If you haven’t had dinner yet – GOOD. Make a quick fridge and pantry raid, then whip this up instead: One Pot, Stove Top Macaroni & Cheese. You’ll thank me in 30 minutes!
One Pot Stove Top Mac has all the cheesy goodness of boxed mac (come on, you know you love it) except it’s homemade and soo ridiculously luscious. And chewy. And cheestastic.
So luscious, chewy and cheestastic that I almost ate Ben’s portion after scarfing down my own when he wasn’t home in time for dinner. HA! Awww. 
The secret in creating the creamy dish is to slowly cook pasta in milk instead of water. It’s all over once you add the cheese!
First bring salt, skim milk, pasta, butter and dashes of nutmeg and pepper to a boil in a pot over medium heat.
Stir the pasta almost constantly until it starts bubbling, to make sure it doesn’t clump up in the end. It’s worth the stirring, I promise!
After the milk starts bubbling, turn the heat down to medium low and keep stirring as your pasta gets thicker,
plumper,
and uber creamy.
Next add the hands down star of the dish – the CHEESE. 
I used a mixture of freshly grated fontina cheese and cheddar cheese, but you can use whatever you’ve got. Thinking brie would be a HIT in here.
The cheese starts melting the second it hits the hot pasta, and creates a heavenly, rich and savory sauce.
This is stupid good, people.
I nearly didn’t even make it to the table with my plate, as walking was clearly a lower priority than devouring my mac & cheese AFAP (as fast as possible.) Click here for the recipe – and make this ASAP!!!
In other news, I am still avoiding my gym like the plague. 
It’s just so beautiful out right now!
The trees on the trail where I went for a 3.5 mile jog today are slowly turning dazzling shades of red, yellow and orange, from the inside out.
And the sounds of the crunchy, fallen leaves under my feet are just my very favorite thing.
After I got home, I did a killer hallway circuit with my baller workout setup…
The 5×50 Circuit:
Juuuuust killer enough to where I’ll feel it tomorrow, but could definitely make it through tonight. Done and done.
Edited to add: I just realized that the above image says to do the circuit FIVE TIMES TOTAL. Wow. No. I did it once and was kaput.
I’m off to get some work done around the house before the finale of Teen Mom tonight. Tear!
See ya!
Ooh that mac n cheese is going on my to-do list ASAP!!
heck yes! I love iGE! You are totally teaching me how to cook with things I can actually afford to make!
Good grief that mac n cheese looks awesome!
I think you should create a cookbook, that does look amazing:)!
i wouls SO buy that book!
absolutely you need to write a cookbook. whenever i am wondering what to make for dinner I go to your blog (although I read many) because your recipes are usually pretty easy, don’t have weird ingredients, you explain how to make the recipe really well and the major bonus is that it is food my boyfriend will actually eat! side note: when i first saw that circuit and thought you had done if 5x through and wasnt going to be sore i was thinking you were a crazy girl!
Looks good! I make a BLT (bacon, leek, & tomato) mac & cheese that is cooked that same way – the pasta is cooked in the sauce. Yum! Here’s the link if you’d like to check it out! http://lifeinbeantownusa.blogspot.com/2011/03/tgi-almost-f.html
Thanks Sara, I will!
I love all the fun at-home workouts you’ve posting recently, like this and the 100s !! I’m really excited to try them both!
holy mac & cheese goodness! your dinners are droolworthy!!!
You’ve convinced me!!! This looks fantastic!
I love your blog b/c you teach simple little tricks that I would never think about such as cooking pasta in milk vs. H2O. Love it. Looks delicious.
When I lived in St. Louis my favorite sound was the crunch of the leaves under your feet during the fall season!! I am now living in Houston and we basically don’t have a real fall. BOO.
Wait, wait, wait…. so you can do 250 pushups is what you’re telling me here? Or am I reading that workout wrong. I did 15 this morning during my walk/run and that was about enough of that. Mac & cheese looks yummy!!
No just 50! I think my arms would fall off it I did even 51.
looks like one of those deceptively brutal workouts!
my hubby is a mac n cheese fanatic. will have to try this new easy dish!!
Great post! I’ll have to try this mac n cheese method! I’ve got some shells on hand that I need to use up. Killer workout, too! And I’m with you! I’m LOVING this start of fall, end of summer weather! It’s UHmazying.
Night!
Hi from New Zealand! I’ve recently discovered your blog and am really enjoying it! This mac and cheese looks delicious, will definitely be giving it a try
Hey. I just was introduced to your blog and LOVE LOVE it. I live in Mpls and went to ISU. I LOVE to cook/eat healthy and am so trying to start running. Ug. Anyway, you are motivating to me and I appreciate your blog. Your photography is super and your writing cracks me up. THANKS!! : )
I am SO making that mac and cheese.
THis looks amazing! Do you have any exact measurements for what you used?
P.s Have you ever done a post on your favorite lunch ideas for during the week? thanks!
If you look at some older posts, lunches used to be posted
Here’s the recipe! http://whiteonricecouple.com/recipes/cheese/stove-top-one-pot-macaroni-cheese-recipe/
Whoa, I love this 5×50 idea for days that I don’t feel like heading to the gym! Also, nifty idea to boil your mac in milk…I’ll definitely be giving that a whirl!
There’s nothing better than a warm, comforting bowl of mac and cheese…it’s a classic for a reason!
You always make such amazing dinners, I think I need to meal plan…
So to clarify: is the 5×50 or 5×10. If you can do 50 pushups in a row 5 times PLEASE teach me your ways.
i second that! lol i was like WOAH! 250 pushups??
I think it must be 5 exercises 50 times each? I’m confused too.
Apparently I don’t read things thoroughly because I didn’t even notice that the workout says to do the whole circuit FIVE TIMES! HAAA, crazy. I did it once.
Yum! We have just enough sharp cheddar to make this!
that looks delish!! one of my favorite foods! those leaves are beautiful! my sister gathers leaves each fall and decorates the house w/them…scattering them around on end tables, on the Thanksgiving meal dinner table, etc
.
Yum! I’m making this mac & cheese this week!!
Homemade mac and cheese is one of the best comfort foods especially when the weather gets cold! Sounds like a beautiful run you went on! I’m jealous…I can’t wait til the leaves turn colors down here!
OMG, I am such a mac ‘n cheese kid (still). Shells and cheese is my weakness. I’m trying this as soon as I get back from vacation – headed to Iowa tomorrow, hooray!
I also made one-pot mac and cheese for dinner, what a coinkydink! My cheeses of choice were sharp cheddar and pepperjack…mmm. Served with a side of grapes so as not to feel soooo guilty for eating mac and cheese at 10pm. And for not doing ANY sort of work out today.
Props to you for finding a way to work out every day!
Yum-O! The mac and cheese looks sinfully ooey and gooey!
This looks fantastic!!!
“This post has been brought to you by Pinterest! The all time greatest time suck, with the BEST ideas!” hahahaha
I first saw the genius stove-top mac and cheese about 2 weeks ago and finally decided to make it for dinner tonight, so yesterday morning I went out and grabbed a brick of sharp white cheddar, and fontina! Great minds think alike!
Secondly… I saw that 5(ha!)X50 workout too… only I didn’t pin-it because only a crazy person would to 250 squats, jumping jack, mountain climbers, push-ups, and crunches! But I guess you’re not crazy!
I actually made this mac n’ cheese last night before even reading this post! Mine was a bust
I followed the recipe, but it turned out dry and flavorless…but your post has inspired me to try again!
Oh no – you definitely should! One thing is she said to add the cheese when the pasta soaked up ALL the milk. I added it when there was still some in there so it could create a sauce.
What a great idea for mac and cheese in one pot! I’ve never seen pasta cooked in milk instead of water before. I really want to try this!
Love the pictures of the pretty fall leaves!
I am going to have to try the mac & cheese, looks delish! Thanks for the 5×50 – I love the simplicity of the actions, with the high reward. And I can take it anywhere – it’s not just limited to the gym. Perfect, thanks!
Haha I am so glad that you clarified your circuit workout, because after reading the graphic I thought to myself “50 sumo squats….5 times in a row?!”
Maybe I’ll try 2x!
Teen Mom = my not-so-secret obsession!
this looks so good! i tried to make a new version of stovetop mac & cheese the other night and it was a bust.
i have a version that i’ve made before & like but i think i’ll try this next. 
I have used this technique a long while now and it is wonderful. Makes complete sense to me.
Love, adore the pictures of the autumnal beauty! I love me some leaves today!
Kristin, I just want to let you know how very much I enjoy reading you here and your pictures are always superb!
If you like to read crazy random every day living blogs, my son and his fiance (wedding Oct. 8th!) both have their own blogs that are just plain fun to read. They are just learning to be adventurous in cooking, they need to read your blog to help them along their culinary path. Take a look if you ever have time. Lori
heytootall.com
lindymae.com
I can’t wait to make this for my family. Those leaves don’t look real. I’m jealous.
My sister is gonna love you for this one. I thank you in advance
Mac and cheese was awesome! I think this is a record for me….it took me less than 24 hours from the time I read a post of yours to recreate the recipe. I love that you use normal ingredients and do things in different ways and that you find inspiration for meals in other places and pass the goodness along
I’m bookmarking this one!
This sounds delicious. One of my girlfriends is coming over tonight for some wine. I’m thinking a bowl of homemade mac and cheese will go along nicely with it
I made this tonight because it looked so amazing! Unfortunately it turned out grainy! Amy ideas to do it correct next time? This happened last time I made it with a cheese sauce too!
Hmmm – usually cheese sauces turn grainy if the heat is turned up too high. Maybe try it again and make sure your heat is on med-low to low??
That work out was tough! I edited it to be 50 reps – 40 reps – 30 reps – 20 reps – 10 reps. Definitely a good sweat going!
Made it for lunch-tastey!!!!!!!!
Making this tonight! Love that it’s a White on Rice Couple recipe – that blog is sooo beautiful.
The best made-from-scratch mac and cheese I have ever made. (I used shredded cheddar and shredded mozzarella.)
Thanks so much for this recipe. I paired it with freshly washed seedless grapes and it made a good meal for me and my kids for dinner this evening. Even the picky eater preschooler asked for seconds!
Would you ever consider grouping your posts by month– so it would be easy to go back to the very beginnings of the blog?
Hi Kristin! I agree with all who say you should have a cook book, I would definitely buy it… Question: did you use the mustard powder when you cooked yours? I’m making this tonight and was wondering if it really needs it… Thanks!
Thanks Monica! I did not use the mustard powder, as Ben despises anything and everything mustard.
[...] Cooked Pork Carnitas from Skinny Taste was better than One Pot Mac & Cheese and The Best Tomato Sauce. Ever. [...]
I cant see the workout. Can you email it to me? Please. Thank you.
Whoops! I think the image disappeared for some reason. The workout is 50 reps of the following exercised, done 5 times:
Sumo squats
Jumping jacks
Mountain climbers
Pushups
Crunches