Home Recipes Dinner Easy Creamy Mac and Cheese

Easy Creamy Mac and Cheese

Name: Easy Mac and Cheese
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 5
Cuisine: International
Ingredients: 12 ounces macaroni or your choice of bite-sized pasta; 8 ounces reduced-fat sour cream or plain yogurt; 16 ounces low-fat small-curd cottage cheese; 8 ounces 2% milk sharp cheddar cheese (shredded yourself is better); 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese; 1/2 cup milk; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; a few grinds of black pepper

(1 vote)
36 Comments3 minutes
February 17, 2023
Andi GleesonJump to Recipe

Dinner Kid Food Side Dishes Pasta and Noodles

Today I am excited to bring you this delicious, super easy mac and cheese recipe!

How often do you eat mac and cheese at your house? I can’t say that I eat it as often as I’d like, but my kids are more than familiar with the dish. Since macaroni and cheese is one thing they both love; it makes an appearance on their plates probably three times a week.

I’m not afraid to admit that often times it’s frozen mac and cheese from TJs or boxed mac and cheese because I’m scrambling to make their food in about 15 minutes, but when I have time I make them this homemade version. It is so worth the little bit of extra effort!

When I think of macaroni and cheese, a container of cottage cheese is definitely not the first thing that comes to mind. When I found Chuck’s Favorite Mac and Cheese recipe, I was skeptical but had to try it based on its simplicity and all the great reviews. I wasn’t disappointed.

I altered the recipe a bit to add milk, use reduced-fat (not fat free) ingredients, and eliminate the bread crumb topping. (That is my personal preference, but if you like a crunchy topping on your mac, mix 1/4 c. melted butter with 1 c. bread or cracker crumbs and sprinkle over the top before baking.)

The whole family loves this recipe and requests it often. I think my kids would even choose it over the boxed stuff, which is a pretty big compliment coming from them. I hope your family enjoys this easy mac and cheese too!

Easy Mac and Cheese

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5 from 1 review

Print Recipe

This mac and cheese is as easy as cooking pasta and stirring it together with a few ingredients. Bake and enjoy!

Total Time: 1 hour
Yield: 5 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale

12 ounces macaroni or your choice of bite-sized pasta
8 ounces reduced-fat sour cream or plain yogurt
16 ounces low-fat small-curd cottage cheese
8 ounces 2% milk sharp cheddar cheese (shredded yourself is better)
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
a few grinds of black pepper

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
While pasta cooks, mix remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Spray a 1-1/2 qt. casserole dish with cooking spray.
Stir pasta into cheese mixture, then spread into casserole dish. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes in preheated oven, or until hot and bubbly. Stir together before serving to evenly distribute the cheese sauce.

Author: Andi Gleeson
Prep Time: 15
Cook Time: 45
Category: Dinner, Kid Food, Pasta and Noodles, Side Dishes
Cuisine: International

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Andi Gleeson

Andi Gleeson is a passionate blogger and mom based in San Francisco who focuses on easy and delicious dinner recipes.

36 comments

I made this recipe exactly as written. I am 60 years old and I think this is only my second time to make mac n cheese. It was fabulous. I doubled the recipe since I was going to a party with 12 people. The dish was almost empty (people loved it).

Looks great. Wish I had a bowl, like right now

Is this possible without the milk?

Andi the next time you say to me your photography isn’t good enough I’m gonna point you to this post. Your photography is stellar!

Are you serious?? This one? Thank you so much, Matt! This is an old post! xoxo

Wow, this really is so easy! Perfect weeknight dinner!

Thank you, Megan! It is easy and pretty foolproof :)

Love it. I think cottage cheese makes everything yummier.

Love that cottage cheese addition! It’s my favorite!

I use cottage cheese in my mac and cheese as well…great addition

I love the way you made your mac n cheese! What a great way to hide something people dont necessarily like!

my granddaughter does not like cottage cheese(I do) and she the one that will be eating most of the cottage cheese .so what if I put the cottage in a blender,do u think it will work out ok? I really want to get away from the boxed stuff and feed her better. I’ve looked at a lot of different recipe and yours looked really good and healthy?Thanks for the recipe .

The small curd cottage cheese melts in pretty well to not be obvious (I don’t like cottage cheese either!). You could try ricotta instead, but you might want to add a little more milk since ricotta is a bit drier than cottage cheese. The blender idea is great too. Hope this helps. Thank you, Brenda!

I tried this recipe and liked it although I’m confused about the amount of pasta. Is it 12 oz. of cooked or uncooked pasta? I tried 12 oz. of uncooked pasta, and it made almost double the amount for a 1 1/2 quart casserole. It still tasted good but it was quite dry. I think the recipe should indicate if it’s for cooked or uncooked pasta.

Mac and cheese is without a doubt my favorite food in the world and I’ve been searching for a recipe to make it myself that doesn’t take a lot of time or require a bunch of ingredients and expensive cheeses. Needless to say I’m going to the store tonight and making this right when I get home. Thanks so much for sharing!

I really hope you enjoy it, Holli. I love this one because it’s as easy as cooking pasta and stirring some things together. I do make a version with a cheese sauce too, but this is my go-to recipe since it’s so simple. Thank you!

I LOVE mac n’ cheese … my ALL TIME favourite comfort food on a cold Canadian winter night … thx for sharing … :)

You can never go wrong with cheese and pasta if you ask me. Thank you!

I have found my new mac and cheese recipe! I tripled this recipe because I have a husband and 2 grown sons and they eat A LOT! They loved my old recipe but there was always leftovers. With your recipe it was GONE! They went back for seconds and even thirds! They want to know where I got the recipe. I’ll never tell! lol

Thank you so much, Jules! I’m so happy to hear it was such a big hit!

perfect! I am trying to drop a few kgs but cheese is my bff so this could just be the ticket ;)

It’s so hard to lose weight when there’s cheese to be eaten. I always need to lose a few pounds but never seem to get around to it ;) Thank you!

I’m planning to try this recipe this week and was wondering if you mean the grated Parmesan you get in the green canister, or more like a block of Parmesan that you would shred like the cheddar? My grocery list thanks you!

Hi. I’m so sorry for not getting back to you sooner! You can use pre-grated parmesan cheese you find in the refrigerated cheese section of the grocery store or grate it yourself from a block of parmesan. I wouldn’t recommend using the kind in the green canister because I don’t think it would melt properly. Thank you!

I can’t wait to try to mac & cheese cups. Yum. I don’t see the recipe link for the better for you mac & cheese. Thanks!

Hi, Debbie! Sorry about leaving off that link! Here is the recipe for what you want! Thank you so much!

Hey can I make this without the cottage cheese? Should I just add extra cheddar instead?

thanks in advance

I’m sorry for not getting back to you sooner, Hillari! I was trying to think of how to modify this one without the cottage cheese, and I think it would need a lot of changes. You might want to look for a stovetop mac and cheese or you could try something like this Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti. Hope that helps. Thank you!

I think im going to try and make this as a SIDE dish for my sons bday party. There are about 9 kids and 13 adults. Do you think I should double the recipe? My other side dish is beans but I have a feeling this will be popular. Thought and suggestions appreciated.

Hi, Sam. Yes, I would double it. That might still be enough for big portions for everyone, but since you have other foods and not everyone will partake, it should be enough. I hope it’s a hit! Thank you!

Thank you for all the work you do. I run a daycare and am constantly having to make a weekly menu for them, and this website helps me easily, quickly made a menu for my own family for dinner! I love that they’re easy and quick, or at least things I can get started on over their nap time, because by the time kids leave I’m worn out and just want to relax with my own kids! I use this website weekly for our family meals!!

This really made my day, Amber! I’m so happy to know that my recipes and menu help you. I can’t imagine how exhausting it must be to run a daycare. I can barely make it with my own two kids! Thanks so much for taking the time to write this message, and I hope to hear from you again soon Take care!

This is the best mac and cheese recipe I have ever tried! It is so rich and creamy. My 4yo is one of the pickiest eaters out there and she loved it. Thanks for sharing :)

Thank you, Linni! Comments like this are what keep me blogging :) I really appreciate it and am so happy you like the recipe as much as we do!

Sounds tasty..I can’t wait to try.

Thank you, Carol! I really hope you like it!

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