Do you often find yourself alone for dinner?
Perhaps you live in a family with various food allergies/dietary restrictions, and it just doesn’t work out that you all eat the same meal every night?
Or maybe you live alone, and have spent too many nights eating toast or cereal for dinner because, frankly, cooking for one can sometimes seem like a waste of time and/or not worth the effort?
Based on the number of messages I receive on Instagram asking for the recipes to the many random meals I make and post on my stories throughout the week, it seems like my knack for creating recipes-for-one is not shared by the rest of the population.
FEAR NOT. I’ve got you covered.
I heard your cries for more single-lady/man meals, and am henceforth starting a series called Dinner for One, where, as predicted, I share my aforementioned single-lady recipes.
For the record, I am not actually a single lady. I am very much married. But I am almost always home alone for lunch, and occasionally home alone for dinner. Plus, I happen to take great pleasure in making a recipe that yields just one serving.
Want two or three servings instead? Just do the math.
To kick off this series of dinners that feed just YOU, I’m sharing a one-pot, super simple, extra cheesy Stovetop Mac & Cheese.
It’s essentially the adult version of boxed mac & cheese, but luckily, requires only marginally more effort than the boxed stuff.
To make this recipe for one, you’re simply going to boil your favorite small pasta (I’m loving this brand made from chickpeas lately), drain, make a basic cheese sauce, then combine the two.
If you’re feeling like you need some vegetables in your life, go ahead and throw a handful of broccoli in with the cooking pasta. Or don’t. Either way is perfectly acceptable.
You are feeding yourself, after all. Do whatever YOU want!
Whether you live alone, or find yourself needing to make a separate meal for yourself now and then, I think you’re going to LOVE this Stovetop Mac & Cheese.
It’s:
Quick
Easy
Comforting
Ultra Cheesy
& Totally Delicious.
If you make this recipe, let me know how it turns out! Leave a comment below, or take a picture and tag me on Instagram. I love seeing your single-lady/man dinners in action!
Dinner for One: Stovetop Mac & Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry pasta shells*
- 1 cup broccoli flourettes cut into bite-sized pieces (optional)
- 1/2 Tablespoon olive oil butter, or ghee
- 1/2 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1/8 teaspoon each of salt black pepper, and garlic powder
- 1/2 cup milk unsweetened almond or cow's milk works best here
- 1/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- 1. Fill a small pot halfway with water and bring to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions. If using broccoli, add broccoli to the boiling pasta in the last 2-3 minutes of cooking.
- 2. Drain cooked pasta and broccoli, and set aside. Put the pot back on the stove over medium heat, and add oil and flour to the pot. Stir to combine the two, then add spices and milk. Increase the heat to medium-high and whisk the milk mixture constantly until bubbling.
- 3. Turn off the heat once milk mixture has come to a boil and add the drained pasta/broccoli and shredded cheese. Stir well, and let sit for 2-3 minutes to let the pasta absorb some of the sauce. Taste and add an extra pinch of salt and/or pepper, to taste. Serve immediately.
Notes
To make this meal even more substantial for one person, 1/2 cup of leftover cooked chicken, salmon, or even cannellini beans or chickpeas make a great addition! In this case, increase salt, pepper, and garlic powder, since you're now seasoning these, too!