Growing up, mac and cheese was always a favorite dish of mine. The creamy pasta combined with gooey cheese was pure comfort food heaven. Now that I’m older and have my own kitchen, I’ve been experimenting with different ways to prepare this classic dish. Recently, I wondered if it was possible to make mac and cheese cups without a microwave. To my delight, I discovered a surprisingly simple method that yielded fantastic results. In this article, I will share my newfound knowledge with you.
Using the Stovetop Method
Gather Your Ingredients
Before we jump into the recipe, let’s gather all the ingredients we need to make these delicious mac and cheese cups. Here’s what you’ll need:
Cooking the Macaroni
To start, fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add the macaroni and cook it according to the package instructions. Remember to stir occasionally to prevent the macaroni from sticking together.
Preparing the Cheese Sauce
While the macaroni is cooking, we can start preparing the cheese sauce. In a separate saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, add the flour and whisk until it combines into a smooth paste. This is called a roux and will act as a thickener for our cheese sauce.
Gradually pour in the milk, whisking constantly to prevent any lumps from forming. Continue whisking until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon. This usually takes about 5-7 minutes. Once the sauce has thickened, remove it from the heat and stir in the shredded cheese until it’s fully melted and incorporated.
Combining the Macaroni and Cheese Sauce
By this point, the macaroni should be cooked and drained. Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir until every noodle is coated with the cheesy goodness. The macaroni and cheese mixture should be thick and creamy.
Baking the Mac and Cheese Cups
Preheat your Oven
Before we proceed, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This will ensure that it’s nice and hot when we’re ready to bake our mac and cheese cups.
Prepping the Muffin Tin
Now it’s time to prep our muffin tin. Take a non-stick cooking spray and generously coat the cups of the muffin tin. This will prevent the mac and cheese cups from sticking.
Alternatively, you can use muffin liners if you prefer. Simply place the liners in the cups and proceed as usual.
Filling the Muffin Tin
Using a spoon or an ice cream scoop, carefully fill each cup of the muffin tin with the mac and cheese mixture. Make sure to press down gently to pack the mac and cheese to prevent any holes or gaps.
Baking Time
Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 20 minutes or until the tops of the mac and cheese cups turn golden brown and crispy. Keep an eye on them to prevent burning.
Serving and Enjoying
Once the mac and cheese cups are baked to perfection, remove them from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes. Using a butter knife or a small offset spatula, gently loosen the edges of each cup and carefully remove them from the muffin tin.
Serve the mac and cheese cups on a platter and watch as your friends and family marvel at your culinary skills. These bite-sized treats are perfect for parties, potlucks, or even just a fun twist on a classic weeknight dinner.
So, there you have it – a surprisingly simple method to make mac and cheese cups without a microwave. With just a few basic ingredients and a little bit of time, you can create these tasty and adorable individual servings of mac and cheese. Give it a try and discover the joy of homemade mac and cheese in a whole new way. Happy cooking!