Ultimate Ricotta Mac and Cheese Recipe
This Ultimate Ricotta Mac and Cheese recipe offers a creamy, flavorful twist on the classic comfort dish by incorporating whole milk ricotta and sharp cheddar cheese. The pasta is cooked directly in water and then combined with a simple, spiced cheese sauce that includes Dijon mustard, paprika, garlic, and onion powders for a rich, savory flavor.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 17 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Seasoning
- 8 oz dry elbow macaroni (Barilla recommended)
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp salt
Sauce Ingredients
- 2/3 cup whole milk ricotta cheese (drain excess liquid if very watery)
- 1/2 cup milk (plus extra 1–2 tbsp for desired creaminess)
- 1 1/4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
Instructions
- Cook the Macaroni. Pour 2 cups of water and 1 teaspoon salt into a pot, bring to a boil over high heat. Add the elbow macaroni and stir to submerge. Reduce heat to low, cover with a lid, and cook until al dente, about 7 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Prepare the Sauce Base. Keep the burner on low without draining the pasta water. Add milk, ricotta cheese, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika directly to the pot with the macaroni. Stir thoroughly until combined into a creamy sauce base.
- Add the Cheddar Cheese. Gradually add shredded sharp cheddar cheese to the pot, stirring consistently until the cheese melts and the sauce becomes creamy. Add additional milk 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time if a creamier texture is desired.
- Final Seasoning and Serve. Taste and adjust the salt as needed. Once perfectly seasoned, serve the creamy ricotta mac and cheese hot in individual bowls and enjoy.
Notes
- Do not drain the pasta water before adding sauce ingredients; it helps create a creamy base.
- Drain excess liquid from ricotta if it’s very watery to avoid a runny sauce.
- Sharp cheddar cheese delivers the best flavor intensity for this dish.
- Adjust the milk quantity to customize sauce consistency to your preference.
- Stir frequently during cooking to prevent pasta sticking and cheese clumping.
Keywords: ricotta mac and cheese, creamy mac and cheese, stovetop mac and cheese, homemade mac and cheese, easy mac and cheese
Find it online: https://tastygenius.com/ultimate-ricotta-mac-and-cheese-recipe/
