk works, though the flavor will be slightly nuttier and the sauce slightly less rich. Skip flavored or sweetened plant milks.
Sharp cheddar cheese: Sharp cheddar is the right choice for a single serving sauce because the flavor stands up to the milk and butter without needing a second cheese to back it up. Shred it yourself from a block. Pre-shredded cheese is coated in anti-caking agents like potato starch and cellulose that prevent it from melting smoothly, which is the most common reason a cheese sauce turns grainy. Leftover cheddar works in crack chicken for one, small batch stuffed peppers, or a single breakfast bowl.
Dry mustard: A pinch of dry mustard amplifies the sharp, savory notes of the cheddar without anyone tasting mustard. The mustard contains compounds that react with cheese proteins to deepen the perceived flavor of the cheese itself. Also useful in my baked beans for one, small batch fondue, or single sloppy joe.
Kosher salt: A small pinch at the end finishes the sauce. Cheese already brings salt, so taste before adding more.
How Much Dry Pasta Is In One Serving?
One serving of macaroni and cheese uses 2 ounces of dry pasta. Use this chart to measure 2 ounces by volume when you don’t have a kitchen scale, since different pasta shapes have different cup measurements.
| Pasta shape | 2 oz dry, by volume |
|---|---|
| Elbow macaroni | ½ cup |
| Small shells | ½ cup |
| Rotini | ½ cup |
| Cavatappi | ⅔ cup |
| Penne | ⅔ cup |
| Farfalle (bow tie) | ¾ cup |
| Medium shells | ¾ cup |
Recipe Variations
One of the reasons I keep coming back to this single serve mac and cheese recipe is how easy it is to change up. Here are five variations worth trying.
Baked Mac and Cheese for One: Spoon the finished mac and cheese into a 10-ounce ramekin or small oven-safe dish and place it on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any spills. Top with 2 tablespoons of seasoned breadcrumbs and a few small pieces of butter. Bake at 350°F (177°C) for 12 to 15 minutes, until the top is golden and the sauce is bubbling at the edges.
Three-Cheese Mac and Cheese: Use ¼ cup sharp cheddar, plus 2 tablespoons each of gruyère and gouda. Each cheese melts smoothly and brings something different: cheddar carries the main flavor, gruyère adds a nutty edge, and gouda adds a mellow, slightly sweet finish. Stir all three in off the heat at the same time.
Bacon Mac and Cheese: Cook 1 strip of bacon until crisp, drain on a paper towel, and crumble it on top of the finished mac and cheese. The smoky, salty bite plays well against the sharp cheddar sauce.
Spicy Mac and Cheese: Stir ⅛ teaspoon of red pepper flakes into the cheese sauce as it thickens, or add a few dashes of hot sauce at the end. For more heat, mix in ½ tablespoon of diced pickled jalapeños.
Broccoli Mac and Cheese: Steam ½ cup of small broccoli florets until tender, about 4 minutes. Stir them into the finished mac and cheese for a quick way to turn this side dish into a single serving meal.
How to Make Mac and Cheese for One
Making homemade macaroni and cheese for one on the stovetop takes about 15 minutes. The full ingredient list is in the recipe card below.
- Cook the pasta. Bring a 1-quart saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook according to the package directions, usually 7 to 8 minutes for al dente. Drain in a colander and set aside. Wipe the saucepan dry with a paper towel to use it again for the cheese sauce.
- Make the roux. In the same saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Once the butter is fully melted, whisk in the flour. Cook for 1 minute, whisking constantly. The mixture will turn a pale golden color and smell slightly nutty. This is your roux.
- Add the milk. Slowly pour the milk into the roux, whisking the whole time to keep the sauce smooth. Cook for about 2 minutes, whisking often, until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. This is now a béchamel sauce, the base for any classic cheese sauce.
- Stir in the cheese. Take the saucepan off the heat. Add the shredded sharp cheddar cheese and dry mustard. Stir until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth. Adding the cheese off the heat keeps it from breaking and turning grainy.
- Combine and serve. Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce and stir until every piece is coated. Taste and add a small pinch of salt if needed. Serve right away. The sauce is at its creamiest when hot and will thicken as it cools.
Expert Tips
Shred the cheese from a block. Pre-shredded cheese is coated in anti-caking agents that prevent it from melting smoothly. Shredding from a block is the single biggest thing you can do to get a creamy, glossy sauce instead of a grainy one.
Add the milk in a slow stream. Pouring the milk in all at once is the most common cause of lumpy cheese sauce. A slow stream with constant whisking lets the roux disperse evenly into the milk before it has a chance to clump.
Take the saucepan off the heat before adding the cheese. Cheese added to a hot pan can break, releasing its oils and turning the sauce greasy or grainy. Off the heat, the residual warmth is enough to melt the cheese without breaking the sauce.
Serve right away. Cheese sauces thicken quickly as they cool, and the texture is best in the first few minutes. Plan to eat this recipe immediately rather than holding it on the stove or in a warm oven.
Troubleshooting
Even simple recipes can hit a snag. Here’s how to fix the most common cheese sauce problems if they come up while you’re cooking.
The sauce broke or separated. If the sauce looks oily, separated, or curdled instead of smooth, pull the saucepan off the heat. Add a tablespoon of warm milk and whisk briskly until the sauce comes back together.
The sauce is too thick. If the sauce coats the spoon heavily and feels gluey rather than glossy, the roux cooked too long or absorbed too much liquid. Whisk in warm milk a tablespoon at a time over low heat until the sauce loosens.
The sauce is too thin. If the sauce is runny and won’t coat the pasta, the milk wasn’t given enough time to thicken. Return the saucepan to low heat and let the sauce bubble gently for another minute, whisking the whole time, until it thickens.
The pasta soaked up all the sauce. Mac and cheese keeps absorbing sauce as it sits. Stir in a splash of warm milk to bring back a creamy coating.
Serving Suggestions
Stovetop mac and cheese for one works as a side dish or a main meal, depending on what you pair it with. Here are a few single serving recipes from One Dish Kitchen that go well with it.
- Small batch chicken nuggets for a comfort food plate.
- Oven-baked ribs for one when you want something heartier.
- Mini meatloaf for a classic American dinner.
- Pork tenderloin for one for a leaner protein option.
Frequently Asked Questions
One serving of mac and cheese uses 2 ounces of dry pasta, which is about ½ cup of dry elbow macaroni. Other pasta shapes have different cup measurements per 2 ounces, so see the pasta conversion chart above for shells, rotini, cavatappi, penne, and farfalle.
Elbow macaroni is the best pasta for mac and cheese because the curved shape holds onto the cheese sauce better than long pasta. Small shells, rotini, cavatappi, and penne also work well because their ridges and curves grip the sauce. Avoid long pasta like spaghetti or linguine, which won’t hold a creamy cheese sauce evenly.
Sharp cheddar is the best all-around cheese for macaroni and cheese because the flavor stands up to the milk and butter. For a richer version, replace half the cheddar with gruyère, gouda, or fontina. Always shred your cheese from a block, since pre-shredded cheese is coated in anti-caking agents that prevent it from melting.
To make a roux for mac and cheese, melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a saucepan over medium heat, then whisk in 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour. Cook for 1 minute, whisking constantly, until the mixture turns pale golden and smells slightly nutty. Slowly whisk in milk to turn the roux into a smooth béchamel sauce, then stir in the shredded cheese off the heat.
Store leftover mac and cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave with a tablespoon of milk stirred in to loosen the sauce as it warms.
Yes, mac and cheese can be frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight container, but the texture suffers. The pasta absorbs liquid and the cheese sauce can separate when thawed and reheated. Mac and cheese is best made fresh, especially in single serving sizes.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this quick mac and cheese recipe for one or any of my other single serving recipes, I’d love to hear how it turned out. Leave a star rating and a comment below to let me know.
If you take a photo, tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen). I’d love to see what you make.
Mac and Cheese For One
Watch How To Make This
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni (about ½ cup)
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
- ½ cup whole milk or use 2% or almond milk for a less rich sauce
- ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ⅛ teaspoon dry mustard
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt if needed
Instructions
- Cook the pasta. Bring a 1-quart saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook according to the package directions, about 7 to 8 minutes for al dente. Drain in a colander and set aside. Wipe the saucepan dry to use it again for the cheese sauce.
- Make the roux. In the same saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Once melted, whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute, whisking constantly. The mixture will turn pale golden and smell slightly nutty.
- Add the milk. Slowly pour the milk into the roux, whisking the whole time to keep the sauce smooth. Cook for about 2 minutes, whisking often, until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Stir in the cheese. Take the saucepan off the heat. Add the shredded cheddar and dry mustard, then stir until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Combine and serve. Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce and stir until every piece is coated. Taste and add a pinch of salt if needed. Serve right away. The sauce is creamiest when hot and thickens as it cools.
Notes
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
I love cheesy macaroni and cheese. This was perfect!
This was perfect. So good. Only thing I did different was added green chili.
I am making the Mac & Cheese recipe i make it often because this recipe is the best.
I use your recipe’s often as they have been perfected by you Joanie and almost every time i say to myself or even out loud “Thank you Joanne your the best”
My comment of thanks and appreciation. for the time you take to perfect a recipe for us single folk. 💕
Margaret.
Thank you so much, Margaret.
This is delicious. I add a bit of worcestershire sauce and a drop or two of hot sauce.
Made this for lunch today, and was pleasantly surprised. I’ve tried other single serve recipes and they always fell short of tasty. Joanie, your recipe is delicious and so simple. There was enough for two so that was a bonus. Thank you Joanie for these great recipes.
You are most welcome. I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
Thank you ever so much for sharing! My husband loves it! Perfect for two, especially we’re watching our sodium content.
This was really good and easy!! I added the butter and breadcrumbs and a left over slice of bacon on top. Yum!! Perfect lunch!
I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
This mac and cheese is beyond delicious! I used rigatoni pasta and a bjend of Italian cheeses. It is so creamy and indulgent. Thank you Joanie for a superior recipe.
So good, fast and easy to remember. the proportions (2 T butter, 2 T flour and 1/2 c milk, 1/2 c cheese) even I can remember it!
I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
This recipe is great! I substituted the cheese, butter, and milk for vegan alternatives and it worked all the same! Super tasty.
Wonderful to know those substitutions worked well. Thank you so much for your feedback.