Dinner Tonight: Stovetop mac and cheese
This is a great way to use up any odds and ends of cheese in your fridge.
Dinner Tonight
December 22, 2025

Stovetop Mac and Cheese

Stovetop Mac and Cheese
Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.

Recipe by Genevieve Ko | Total time: 25 minutes

This is a quick from-scratch mac and cheese ideal for kids — or anyone craving the simple, pure cheesiness of creamy mac and cheese. A standard white sauce comes together with the kitchen staples of butter, flour and milk and can take any blend of cheeses, which should include a large portion of sharp yellow Cheddar for its distinctive mac-and-cheese taste and texture. But this is a great way to use up any odds and ends of cheese in your fridge. A bit of American cheese makes the sauce stretchy and extra smooth, while Gruyère and Swiss add a nice nuttiness and Parmesan and pecorino some deep savory notes.

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Find more fast and delicious dinner recipes in our Weeknight 100.

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