Super Quick Macaroni Cheese
Macaroni, cooked al dente, swathed in a creamy, cheesy sauce and, if time allows, crisped and caramelised under the grill. Super Quick Macaroni Cheese is perfect for my girls. Charlotte is racing around doing 3 jobs and Emma is back at university; both girls are looking for really quick and economical meals they can pull together in a flash.
Most Macaroni Cheese recipes are made with a cheese soaked béchamel sauce. Although this doesn’t take too long, if you want a really quick option, this is the recipe for you. It is particularly good if you are cooking just for one.
All you need to do is cook the pasta until al dente and the water has reduced to make a sauce, and then stir in cream cheese and cheddar cheese. If you have time, pop under the grill to brown and caramelise. All done! So easy yet so delicious.
How to make Super Quick Macaroni Cheese
Collect all your ingredients together
- macaroni dried pasta
- boiling water
- olive oil
- fine salt
- cream cheese
- cheddar cheese, in small cubes or grated
- freshly ground black pepper
- extra grated cheddar cheese
How to quickly make this:
- Weigh the macaroni into a saucepan and add the salt, boiling water and olive oil.
- Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 – 12 minutes or until the pasta is cooked to al dente and the majority of the water has disappeared.
- Add the cream cheese, cheddar cheese and freshly ground black pepper and cook, stirring continuously, over a moderate heat for 1 – 2 minutes or until the cheddar cheese has melted.
- It is now ready to eat.
Ingredients (plus olive oil!) 
1 Macaroni, salt, water and olive oil 
2 Cook until pasta is ‘al dente’ 
3 Add cheeses and pepper and cook … 
… until cheddar cheese has melted. 
4 It is now ready to eat
If you have time, pop under the grill to brown and caramelise:
- However, if you have time, transfer to a serving dish, if necessary.
- Grate over some cheddar cheese and pop it under a preheated grill, to brown and caramelise.
- Eat and enjoy.
1 Serving dish 
2 Add grated cheese and .. 
… caramelise under grill 
3 Eat and enjoy!
Made this recipe?
If you make this recipe, do please tag me on instagram @daffodil_kitchen. You could also leave a comment in the box directly below the recipe.
Super Quick Macaroni Cheese
Macaroni, cooked al dente, swathed in a creamy, cheesy sauce and, if time allows, crisped and caramelised under the grill.
Ingredients
- 100g macaroni dried pasta
- 325ml boiling water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ⅛ teaspoon fine salt
- 60g – 75g/4 – 5 tablespoons cream cheese
- 60g cheddar cheese, in small cubes or grated
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- extra grated cheddar cheese, roughly 20g or to taste
Instructions
-
Collect together your equipment (see Recipe Notes below) and ingredients.
-
Pre-heat the grill to high, if you want to caramelise the top of the Macaroni Cheese.
-
Weigh the macaroni into a saucepan and add the salt, boiling water and olive oil.
-
Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 – 12 minutes or until the pasta is cooked to al dente and the majority of the water has disappeared. Stir from time to time to help release some starch from the pasta and help make your sauce.
-
Add 60g cream cheese, cheddar cheese and freshly ground black pepper and cook, stirring continuously, over a moderate heat for 1 – 2 minutes or until the cheddar cheese has melted. If you prefer a little more sauce, add extra cream cheese now.
-
It is now ready to eat but ideally, transfer to a serving dish, if necessary, grate over some cheddar cheese and pop it under a preheated grill, to brown and caramelise the macaroni.
-
Eat and enjoy.
Recipe Notes
Equipment:
- kitchen scales and measuring spoons
- large saucepan
- grater
- serving dish, if necessary
Upsize:
This recipe is designed for 1 person but you can easily increase the ingredients to feed additional people.
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