6 Minute Easy Mac Recipe

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I’m a foodie, a Le Cordon Bleu Paris hopeful and a die hard French food fanatic, and here I am, on this dreary Tuesday, giving you a recipe for easy mac. BUT, listen. This isn’t the weird fake cheese stuff you’d buy in college when you only had $1 left on your meal card. This 6 minute easy mac recipe is made with some healthier ingredients, like skim milk & part-skim cheese and has had a bit of a gourmet makeover, with the addition of caramelized shrooms and fresh basil. This isn’t the stuff you find in those blue cups.

easy mac

I got this idea from Pinterest. I kept seeing the pin (this one from Babble) over and over again and finally, during a moment of weakness (read a typical Tuesday night) I said “FINE PINTEREST! I’LL MAKE IT!” So here you go, friends. You get the product of my mac n’ cheese obsession and a too-busy-for-words week.

6 minute mushroom easy mac

But you know what? In all seriousness, this is GOOD mac n’ cheese! It tastes just like the creamy stove top kind you spend 30 minutes making. Since I’m leaving on Friday for 9 days, this week has been NUTS. I have to get everything in before I leave at 5:30 am. So basically I want to rip my eyes out and sob hysterically. So a delicious dinner done in 6 minutes is the equivalent of a Cartier bracelet right now. Okay, not really but you get my gist.

Mushroom easy mac

Plus, you can totally customize it. Hate Swiss cheese? Add cheddar. Want more veggies? Add them in! You can pretty much make any kind you want, all you need to keep the same are the liquid measurements and noodles. To quote a pinner, NEVER BUY Easy mac again. I mean, obviously for health reasons (I’m 100% certain the powdered neon cheese has some traces of poison in it) and this is 10000x better.

5 Minute Easy Mac Recipe

Creamy 6 minute mac n cheese

CLICK HERE FOR THE PRINTABLE VERSION OF THIS RECIPE!

Serves 1. Recipe adapted from Babble.
Prep time: >5 minutes
Cook time: About 5 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/3 cup elbow macaroni noodles
  • About 1/4 cup skim milk
  • 1/3 cup part skim shredded mozzarella
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons part skim shredded swiss
  • 3 baby bella mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil

Directions:

  1. Add noodles and water to a large mug. Microwave on high (100% power) for 2 minutes. Stir and then microwave again for another 2 – 3 minutes, or until liquid is fully absorbed and noodles are cooked. 
  2. Meanwhile, heat mushrooms in a small skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat. Cook until soft, about 4 minutes.
  3. Remove from microwave and immediately stir in milk and cheeses. You may need to microwave the mixture for like 30 seconds or so to absorb the milk. Stir in mushrooms and basil and eat!

Nutritional information:

Calories: 350
Fat: 12.3 grams
Carbohydrates: 31 grams
Fiber: 2.5 grams
Protein: 21 grams
Weight Watchers Points: 8

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Comments

  1. Tuesday, March 12th, 2013
    I'm sold. The mushrooms...so good!
  2. Posted by Mary Alvarez on
    Tuesday, March 12th, 2013
    A large bug?
    • Posted by cgallam10 on
      Tuesday, March 12th, 2013
      HAHAHA. no, mug. Woops :)
  3. Tuesday, March 12th, 2013
    I really cannot wait to try this. When kids come home from school, this mug cup portion is a perfect little snack/meal before dinner time! I'll be forever thankful to your recipe!
  4. Tuesday, March 12th, 2013
    No way. I've never thought to make single serving pasta in the microwave! My schedule has been just as crazy lately, so I'm always looking for easy and quick recipes like that. Love it!
  5. Tuesday, March 12th, 2013
    Whaaaaaaat this is the best thing ever! EVER. Commencing a week full of easy mac and cheese. :)
  6. Tuesday, March 12th, 2013
    so.stinkin.smart! I love this
  7. Tuesday, March 12th, 2013
    LOVE Mac and Cheese. The mushrooms look like such a good addition!
  8. Tuesday, March 12th, 2013
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  9. Posted by Laura (Tutti Dolci) on
    Tuesday, March 12th, 2013
    Love the mushroom addition, this looks so good!
  10. Posted by Aggie on
    Tuesday, March 12th, 2013
    Wow, this is kinda life changing!! This is good!!!
    I'm loving the endless possibility option, great post!
  11. Tuesday, March 12th, 2013
    I've already eaten dinner but somehow all I have on the brain is this easy mac n cheese. FOR ONE! Pardon me while I go run to the kitchen...
  12. Tuesday, March 12th, 2013
    Holy Heavens, Claire - this looks ah-mazing!!!! Have a safe trip, love.
  13. Wednesday, March 13th, 2013
    Wow... why did i never think to make my own homemade mac and cheese in the mircowave?!?
  14. Posted by Kathryn on
    Wednesday, March 13th, 2013
    I've always wondered about this recipe and how it turns out - now I'm definitely going to have to give it a try!
  15. Wednesday, March 13th, 2013
    This is amazing! I can see lots of mac and cheese in my future!
  16. Wednesday, March 13th, 2013
    Mac and cheese in a mug?! Delicious and dangerous! Amazing recipe, Claire. Love your addition of mushrooms and basil!
  17. Posted by Bev @ Bev Cooks on
    Wednesday, March 13th, 2013
    Oh hey! Before you leave for 9 days, how 'bout coming over and feeding me? Coo, coo.
  18. Thursday, March 14th, 2013
    omfg, yes!!!
  19. Posted by JulieD on
    Thursday, March 14th, 2013
    ummm yeah, I'm going to have to try this!!
  20. Posted by Kelly on
    Thursday, March 14th, 2013
    I need this in my life....like right NOW! :)
  21. Posted by Kristina on
    Sunday, March 17th, 2013
    Is it bad that I still love my $1 easy mac... there aren't too many neon orange things that I will eat but for some reason easy mac just gets me...really love that you made a healthier (natural!) microwave version - genius! Totally trying this!
    • Posted by cgallam10 on
      Monday, March 18th, 2013
      Not bad at all! :)
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