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baked mac and cheese for one

(28 RATINGS)
7.39K Pinches 14 Photos
Susie429 avatar
Vacaville, CA
Updated on Oct 30, 2025

Cooking for one can be a challenge. No matter how much I like something, I don't really want to eat it for the next 5 days, ha! What I love about this recipe, is that I can make myself a nice, creamy, single serving of mac & cheese, or I can double or triple it if I want some to take to work or share with a friend. It's soooo much better than that boxed stuff!

Blue Ribbon Recipe

What a wonderful way to indulge yourself in macaroni and cheese... while still maintaining portion control! It's creamy, cheesy, and better than any single-serve mac and cheese you'll get from the store. Quick and easy to make, you probably have the ingredients in your kitchen already. A great recipe if you're cooking for one.

— The Test Kitchen
prep time 10 Min
cook time 20 Min
method Bake
yield 1 serving(s)

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons uncooked macaroni pasta
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 pinch pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
  • *OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1 dash hot sauce
  • 1 dash Worcestershire sauce
  • TOPPINGS
  • 1 tablespoon cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 2 teaspoons bread crumbs (I like Panko bread crumbs)

How To Make baked mac and cheese for one

Test Kitchen Tips
We used a 5oz ramekin and it fits perfectly.
  • Oven set to 400 degrees.
    Step 1
    Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Cooking pasta in boiling water.
    Step 2
    Fill a small saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Add pasta and let boil about 8 min or until the pasta is cooked but still firm. Drain & set pasta aside.
  • Butter added to a saucepan.
    Step 3
    In the same saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat.
  • Flour, salt, pepper, and onion powder stirred into butter.
    Step 4
    Stir in the flour, salt, pepper, and onion powder and stir until combined.
  • Whisking in milk until smooth.
    Step 5
    Add milk and whisk until smooth. Cook for about 2 minutes stirring constantly until mixture thickens.
  • Adding hot sauce to the mixture.
    Step 6
    Reduce heat to low. At this point, if using add the ground mustard, Worcestershire, or hot sauce.
  • Stirring in the cheese.
    Step 7
    Add cheese and stir until cheese melts and the mixture is smooth. Stir in the pasta.
  • Pasta poured into a ramekin with more cheese and Panko crumbs on top.
    Step 8
    Spoon into greased, oven-proof ramekin, soup crock, or small gratin dish. Sprinkle top with cheddar cheese, or bread crumbs if you wish (I use both!).
  • Mac and cheese baking in the oven.
    Step 9
    Place on a small baking sheet (in case it bubbles over), and bake for about 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted and it is heated through.
  • A forkful of Baked Mac and Cheese for One.
    Step 10
    *Note: There are so many ways you can vary this. You could use sauteed onions instead of the onion powder, or add bacon, etc. Let your imagination run wild! :)
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!

Nutrition Facts

(per serving*)
calories: 705kcal, carbohydrates: 61g, cholesterol: 110mg, fat: 39g, fiber: 2g, protein: 28g, saturated fat: 22g, sodium: 1215mg, sugar: 8g, unsaturated fat: 16g
*Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Nutrition information is estimated.

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