This microwave mac and cheese is for those days when we don’t have enough time to grab a pan. It’s easy and only requires a few pantry ingredients like macaroni, cheese, milk, butter, salt, and water.
Some days fly by so fast that you can barely blink before it’s time to do something else! Time can be so fickle. When you need it the most, it seems to slip away. Whether you are drained from working too much in the office or struggling to finish the to-do lists at home, there seems to be never enough time to cover everything!
So, what do you do in moments like this? Push through or hit the pause button for a while? Take a break and recharge yourself with some delicious comfort food you love!
For me, times like this call for a quick, easy snack like microwave mac and cheese. It’s creamy, delicious, and tummy-filling—all in one tasty package! And the best part? You can make this recipe in just 5 minutes!
Cheese Selection For Make Microwave Mac and Cheese Recipe
You can add a variety of cheeses to your mac and cheese to enjoy a delightful snack. Keep in mind that the cheese you choose will have the biggest impact on flavor! To help you select the perfect cheesy companion for your delicious macaroni, here’s a cheese guide for you:
Cheddar Cheese
Cheddar comes with a sharp taste and a slight buttery flavor. The main characteristic of cheddar is that it changes in terms of taste and texture based on its age. Young cheddars are typically smooth and creamy in texture while aged cheddars feature a more intense flavor with crumbly texture.
For this easy mac recipe, I recommend medium-aged cheddar cheese as it has a good balance between smooth melting and rich flavor.
Mozzarella
Mozzarella is the ultimate choice for cheese lovers! Have you ever noticed that the cheese string keeps stretching when you take a bite of your pizza? That’s the magic of mozzarella cheese for you!
Mozzarella cheese has an elastic texture that creates stretchy cheese strings. The cheese is typically made from buffalo milk, although a cow’s milk version is also available. When heated, mozzarella cheese creates a gooey, melting effect that leads to its signature cheesy stretches.
Gouda
Gouda is one of the oldest cheeses in the world. It features a beautiful golden-yellow color and an elegant appearance. As the cheese melts quickly while baking, it’s perfect for adding a creamy texture to your macaroni.
The taste and texture of gouda evolve with aging, and I recommend using medium-aged gouda cheese for this recipe. Medium-aged gouda strikes the perfect balance between a creamy texture and a slightly sweet, nutty flavor. As it’s not too crumbly like aged cheeses, gouda blends into the macaroni smoothly while adding a velvety texture to the overall dish.
Parmesan
When added to macaroni, parmesan’s distinct saltiness adds a flavorful punch!
Parmesan has a salty kick and firm texture. It blends smoothly with the macaroni while also adding a slightly gritty texture. Grate parmesan finely and sprinkle it on top to get a golden and crispy crust on your macaroni. The delightful crunch that follows the crispy crust adds a satisfying touch to the entire dish!
Mixed Cheese Blend
You can mix and match different variants of cheeses and get a customized taste all for yourself!
For mac and cheese, Cheddar and Gouda duo work beautifully together. The sharpness of the cheddar cheese is balanced nicely with the creaminess of the gouda. You can pair mozzarella with gouda cheese for a smoky twist and creamy delight. Fontina works best with parmesan as it has an earthy flavor that goes well with the saltiness of the parmesan.
Recipe Card
5-Minutes Microwave Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- ½ cup / 53 g Macaroni.
- ½ cup / 118 ml Water.
- ¼ tsp / 1 g Salt.
- 1 tbsp / 14 g Butter.
- 3 tbsp / 45 ml Milk.
- ⅓ cup / 38 g Mixed Cheese (Grated.)
- Chopped Coriander (For Garnish.)
Equipments
- Small Bowls
Instructions
Season The Macaroni
- Take a serving bowl and add ½ cup macaroni into it.
- Pour ½ cup water into the bowl.
- Sprinkle ¼ tsp of salt over the macaroni.
- Stir the mixture with a spoon to dissolve the salt into the water.
Microwave The Macaroni
- Place the bowl in the oven and microwave it for 2 minutes.
- Take it out of the microwave and stir the macaroni with a spoon to help it cook evenly.
- Return the bowl to the oven and cook for another 2 minutes.
Add Butter and Milk
- Remove the bowl from the microwave and place it on the table.
- Add 1 tbsp of butter to the macaroni.
- Pour 3 tbsp of milk into the mixture.
Add Grated Cheese
- Sprinkle ⅓ cup of mixed grated cheese over the macaroni.
- Return the bowl to the oven and microwave it for 30 seconds until the cheese is melted.
Garnish and Serve
- Remove the bowl from the oven and stir the mac and cheese.
- Garnish with chopped coriander for a burst of flavor.
- Serve it hot, and enjoy your mac and cheese!
Video
The gooey cheese melted into the perfectly cooked macaroni creates a delightful ‘slurp’ sound as you take each spoonful. The butter with minced garlic adds an aromatic finish to the macaroni and melts into a creamy sauce. Quick and cheesy, it’s the ultimate snack to savor when you want to feel cozy, even on the busiest of days!
So why are you waiting? Try this simple, creamiest, and easy meal with this quick recipe.
Recipe FAQs
You can use Penne, Rotini, Shells, or any other small-sized pasta instead of elbow macaroni for this recipe. Depending on your choice, you must adjust the cooking time to make delicious and creamy mac and cheese.
You can store the leftover mac and cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. While reheating, add some warm milk; the pasta will taste creamy and delicious.
You can add red pepper flakes while preparing the microwave macaroni and cheese. After baking, add hot sauce for extra spiciness.
