Made with pantry staples: The ingredients in mac and cheese are ingredients you likely have on hand already.

Truly, it takes about the same amount of time to make this classic macaroni and cheese as it does to make the kind from a box - and this homemade version is so much better! It's a recipe you can enjoy making over and over again.

Ready in minutes: This creamy, gooey, cheesy, glorious mac and cheese cooks in about 10 minutes.

If there's one recipe every home cook should have in their arsenal of recipes, it should be a glorious homemade macaroni and cheese recipe one that can be pulled out the instant a craving hits for cheesy, creamy pasta. Made on the stovetop, this single serving mac and cheese recipe is easy to make and can be ready in minutes. I divided this in 2 containers and froze one.This homemade macaroni and cheese is so creamy and extra cheesy.

Let the dish sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Those edges will be a welcome and flavorful addition to each serving. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes, until you have beautiful, browned edges.

Dish the mixture into a buttered 9-13 pan and sprinkle with extra grated cheeses and cayenne.

The combination should be fairly saucy, almost soupy.

Pour sauce over pasta and stir until completely incorporated.

Halt the cooking by draining the pasta and rinsing with cold water. You want barely undercooked pasta so that it can finish in the oven later. Add a generous amount of salt to the water and cook the pasta until almost but not quite al dente (two minutes before the package directions indicate). Somewhere during this sauce-cooking process, your pasta water has started boiling.

I make my sauces in the microwave turns out great and never scorches. When sauce thickens, add cheeses, salt and spices to the sauce, and stir until all the cheese has melted.Cook the sauce for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to avoid scorching.Gradually add milk, whisking briskly to maintain a smooth sauce.The roux should be cooked and free of the flour flavor but still light in color.Continue to stir this roux over medium heat for two to three minutes. Meanwhile, begin the sauce by making a roux: in a medium saucepan melt the butter over medium heat.

Best mac and cheese roux recipe