SHORTCUT QUICK 'N EASY ONE-POT MACARONI CHEESE: ideal for busy mums, will be loved by kid-ults

Practical, quick, mouthwatering & delicious: a godsend for busy singletons & families...

Ready in 20 mins: shortcut creamy, dreamy pasta 'n cheese (here using fusilli)
 'an unexpected delight' Taster

For some time, 67goingon50 has been noting several one-pot Mac 'n Cheese recipes appearing on the net.

They mostly involve cooking the pasta in milk, not water, adding cheese and, if you like, other protein afterwards.  No separate sauce necessary.  

The whole process from start to finish takes about 15 mins.

Given a choice, 67 would use the blog's skinnier healthier cheese sauce which includes butternut squash, is out-of-the-park in terms of flavour but takes time to prepare.  

it's also difficult to ignore that something quicker, easier & cheaper is needed when food prices are so high. 

So it's time to give a Shortcut Version a test. 

Cost: £1.50'ish (2022), more if using vegan cheeses & milk

Feeds: 2 but multiples easily

Ingredients:

66g/2.3oz strong dairy or plant cheddar, grated

34g/1.2oz plain dairy or plant cottage cheese, pureed till smooth

       OR if cholesterol isn't a problem, 100g/3.5oz cheddar

2 cups dairy or plant milk

170g/60oz pasta shapes (67 used M&S wholemeal & Durham wheat fusilli but macaroni is the classic choice and cooks faster)

1/3 tsp salt

1/4tsp pepper

1 tsp Dijon or yellow mustard (opt)

1 tsp smoked paprika (opt)

1/2 tsp garlic powder (opt)

Possible flavour additions:

generous amount pre-cooked mini beef balls, cooked shredded ham or pastrami, cooked chicken, tuna or prawns

Garnish (opt)

    Crushed potato/tortilla chips 

Method: