My easy stove-top Velveeta mac and cheese is a rich and creamy comfort food delight that's irresistibly cheesy! It's a one-pot stovetop side dish that takes practically no effort to make! This family favorite dish is ready to enjoy in less than 20 minutes!
Love mac & cheese? Try my smoked gouda, sour cream, instant pot, or microwave versions.
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1 Pot Velveeta Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
Macaroni and cheese is a staple comfort food 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 mac & cheese recipes.
This stovetop version of Velveeta mac and cheese is extra easy to prepare since it uses a block of Velveeta! It only takes one pot to make it, so that cleanup will be quick!
🥘 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 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 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 will only need one large pot, a wooden spoon, and a cheese grater, and you are ready to begin!
You'll get approximately 6 servings of ooey-gooey mac and cheese!
Step 1: Combine Ingredients for Cooking. In a large pot over medium-high heat, combine 1½ cups of water, 1 cup of milk, ½ teaspoon each of onion powder and garlic powder, and ¼ teaspoon of pepper. Stir these together, then add 2 cups of elbow macaroni.
Step 2: Boil the Pasta. Bring the pot to a boil, stirring occasionally. Continue boiling for 5-6 minutes or until the macaroni is al dente (firm to the bite). Keep an eye on the mixture to ensure the pasta cooks evenly.
Step 3: Melt the Velveeta. Once the pasta is cooked, reduce the heat and add 2 tablespoons of butter, stirring until completely melted. Then, pour in the remaining ½ cup of milk and add ½ pound of cubed cheese. Continue stirring until the cheese has fully melted and the mixture is smooth.
Step 4: Add More Cheese. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in ½ cup of shredded cheese until it's completely melted and the sauce is creamy.
Step 5: Serve. Serve the macaroni and cheese immediately while it's still warm and enjoy the creamy, cheesy goodness!
🍽️ 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!
💭 Tips & Notes
- I like to use higher-fat dairy to make macaroni and cheesy, giving it a richer flavor. My personal favorite dairy options are heavy cream or half & half (which both do well when boiled).
- This high-fat recommendation applies to your butter, too! Grab some European butter, Challenge, Tillamook, or Vermont Creamy brands!
- 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! Choose your best pasta for macaroni with the help of my complete guide.
🥡 Storing & Reheating
Keep your leftovers stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days.
Freezing
You can freeze it, too! I like to portion out leftovers so they can be reheated in individual portions quickly.
However, you can read about plenty of options in my guide to freezing mac n cheese.
Reheating
Add a splash of milk or cream before reheating in the microwave or over medium heat on the stove. The extra liquid is necessary to return the macaroni and cheese to a creamy consistency. See my full guide for reheating mac & cheese here.
❓ FAQ
Velveeta is technically not a true kind of cheese. It is a cheese product 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 add anything you like! Add in some chicken, hotdogs, or bacon for some meat. For veggies, I enjoy mixing in peas, carrots, or broccoli. You can top it with some Panko bread crumbs for extra texture!
🧀 More 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 - Check out this cauliflower mac and cheese for a low-carb alternative!
- 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 Card
Velveeta Mac and Cheese (Easy Stove Top Recipe)
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.
- 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.
- Remove the pot from the heat and add in the shredded ½ cup sharp cheddar cheese, stirring until melted.
- Serve immediately while warm.
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!
Julie says
Peut-on le congeler ? Merci
"Can it be frozen? THANKS"
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
Oui. Consultez mon article ici pour connaître tous les meilleurs conseils pour congeler des macaronis au fromage. https://bakeitwithlove.com/how-to-freeze-macaroni-cheese/ or https://fr.bakeitwithlove.com/how-to-freeze-macaroni-cheese/
"Yes. See my article here for all the best tips for freezing macaroni and cheese."
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!