No boil mac and cheese is completely cooked in the oven. You don’t have to boil the noodles first. Just load everything in the pan and let it bake to creamy no boil macaroni and cheese perfection!
Make cheesy mac and cheese without boiling the noodles first. There’s no cheese sauce to make either.
Just dump the ingredients in the pan and let the oven do the work. This is the easiest baked macaroni and cheese recipe you’ll find and it’s delicious too!
It’s a perfect filling side dish for almost any meal. It is also a great meatless entrée if you would like.
Why no boil macaroni?
Have you ever had one of those days where you can’t handle one more thing? You know the kind where things feel overwhelming or the schedule is so full that you can’t fathom adding one more thing to the day.
I love to cook. Everything from simple to more intense labor (and dirty dish!) filled recipes.
But sometimes even I can’t take one extra step in the kitchen. Those are the days where boiling and draining pasta seems like too much.
Tell me you’ve been there too! Days like that one pot pasta recipes come in handy because it all cooks together.
We love dinners like one pot taco pasta and one pot abc (asparagus, bacon and chicken) pasta for just that reason. You don’t have to wait for the water to boil or for the macaroni noodles to cook before you move to the next step.
Plus the starch from the pasta helps thicken the sauce, which means you don’t have to mess with making a bechamel sauce. The meal and the cook are working together in unison to make a delicious and easy dinner.
So when Nicole from Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom mentioned her favorite macaroni and cheese recipe was baked but no-boil during an intense macaroni and cheese conversation on Facebook, I had to check it out. I had a feeling we were going to like it.
In general we like a creamy stovetop macaroni and cheese. Luckily we are not so set in our ways that we can’t appreciate a good baked macaroni and cheese. We actually enjoy the “challenge” of trying new recipes.
Honestly, it doesn’t get any easier than this either. That is always helpful, whether you are having one of “those days” or not.
Just throw it together and bake it. It does take a little time in the oven, but that gives you time to make the rest of the meal.
Or fold some laundry.
Or relax for a bit?!
The results are cheesy and delicious. I’m not sure it took over our top spot. We still love super creamy stove top macaroni and cheese in all of its forms. But we will certainly be enjoying it again!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I double this recipe?
Yes, we have doubled this recipe several times when we are feeding a larger crowd. Just double the ingredients and bake it in a 9×13 dish.
What kind of cheese can I use for mac and cheese?
We usually use sharp cheddar cheese for this recipe because the flavor and texture are great for macaroni and cheese. However, you can combine cheeses or substitute another kind of cheese as long as it is a good melting cheese. Use American cheese or half mozzarella and half sharp cheddar for a milder super cheesy mac. Try using gruyere if you are looking for something different. Or use some pepper jack if you want to add a little zip.
Can I add a crunchy topping?
Yes! Add bread crumbs or cracker crumbs at the end when you add the extra cheese.
More no boil pasta recipes:
No boil cheesy pasta bake is a dump and bake main dish that has all of the flavor of your favorite pasta dishes with no time spent over the stove. It’s the perfect mix of pasta, cheese, sausage and sauce without any of the effort!
Enjoy all of the goodness of baked ziti with a fraction of the prep work! You don’t have to boil the noodles or brown the meat, just layer it up and bake it to perfection.
Love this recipe? Give it a star rating in the recipe card below!
No Boil Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 cups uncooked pasta
- 3½ cups whole milk
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2½ cups cheddar cheese divided
Instructions
- Preheat you oven to 350°F and spray an 8-inch square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Combine the milk, uncooked macaroni, Worcestershire, salt, pepper and 1 1/2 cups of cheese in the baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 50 minutes.
- Remove foil and stir. Top with remaining cheese and bake for 10 more minutes.
- Let stand for 10 minutes and then serve.
Notes
Video
Nutrition
Kara
Thursday 26th of October 2023
I made this tonight, the taste was good except the cheese curdled so the texture wasn’t pleasant. If I can figure out how to keep it from curdling I may make it again. I did add a tin of green chilies and a bit of mustard to it as well, plus a bit extra salt at the end.
Karen @karenskitchenstories
Saturday 6th of May 2023
I'm definitely trying this! I love baked mac and cheese, and the no boil option is fabulous!
Carlee
Saturday 6th of May 2023
It makes it so easy and only 1 dirty dish!
Richa
Monday 9th of January 2023
My pasta was cooked at the 50 minute mark but it was still really liquidy. Is it supposed to still have quite a bit of liquid at that point? I followed directions precisely including covering with foil!
Carlee
Monday 9th of January 2023
Some of the liquid will evaporate during that last 10 minutes and it will thicken as it sits for a bit too. It's hard to say without seeing it, but my hunch is it's fine.
Lynn
Sunday 27th of November 2022
I am making the no boil pasta mac and cheese now for dinner my first time used chicken broth on the noodles and light cream the added mozzarella and sharp cheddar also put some bread crumbs on the top im so nervous hopefully it comes out good
Carlee
Sunday 27th of November 2022
That sounds tasty. You'll have to let me know your thoughts when it's done.
Jess
Sunday 27th of November 2022
I have vegetarians I was hoping to make this for on the eve. Any good substitutes for the Worcestershire? I’m planning a test run soon. And I don’t cook ever… lol.
Carlee
Sunday 27th of November 2022
You could use a little bit of soy sauce or tamari instead. Otherwise you could omit it if you want, it just adds a little depth of flavor.