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!)
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.
How to Make Single-serve Macaroni and Cheese
- 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.
- 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.
More Single-serve Recipes
More Creamy Pasta Recipes
Quick Mac and Cheese for One
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
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.
Cindy says
This looks delicious! I am a huge comfort food fan and an even bigger fan of quick meals
Tracy says
Right? Quick + comfort = win! 😉
Tara says
How perfect! I may need to make this for lunch today. I love that you included upgrades.
Tracy says
Thanks, Tara!
[email protected] says
Simple and easy . My son will love this.
Tracy says
Thanks, Pooja. It’s definitely a kiddy crowd pleaser. 😉
Jen | Baked by an Introvert says
This is perfect! I love mac and cheese but hate having to make a huge pot of it. Thanks for sharing this!
Tracy says
Thanks, Jen!
Julie | Bunsen Burner Bakery says
Love this! I am a huge macaroni and cheese fan… my husband, not so much. I never make it anymore because there are so many leftovers. So perfect for the next night he has a work dinner and and I’m on my own. 😉
Tracy says
Exactly! Love mac and cheese, don’t love mac and cheese leftovers! 😉
Kez says
Always been scared to try Mac and cheese but this recipe is so simple and amazing that I just had to make it
Tracy says
That makes me so happy to hear, Kez!!
Andrea @ Cooking with Mamma C says
Your mac ‘n cheese looks so good! I’m cracking up about the hot dog and ketchup version, but I’d be all over the one with the bread cubes!
Tracy says
Thanks, Andrea! Yeah, I’ve been anti-ketchup/hot dog in my mac and cheese since I was a kid, but too many people I love insist it’s the best, so I had to include it. 🙂
Molly Wilson says
Works well with dairy substitutes ( oat milk and coconut cheese)
Tracy says
Good to know! Thanks for reporting back.
Abby says
Yes! I made this gluten free too. It was perfect! I just changed it out and used gluten free noodles and flour!!
Tracy says
So glad to hear it, Abby!
Claire says
My 4yr old daughter’s favourite! This recipe is perfect, thank you
Tracy says
So happy to hear. Thanks, Claire!
Ande says
Just made your recipe with gluten free rice flour and gf pasta. I needed an easy recipe for my gf 4 year old and this worked great. Thank you!
Tracy says
So glad to hear this worked well with gluten-free ingredients! Thanks for reporting back!
Juwi says
I tried this recipe with mozzarella cheese as I prefer it over cheddar, it still came out yummy. I doubled it to share with my family and they also liked it. At first, I thought it was not thick enough so I added more flour, turns out I just had to wait it out to become thick, so mine tasted a bit doughy – no complaints though. Thank you.
Natalie says
Just tried this and its amazing! Been looking for a quick mac and cheese for lunchtime etc. Took about 20 mins. I also added mustard 🙂
Tracy says
Glad you enjoyed it! And I’ve never added mustard before. I must try this now!!
amy says
This recipe is AMAZING! I’m addicted to Trader’s Joe’s frozen mac & cheese, but I run out more frequently than I’d like. This is just as good and really makes for a quick single serving.
Tracy says
So glad you enjoyed it, Amy!! Thanks for taking the time to let me know!
Michele says
Amy! Yes! I eat TJs mac n cheese on the regular. May not have to anymore!
r.a. says
Thanks for an easy recipe, I just needed one serving for a friend. My upgrade is a slice of fresh tomato on the top with a bit of reserved cheese sprinkled over, then baked until the cheese is good and melted, the ultimate way to enjoy mac and cheese.
Tracy says
So glad it worked out for you! And I’ve never had mac and cheese with a tomato on top. I’ll have to give it a try!
Michele says
I can’t cook, but my wife is out of town and I wanted an easy cheese sauce for one that I could handle. This hit the nail on the head!
Ended up just making the mac n cheese and loving it! I threw some peas and shredded chicken in and tada! I made a meal and didn’t start a fire!
Tracy says
LOL, Michele! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Ash says
I’ve made this a couple times with spinach rotini and a mild cheddar/jack blend. I also threw some fresh broccoli florets in with my pasta while it cooked, about a minute and a half to 2 minutes before draining. It came out perfect! The broccoli added some great texture and crunch, and requires about the same amount of effort as making the boxed stuff, but tastes infinitely better.
Tracy says
So glad you enjoy it, Ash!
Pali says
Recipe looks delicious but was wondering can this be made with soy milk? I can’t have cows milk but can have hard cheeses. TIA!
Tracy says
Hi, Pali. I’ve never tried it before, but I looked up some non-dairy sauces and this has the same ratios, so it should work. Please let me know how it turns out!
Ashley says
I made this with plant milk and it works fine.
However, I think the amount of sauce is way too much compared to the amount of pasta it calls for.
Dollee says
So yummy. This is the best Mac & Cheese receipe for One I’ve made. Two thumbs up Tracy
Tracy says
Thank you, Dollee! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Meika says
Great recipe! I accidentally didn’t add enough milk but that’s my own fault, and I was able to fix it. Would recommend to anyone looking for a good single serving Mac + cheese. I definitely will be making this again 😀
Tracy says
Thanks, Meika! Glad you enjoyed it!
Sara R says
I messed up :0 my cheese sauce was too thick and i couldnt even taste the cheese 🙁
Tracy says
Oh no! If you give it another try (and you didn’t do this the first time), maybe try using a sharper cheese, like sharp Cheddar. The sharper the cheese, the more you’ll taste it in the sauce.
OhGoodAFarce says
I’ve made this twice so far. First time was just kinda meh (I used sharp cheddar which turned out REALLY sharp, also I don’t think I whisked the flour/butter/milk mixture for long enough) :p ), but I made it again tonight with medium cheddar and a little more milk (about 2/3 cup maybe?), also I didn’t bother to measure the cheese so I probably added more of that as well (“is that a half cup? … eh, a little more”), but it turned out SO freaking good the second time. I was basically shoveling it into my food hole lol
Tracy says
So happy to hear this!!
Abigail Cunningham says
Some of THE best dang mac n cheese I have ever made. Thank you SO MUCH for this recipe! Easy to make and just so delicious. Honestly made my Tuesday!
Tracy says
Your comment made my Wednesday. So glad you enjoyed it, Abigail!! 🙂
Shameen Moves says
HI,…..
HOW MANY OUNCES IS THE RAMKIN?
Tracy says
Hi, it’s 12 ounces.
Twenty one pilots ||-// says
This turned out really great! Thanks
Tracy says
So happy to hear!
Rachel says
I just made this, and it’s delicious! I’m completely new to making non-boxed Mac and cheese, so it came out a bit soupy (I might not have stirred the milk and flour and butter long enough) but that’s on me! Still amazing!
Tracy says
Thanks, Rachel! So happy to hear you enjoyed it!
Debra says
I believe I will try this tonight it’s only me and my husband so it’s hard to find recipe dishes for 2 I will double it for both of us to have for dinner tonight thank you so much
Tracy says
Hope you both enjoy it, Debra!
Glenda Anne Lee says
? Is one Tablespoon correct? Seems rather high…. I it for the pasta or???
Tracy says
Not quite sure what ingredient you’re talking about. There’s one tablespoon of butter and of flour in this recipe. The measurements are correct, and they’re for the cheese sauce. Hope that helps!
Emily says
I found this recipe because I was alone at home with my baby, I had nothing in the house to eat and I reallyyy didn’t want to go out in the cold. I luckily had all of the ingredients for it. It took maybe a total of 15 minutes to whip up and it was DELICIOUS! I will be doubling the recipe this week for when my husband is home from work. Thanks for the recipe! YUM!
Tracy says
This makes me so happy to hear, Emily! So glad you enjoyed it!
Shannon says
I can’t cook, but this recipe was so easy! My picky 3-year-old son really liked it. Will definitely be making this again!
Tracy says
So glad to hear, Shannon! Thanks for taking the time to let me know!
Lizzy says
I made this for myself and it was so good!
Only thing I did was double it so it would be a meal for myself and added a little garlic powder for some extra flavor, otherwise loved this recipe! 🙂
Tracy says
So glad to hear you enjoyed it, Lizzy!!
Nikki says
This was AMAZING! I simply doubled the recipe for 2, though my husband said he wished I would have at least quadrupled it! I only had mild white cheddar and mild regular (yellow) cheddar so I shredded some of each. I was concerned that it would turn out sort of gritty as some M&C home made recipes do with certain cheeses, but I followed the recipe to a tee and as mentioned in the narrative of the blog, it was SO GOOD YOU COULD CRY. I cook A LOT, and have made loads of casserole sized M&C recipes, and this one was by far the best. Why doesn’t everyone know to make M&C this way? Awesome job Tracy! So glad I found this recipe.
Cheryl says
Made this with smoked gruyere instead of cheddar. Yum!
Tracy says
Oooo. I love that combo!!!
Alyssa says
Literally eating this as I write, so easy and so yummy. Loving the Romano mixed in too.
Tracy says
Yeeessss! Love this with Romano! So glad you enjoyed it, Alyssa!!
Cathrine Ott says
I really like this recipe but I think a bit more noodles could be added it’s a little soupy and more noodles would definitely help! But other than that it’s really good!
Lucia says
I love how you told us things about doubling the recipe, that is exactly what I did
Tracy says
Thanks, Lucia! Glad the note was helpful!
Jennifer Street says
Is the 1/2 cup of macaroni uncooked?
Tracy says
Hi, Jennifer, yes, it’s uncooked.
Sofia M. says
This is a great recipe! I’m fifteen and I made this meal myself ans I absolutely love it! My mom would be proud 😉
Tracy says
LOL, well done, Sofia!! So glad you enjoyed the recipe!!
Heather M. Whipple says
Looks good.
However I cannot seem to get homemade stovetop macaroni and cheese made correctly.
It is to thick and gritty tasting for me.
I think I will use your nacho cheese sauce instead
to put cooked macaroni or other shaped pasta in
and eat it that way.
Katie says
As an Annie’s addict, this is really the same amount of time and effort as boxed Mac n cheese – and better! I’ve been looking for a single serving so that I can stop shoveling the whole box in my mouth at one time. This was the perfect size. I had to thin out the sauce with some pasta water, but considering I used homemade oat milk and that tends to thicken a lot as it heats, I think that’s just user error. Still turned out great. Thanks!
finley green says
its a really good recipe with a lot of explanation and its a perfect size even if you have a big appetite, I would totally recommend this as its a wonderful meal
Tracy says
Thank you! So happy you enjoyed the recipe!
Dawn Klein says
Whipped this up tonight! It was easy and delicious. Just as creamy as the picture in my head when I decided to make this.
Bri says
Made this at 11 pm cause I was hungry Absolutely amazing!
Tracy says
So glad you enjoyed it, Bri!!
naomi says
i followed this recipe as best as i could but the sauce was way too thick and stuck in clumps to the macaroni. it could just be me, but this recipe was not it for me.
Tracy says
So sorry to hear this didn’t work out for you Naomi! The sauce definitely shouldn’t clump like that. If you want to troubleshoot, feel free to send me an email: [email protected]
Desiree says
Recipe is very simple and delicious!
Tracy says
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it, Desiree!
Natalie says
This is so good! It is now my favorite recipe, and it Took exactly 20 minutes like it said!! Im definitely going to make it again soon.
Tracy says
So happy this worked out for you, Natalie!!
Mimi says
This has been one of my comfort-food recipes right now. I’m using 3/4 cup of macaroni instead of 1/2 because I like it a little less saucy. I tried making it “healthier” by adding peas, but this isn’t the sort of recipe that works with — it’s pure cheesy goodness.
Tracy says
Lol so glad you’ve been enjoying it!!
Emily says
I followed the recipe to the T and the sauce was really thick and bland (no flavour) sorry just not the one for me
Tracy says
Sorry to hear this didn’t turn out for you, Emily!
Jenny B says
This tastes so good! I’ve made it a few times now as it’s so quick, thanks for the recipe
Tracy says
Thanks, Jenny! I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed it!
Mama654 says
My son wanted mac & cheese for his birthday but no one else in the family can have that much cheese in one sitting. This recipe worked perfectly! I use gluten-free macaroni pasta. I also melted some butter and mixed it with some gluten-free breadcrumbs To top the mac & cheese. It was delicious and he loved it!
Tracy Atkinson says
Just made this for my lunch! For the cheese sauce I put the butter, flour and milk in at the same time and whisked constantly whilst the butter melted and sauce thickened. I may have added a little extra cheese too. I just used black pepper for seasoning. Great, quick, comforting Mac and cheese. I’ll be using this recipe loads. Thank you
Tracy says
So glad you enjoyed it, Tracy!!
Sarah says
I made this for my 11 year old. I am not a Mac n cheese lover at all. But my son can’t get enough. This is the perfect amount. I added 1/2 tsp of parsley and 1/2 a tsp garlic powder and a slice of chopped ham. Went down a storm.
Thank u 4 this simple recipe.
Tracy says
So glad your son enjoyed it, Sarah!!
Isabella Jones says
Oh my goodness!! This was so good and easy – I’ve been craving mac and cheese all day but I’ve never made it before. Stumbled across this recipe and decided to try it, it didn’t disappoint!
I did make some changes: I used oat milk (it was all we had in), I added mozzarella, smoky cheddar and Parmesan, and I put it into an ovenproof dish at the end with some extra mozzarella on top and grilled it until the cheese went golden. SO GOOD. I had it with some chicken sausages on the side, it really was the perfect dinner. Thankyou!
Mags says
I have this recipe memorized and I make it all the time (the other recipe of yours I have memorized is the no chill chocolate chip cookies). I often make just the sauce for tater tots or cheese fries.
Tracy says
That makes me so happy to hear! Thanks, Mags!!
Barbara says
It’s cold and wet, I’ve just returned home after three weeks of dealing with stressful family issues and I was in the mood for easy comfort food. This Mac and cheese really hit the spot. It was so easy to make and delicious. I substituted Smokey paprika for the cayenne, added a dash of mild mustard and used a sharp cheddar for the cheese. I will be making this one again, thanks.
Steve says
Needed a quick lunch meal for two Seniors. I added some smoked sausage. Easy to make. Will definitely make it again. #BakingMischief
Tracy says
So happy to hear it, Steve!!
Megan says
This is so good and easy
Tracy says
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
Penny Pfoh says
So glad I came across your website! I basically stopped making mac & cheese because I end up with so many leftovers but I doubled this for supper last night for my husband and I. We really enjoyed the creaminess of the sauce and I added garlic powder and dried parsley. I took into consideration your comment about the pasta cutting the spices so added a good shake of seasoning salt. I agree there was a little too much sauce but we ate right through it! This will now be my go to recipe due to it’s ease. I ended up spending quite a bit of time looking through your other recipes (for 1 and for 2) and found other delights I plan on making soon.
KayL says
This recipe is perfect. I have used different kinds of cheese (cheddar, Red Leicester) and have got great results each time. I also double the recipe. I like that this recipe uses staple ingredients (and no egg). Thanks for sharing this one!
Beth ST Germain says
This was just rated a 10 at dinner and the family said it was even better than Chick-Fil-A ( A huge compliment! ). I had cavatappi pasta so I weighed it out. When it was all mixed up, I put extra cheese on the top and stuck it under the broiler until it browned. This is definitely a keeper and super easy to make!
Tracy says
So thrilled to hear it, Beth!!
Simona Coneva says
I doubled the recipe and enjoyed this a lot! For me it was too saucy initially, so I boiled some additional pasta (I used whole wheat). Thank you for this keeper of a simple and delicious recipe!
Melissa says
I love homemade Mac and cheese but hate making a big pot, so I tried this and it was awesome! Mine seemed to have a bit too much sauce but that’s not a bad thing! I used low-fat milk and cheese, I also used seasoned salt rather than regular and a pinch of dry mustard. Amazing!
Rebecca says
This recipe is perfect. I’m so happy right now! Sometimes you just need mac and cheese
Tracy says
Thanks, Rebecca! So glad it hit the spot!
Yaz says
Delicious!!! I made this today and topped it with panko breadcrumbs then baked in the oven for a few minutes to get a crunchy top. Tastes much better than the store sauces and mixes.
Tracy says
So glad you enjoyed it, Yaz!