Velveeta mac and cheese is rich, creamy, and so incredibly cheesy that your whole family will love it every time it's served with dinner! It is a one-pot stovetop side dish that takes practically no effort to make! Plus, it is ready to enjoy in less than 20 minutes!
Easy Velveeta Macaroni & Cheese
Macaroni and cheese is a staple side dish in my house. It pairs well with practically everything, and my whole family loves it! I'm always on the lookout for trying out new twists for this classic recipe.
This stovetop Velveeta mac and cheese is extra easy to prepare since it uses a block of Velveeta! Plus, it only takes one pot to make it, so that cleanup will be super quick!
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🥘 Velveeta Mac and Cheese Ingredients
There are minimal ingredients required for this easy side dish! Feel free to swap out the milk for some heavy cream or half & half for an extra rich and creamy flavor!
- Milk - 1½ cups of milk that has been divided into 1 cup and ½ cup portions (*see note).
- Water - 1½ cups of water.
- Onion Powder - ½ teaspoon of onion powder.
- Garlic Powder - ½ teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Pepper - ¼ teaspoon of pepper.
- Macaroni - 2 cups of dry elbow macaroni.
- Butter - 2 tablespoons of butter.
- Velveeta - ½ pound of Velveeta cheese that has been cut into cubes.
- Cheddar - ½ cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese.
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How To Make Velveeta Mac and Cheese
This easy recipe is beginner-friendly and only requires some stirring! You're only going to need one large pot, a wooden spoon, cheese grater, and you are ready to begin!
You'll get approximately 6 servings of ooey-gooey mac and cheese!
Combine Milk, Pasta, Seasoning
- Combine ingredients. In a large pot over medium-high heat, add 1½ cups of water, 1 cup of milk, ½ teaspoon of onion powder, ½ teaspoon of garlic powder, and ¼ teaspoon of pepper. Stir to combine, and then add in 2 cups of elbow macaroni.
- Boil. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally, for 5-6 minutes or until the noodles are al dente.
Melt Cheese & Serve
- Melt the Velveeta. Next, add the 2 tablespoons butter and stir until it is melted, then add the remaining ½ cup of milk and the ½ pound of cubed Velveeta cheese. Stir the pasta until the Velveeta cheese melts.
- Add more cheese. Remove the pot from the heat and add the ½ cup of shredded cheese, stirring until melted.
- Serve. Serve immediately while warm.
🍽️ What To Serve With Mac & Cheese
This macaroni and cheese is the perfect side dish for any entree! Try it with some meatloaf, Bisquick oven-fried chicken, or sloppy joes! For more ideas, check out my post on what to serve with mac and cheese! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
- I like to use higher-fat dairy to make macaroni and cheesy, as it gives it a richer flavor. My personal favorite dairy options are heavy cream or half & half (which both do well when boiled).
- Make sure you reuse any leftovers to make my mac and cheese bites!
- Macaroni noodles are the classic choice for mac & cheese, but you can mix it up with other types of pasta! Penne pasta is my runner-up for making great mac & cheese!
🥡 Storing & Reheating
Keep your leftovers stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days.
Reheating Velveeta Mac and Cheese
Add a splash of milk or cream before reheating in either the microwave or over medium heat on the stove. The extra liquid is necessary to return the macaroni and cheese to a creamy consistency.
❓ FAQ
Velveeta is technically not a true kind of cheese. Actually, it is a cheese product that is made from milk, whey, and whey concentrate.
I recommend buying a block of sharp cheddar and shredding it yourself. Bagged shredded cheese uses additives to help keep it from sticking together, which affects its melting abilities.
For more information, check out my post on the best cheese for macaroni and cheese!
You can really add anything you like! Add in some chicken, hotdogs, or bacon for some meat. For veggies, I enjoy mixing in peas, carrots, or broccoli. Plus, you can top it with some Panko bread crumbs for extra texture!
🧀 Easy Mac & Cheese Recipes
- White Cheddar Mac & Cheese - Using white cheddar makes this macaroni extra rich!
- Microwave Mac & Cheese - Save yourself some time by making this tasty side dish in the microwave!
- Crockpot Mac & Cheese - Crockpot macaroni and cheese is extra simple and completely hands-off!
- Cauliflower Mac & Cheese - For a low-carb alternative, check out this cauliflower mac and cheese!
- Mac & Cheese With Hot Dogs - This kid-friendly twist can be enjoyed as a side dish or the main entree!
- Smoked Mac & Cheese - If you are cooking something in your smoker, go ahead and throw in this macaroni and cheese with it for a complete meal!
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📋 Recipe
Velveeta Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups milk (divided into 1 cup and ½ cup portions - *see note)
- 1 ½ cups water
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups elbow macaroni (dry)
- 2 tablespoon butter
- ½ lb Velveeta cheese (cubed)
- ½ cup sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium-high heat, add your 1 ½ cups water, 1 cup of 1 ½ cups milk, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Stir to combine, and then add in the 2 cups elbow macaroni.1 ½ cups milk, 1 ½ cups water, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon pepper, 2 cups elbow macaroni
- Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally, for 5-6 minutes or until the noodles are al dente.
- Next, add in the 2 tablespoon butter and stir until it is melted, then add in the remaining ½ cup of 1 ½ cups milk and the cubed ½ lb Velveeta cheese. Stir the pasta until the cheese melts.1 ½ cups milk, ½ lb Velveeta cheese, 2 tablespoon butter
- Remove the pot from the heat and add in the shredded ½ cup sharp cheddar cheese, stirring until melted.½ cup sharp cheddar cheese
- Serve immediately while warm.
Equipment You May Need
Notes
- I like to use higher-fat dairy to make macaroni and cheesy, as it gives it a richer flavor. My personal favorite dairy options are heavy cream or half & half (which both do well when boiled).
- Make sure you reuse any leftovers to make my mac and cheese bites!
- Macaroni noodles are the classic choice for mac & cheese, but you can feel free to mix it up with other types of pasta!
- To store: Keep your leftovers stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- To reheat: Add a splash of milk or cream before reheating in either the microwave or over medium heat on the stove. The extra liquid is necessary to return the macaroni and cheese to a creamy consistency.
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
Chantal says
Ik wil deze Mac&cheese graag maken maar waar kan ik deze Velveeta cheese vinden?
Mvg Chantal
"I would like to make this Mac&cheese but where can I find this Velveeta cheese?
Kind regards, Chantal"
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
Velveeta-kaas is een merk smeltkaas, ook wel "Amerikaanse" kaas genoemd. Elk merk dat u kunt vinden, levert vergelijkbare resultaten op. Genieten!
"Velveeta cheese is a brand of processed cheese, also called "American" cheese. Any brand that you can find will yield similar results. Enjoy!"
Diane says
I'm not a natural cook and wanted to find an easy yet tasty mac&cheese recipe, and this fit my limitations and most importantly it was D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S.
I never had Velveeta but wanted to try it and it was tasty in this recipe, which I doubled to freeze for the left overs. I altered the recipe and used whole grain elbow macaroni, half and half, added 1 tsp Turmeric, and added 2 cups of sharp cheddar cheese at the end (undoubtedly too much, but it thickened the sauce. Thanks for this recipe; its really quite good.
Ashley says
So easy to make which is a huge plus for me! My husband is on a journey to find the perfect Mac and cheese and this was a top contender. It's so creamy and delicious. I did add some Slap Ya Mama for a little kick.
Barbie says
This Mac and Cheese is so, so good! And quick and easy! I’m usually more of a traditionalist with Mac and cheese … making a roux with flour and butter, no Velveeta, etc. This recipe has changed my mind!! I did add some goat cheese for some tanginess and used medium shells because that’s all I had. I did need to cook the pasta a little because of the shells, but still so good! My husband said it’s the best mac & cheese I’ve made! And he’s picky! I made it again for Easter and got rave reviews! My husband requested it again tonight so I felt compelled to leave you a glowing review! Thank you! Can’t wait to check out your other recipes!