Homemade Macaroni and Cheese in Dutch Oven

Easy homemade macaroni and cheese in Dutch Oven recipe is here. Family friendly cheap meal kids will go crazy over. From scratch but simple enough for the busy moms to make on the stove too. 

How to Make Homemade Macaroni and Cheese in a Pot

As you know we have shared our love for Ninja Foodi macaroni and cheese over and over again. I’m not taking anything away from that, but if you need a stovetop option, this is the way to go.

When it comes to from scratch cooking, I am still all about simple. If you can’t find it in your local grocery store I won’t share it, and probably won’t make it myself either. I only post stovetop or Instant Pot dinner recipes that turn out successfully and my kids love it too.

Homemade Macaroni and Cheese Ingredients

Now beyond the 5 ingredients listed below are any seasonings you would want in this dish. We used salt, white pepper and onion powder. Garlic salt would be a good add in too. You could add leftovers at the end too like our brisket mac and cheese for a heartier version.

1. Elbow macaroni is typical but any small or medium size pasta will work
2. Milk, whole is best, I wouldn’t use fat free because it won’t be as creamy
3. Salted butter, I love Kerrigold for best results
4. Cheddar cheese or a mix of white and American shredded cheese, your choice
5. Flour, salt and pepper are basics to add flavor

Let me show you a few step by step photos so you can see how this homemade mac and cheese was made. If you want to make a version of our Copycat Chick Fil A Mac and Cheese you can do that too with several different varieties.

Dutch Oven Macaroni and Cheese

Let’s get going with the first step. Of course you’re going to need a pot. A pan won’t work because of the amount of liquid we’re going to use. It will overflow unless you have a hefty lip on the sides like you see here.

• I would suggest boiling your noodles when you start the homemade cheese sauce so they’re ready all at the same time.
• Just cook as you normally would but remove and drain when they are still a bit al dente.
  • Remember they will continue to cook inside the creamy sauce so you don’t want them to go too long and get mushy.

In this second pot melt your butter, then add the flour and whisk together so it becomes a thickening roux.

Can I make pasta in a Dutch oven?

Yep, you can make all the things in this deep cast iron pot on the stove. The material helps create an even heat throughout the entire cook time which is nice and if yours is enamel coated it is easy to clean as well.

What is roux used for?

The primary reason is to thicken your sauces. This mixture of equal parts of fat and flour (pronounced “roo”) is typically made for thickening sauces and soups. Traditionally it’s made with butter, but you can use other types of fats such as lard, bacon fat, or vegetable oil too.

How to Make Homemade Macaroni and Cheese on the Stove

Then add 1 cup of milk at a time, whisking all the while so it continues to be smooth and creamy. Once that is combined well add any herbs and seasonings you want and continue to stir so it doesn’t burn. Stir in your cheese(s) so they melt, then you’ll want to remove it from the heat and get ready for the final step.

• This is when your al dente pasta comes into play. It should already be tender, drained and ready for it’s cheesiness.

Just pour your cooked macaroni into your cheese sauce and gently stir. For best results I would allow it to sit, all mixed together, for 5 minutes so noodles can soak up some of the sauce, get more tender, and allow the sauce to continue to thicken a bit more.

Baked Mac and Cheese

If you wanted to get a browned ooey gooey layer on the top you could pour it into a casserole dish. Sprinkle cheddar over the top and bake at 425 for 10 minutes or broil for just 2-3 just until the top bubbles and browns real light, then pull it out and serve.

What can I add to mac and cheese to make it better?

Stir in some chopped hot dogs or leftover ham bits for added protein. A quick day after meal after the holidays for sure that doesn’t feel like it is a leftovers meal at all.

1. Pre cooked crumbled bacon
2. Bread crumbs are fun to sprinkle on the top of each serving
3. Grated Romano cheese can be added to the top of each bowl too
4. Want a bit of heat? A few dashes of hot sauce will do the trick
5. Ketchup is something kids tend to like on anything
6. We do these same add ins when making boxed Instant Pot mac and cheese

If you want to make more of a baked mac and cheese recipe just pour your prepared dish into a baking dish and layer on another layer of cheese.

• Bake in your oven at 375 degrees until the top is golden brown, bubbly and amazingly gooey.
• This is a great recipe when serving kids, or guests from out of town and it’s chilly outside.

Pure comfort food if you ask me and still an easy mac and cheese dish that takes under an hour to make, even if you are continuing on to this additional step.

What is the best cheese to use in macaroni and cheese?

You would probably get different answers depending on whom you asked but these are known to be the most popular:

• Classic sharp cheddar is always a crowd pleaser and probably the most common. What we use primarily to make Crockpot Macaroni and Cheese with Evaporated Milk
• Gruyere is delicious and gives you that ultimate cheese pull you see in the magazines
• If you’ve never tried grated smoked gouda, it’s probably one of my favorites
• A mixture of white cheddar and Monterey Jack was used this time
• Parmesan can be added in with another but doesn’t melt well

What two cheeses go well together?

If you want to combine a few to give your pasta an untraditional flavor try; sharp cheddar, and a hard version like parmesan or gruyere. Or maybe a cheddar, soft brie, and a cup of gouda.

How do you make mac n cheese from scratch?

It’s super easy and I guarantee you’ll get thumbs up from everyone at the table. Need other methods to see which is your favorite?? Try our Instant Pot macaroni and cheese recipe.

Side dishes you might enjoy with this dish are:

• Steamed vegetables
• Cheesy garlic bread always works and is easy to throw together
• Instant Pot corn on the cob is a healthy choice

How do you make leftover mac and cheese better?

You can make a smaller quicker version by reading our how to make mac and cheese in the microwave post.

1. Use a microwave safe bowl filled with your leftover cheesy noodles
2. Add 1-2 tbsp of milk, enough so when you stir it together the pasta becomes damp again and cheese starts to get liquidy again
3. Cover with a paper towel
4. Heat it up in 30 second increments stirring in between times until it’s as warm as you’d like
   1. Key is to not overheat it or it will dry out once again
   2. Could add more shredded cheese to top for last 30 seconds for more gooeyness
5. You could also make leftover macaroni balls if you wanted.

Below is a printable version of this recipe including nutritional information such as calories, saturated fat etc… BUT just enjoy it y’all. Whether you make it this way, in your pressure cooker or try our air fryer mac and cheese we hope you love this idea.