• Home
  • About
    • FAQ
    • Privacy & Disclosure
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact Me
  • All Recipes
    • Nerdy Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Main Courses
      • Chicken
      • Pasta
      • Soups
      • Salads
    • Beverages
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
      • Bars, Brownies & Blondies
      • Cookies
      • Cupcakes
    • Healthy
    • Easy Weeknight Meals
    • Holiday Recipes
      • Christmas
      • Valentine’s Day
  • Recipes for One
  • Recipes for Two
  • Small-batch Desserts

Baking Mischief

Good Food, Nerdy Recipes, Living Well

  • Breakfast
  • Main Courses
    • Easy Weeknight Meals
    • Beef
    • Chicken
    • Pork
    • Salads
    • Sandwiches
    • Soups
    • Pasta
  • Desserts
    • Bars, Brownies & Blondies
    • Cookies
    • Cupcakes
    • Frozen
  • Side Dishes
You are here: Home / Recipes / Quick Mac and Cheese for One

Quick Mac and Cheese for One

03/21/21 | Easy Weeknight Meals, Pasta, Recipe for One, Recipes

109.2Kshares
Jump to Recipe

 A quick recipe for mac and cheese for one. Easy, cheesy, and oh so good.

Is it lunchtime? Is it dinner time? Are you starving? Do you need a mac and cheese fix? Yes? Well, I’ve got just the thing for you: mac and cheese for one.

This homemade macaroni and cheese is just as quick as the kind that comes out of a box, is one thousand times more delicious, and won’t leave you with a mass of gross congealed leftovers. (Seriously, have you ever tried to reheat leftover boxed mac and cheese? It’s not pretty and neither is food waste!)

A spoonful of mac and cheese for one.

 

I grew up in a boxed mac and cheese household, and just like when I learned how to make homemade mashed potatoes, when I discovered how easy homemade macaroni and cheese was to make, I had no idea why we hadn’t just been making it from scratch all along.

It takes exactly the same amount of time, and if you keep a basic stocked kitchen, cheese and any sort of pasta in your house, YOU HAVE THE INGREDIENTS TO MAKE THIS.

Ingredient Notes

  • Macaroni or pasta of choice: You can use traditional macaroni pasta if you have it or whatever pasta shapes you have on hand. Conchiglie, farfalle, and even larger tube pastas like penne or rigatoni will all work fine. Just pay attention to how you measure your pasta. This recipe calls for 2.5 ounces of pasta, which is 1/2 cup of macaroni, but different pasta shapes have different volume measurements, so if you don’t have a scale to measure your pasta, use a pasta weight to volume table like this one to make sure you’re using the correct amount. 
  • Salted butter: I call for salted butter here, but if using unsalted, simply add a generous pinch of salt and then adjust salt to taste when making the sauce. 
  • Shredded sharp cheddar cheese: Any cheddar cheese will work fine, but I prefer sharp cheddar because of the stronger flavor it gives the sauce. You can also try mixing in other melty cheeses like Pecorino Romano (my favorite!!), gouda, or gruyere. 
  • Milk: You can use any percentage milk you have on hand. The higher fat the milk, the richer and creamier your sauce will be. 

Single-serve homemade macaroni and cheese in a white bowl.

How to Make Single-serve Macaroni and Cheese

  1. In a small pot, boil some pasta, and while that cooks, in a separate pot, stir together a little butter and flour. Whisk in milk until the sauce thickens and then add cheese. 
  2. Add salt and pepper to taste along with a bit of cayenne and nutmeg if you’d like and then pour the sauce over the drained pasta and done!

In under 20 minutes, you’ll have rich cheesy mac and cheese for one, portion-controlled and so good you could cry. And if you are feeling extra hungry or want to make it for two or more, the recipe sizes up with just a slightly longer cooking time (see doubling notes).

Variations

Want to up your mac and cheese game? Try these upgrades:

  • Hot dog & ketchup: 1/2 cooked hot dog + ketchup. You know what to do with them. (I do not approve of or endorse this upgrade, but everyone I know insists it’s delicious. 😉 )
  • Sausage mac & cheese: 1/2 cup sliced smoked sausage browned in a skillet over medium-high heat. Transfer sausage slices to a paper towel-lined plate, and blot gently before stirring into your prepared macaroni and cheese.
  • Short rib mac & cheese: Use the meat from 1 or 2 leftover braised short ribs and stir them into your mac and cheese. 
  • Deluxe mac & cheese: Generously butter both sides of a slice of white bread and use a serrated knife to slice it into 1-inch cubes. Pour your cooked mac and cheese into an oven-safe dish and sprinkle an additional 1/4 cup of shredded cheese over the top, followed by the bread pieces. Bake at 375°F for 5 to 10 minutes until bread is toasty.

FAQ

Can I double this recipe? 

Absolutely. The recipe doubles with no preparation changes except the sauce will take slightly longer to thicken when you add the milk. To change the recipe yield, hover over the serving size in the recipe card below or click if you’re on mobile, and slide the slider.

Can I make mac and cheese ahead of time?

Like any macaroni and cheese, this recipe is best when eaten right after it’s cooked. You *can* refrigerate and reheat it, but the sauce won’t be as smooth and creamy. 

Close photo of mac and cheese for one in a white bowl with a spoon sticking out.

More Single-serve Recipes

  • Fettuccine Alfredo for One
  • Scalloped Potatoes for One
  • Buttered Noodles
  • Tomato Soup for One or Two

More Creamy Pasta Recipes

  • Creamy Chicken Pasta
  • Fettuccine Alfredo With Broccoli 
  • Chicken Broccoli Orzo
  • Creamy Sausage Pasta
A spoonful of mac and cheese for one.

Quick Mac and Cheese for One

A quick recipe for mac and cheese for one. Easy, cheesy, and oh so good.
4.92 from 142 votes
Print
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 1 minute minute
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
Servings (Hover or Click to Change Yield): 1
Calories: 641kcal
Author: Tracy

Ingredients

  • 2.5 ounces (½ cup) uncooked macaroni or pasta of choice*
  • 1 tablespoon salted butter
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup milk any percentage
  • ½ cup (2oz) shredded sharp cheddar cheese *
  • Salt and pepper
  • Pinch of cayenne optional
  • Pinch of nutmeg optional

Instructions

  • Bring a small pot of lightly salted water to boil over high heat.
  • While your water heats, shred cheese, measure out the rest of your ingredients.
  • Cook macaroni according to the instructions on the box.
  • While your pasta cooks, in a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook until a thick paste forms and turns golden, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk, whisking out any lumps as they form. Cook, whisking constantly until mixture thickens and begins to bubble around the edges, 2 to 5 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and stir in cheese until completely melted. Add salt and pepper to taste, remembering that the pasta will cut the level of spice once added. If you like nutmeg and cayenne (I do!), start with a sprinkle, taste, and work your way up. A little of both goes a long way!
  • Once pasta is cooked, drain and stir in cheese sauce. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

*If using a pasta other than macaroni, be sure to measure it by weight and not volume. Different pasta shapes will have different cup measurements for 2.5 ounces, so 1/2 cup is not universal for all pasta. 
*You can use whatever mix of melty cheeses you would like. When I have it on hand, a bit of Pecorino Romano mixed in is my FAV.
Doubling notes: No changes when doubling, except sauce will take a minute or two longer to thicken once the milk is added.
Did you make this recipe?I'd love to see it! Tag @BakingMischief or hashtag it #BakingMischief.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission if you make a purchase using them. There is absolutely no additional cost to you.

Comments | 137 comments

« Frozen Hot Chocolate
Quick Beef Teriyaki »

Comments

  1. WitallyNerdy10 says

    December 4, 2024 at 1:31 pm

    3 stars
    I honestl like this mac and cheese. This mac and cheese is pretty good. But not really my favorite. I would do it agian, but I won’t make it so often.

    Reply
  2. Mac and cheese says

    November 11, 2024 at 9:38 am

    5 stars
    Good. I have never made Mac and cheese by myself and it was so delicious. I added the flour a a step later but it still was good. I also forgot to add peper to and I used preshredded cheese but still delicious.

    Reply
  3. Leslie Mrsny says

    August 13, 2024 at 5:44 pm

    5 stars
    So easy and love the ingredient conversion option!! So good…so so good!!

    Reply
  4. Monika says

    October 2, 2023 at 7:55 am

    5 stars
    Hi. I love your recipe for mac and cheese. It’s super easy and delicious. My kids don’t like boxed one but when I do it (after you) – they love it. It’s much better then from the box. And I can do it whenever they want, since we live in Poland thank you

    Reply
  5. Noelle says

    September 15, 2023 at 3:48 am

    5 stars
    Just made this for dinner. Super easy recipe. Triple the recipe is A LOT of Mac n cheese. Next time I will use less roux as I had to add quite a bit more milk. I used pepper jack (1 oz), swiss (2 oz), and sharp cheddar (3oz). All pre shredded cheese, and I know that added to the sauce turning out like goop before the extra milk. I also added bacon to it.

    Aside from me rushing to get it made, it was a wonderful recipe.

    Reply
  6. Heidi says

    August 26, 2023 at 11:29 am

    5 stars
    great recipe! soooo good! thank you!

    Reply
  7. Troy Jodoin says

    August 18, 2023 at 1:22 pm

    This recipe is the bomb! I’ve made it twice now and it is a perfect light dinner with a lot of flavor. It’s way better than any boxed M&C!

    Reply
  8. Caitlin says

    August 3, 2023 at 1:18 pm

    5 stars
    My first thought when making this for myself was “this is not enough pasta to feed me”, but honestly I can’t finish it. Which is ok because it’s DELICIOUS. Will be my go to!

    Reply
  9. Holly says

    April 9, 2023 at 1:18 am

    4 stars
    Thank you it was amazing
    &

    Reply
  10. Lily says

    February 26, 2023 at 10:59 am

    5 stars
    This was AMAZING! My husband said it was the best homemade macaroni and cheese he’s ever had. I added onion that I cooked with the butter. I also added cooked broccoli that I chopped up after and threw in with the bowl of macaroni and cheese. Like Panera’s broccoli and mac and cheese— but better!

    Reply
« Older Comments
4.92 from 142 votes (87 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Welcome!


Hi, I'm Tracy! Welcome to Baking Mischief, where we realize that not everyone is cooking every night for a family of four. We have delicious sweet and savory recipes, mostly scaled for one or two, and we love our pop culture around here, so keep an eye out for film, book, and TV-inspired treats as well! Read more»
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter

Get free recipes delivered to your inbox!

Join the Baking Mischief Newsletter

Subscribe and get recipes delivered to your inbox weekly PLUS a free mini e-cookbook. 

Popular Recipes

Gooey Chocolate S’mores Cupcake with a bite out of it.No Fail Butter and Garlic Green Beans in a white dish.Pesto Chicken Sandwich on Sourdough being picked up.Chicken Shawarma With Yogurt Sauce wrapped in foil on a wooden plate.Easy Carnitas Recipe on a white plate with limes.The BEST Crispy Oven-roasted Broccoli on a baking sheet.

What I’m Loving Now

Small-batch Chocolate Banana Muffin with a bite out of it.Carnitas Enchiladas (Pulled Pork Enchiladas) on a plate with lettuce.Easy Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup in a pot.Easy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies stacked on a plate.

Copyright © 2025 · Tasteful theme by Restored 316

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.