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Close up photo of mac and cheese in a teal mug.
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5 from 5 votes

Mac and Cheese In A Mug

Mac and Cheese In A Mug is a deliciously cheesy TikTok trend that everyone's running to the kitchen to make! And the best part? It only takes 5 minutes and a handful of ingredients!
Prep Time1 min
Cook Time5 mins
Total Time6 mins
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 1
Calories: 480kcal
Author: Rebecca Hubbell

Ingredients

  • ½ cup short pasta such as elbows, penne, or medium shells
  • ½ cup water
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup cheddar cheese
  • 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon salted butter
  • parsley optional garnish

Instructions

  • Add pasta, water, and salt to a large mug and microwave for 4 to 4½ minutes.
  • Remove from the microwave and stir in the cheese and milk, microwave for an additional 30 seconds or until pasta is tender and the cheese is fully melted.

Notes

  • An additional 30 seconds of cook time may need to be added to both rounds of microwaving depending on the style and brand of pasta you use. 
  • You do not want the pasta to be completely soft before adding the cheese since you'll need to microwave after adding the cheese and no one likes mushy pasta.
  • I tested this with both elbow macaroni and penne pasta, the elbows took 4 minutes to cook before adding the cheese whereas the penned took 4 1/2 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 480kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 824mg | Potassium: 221mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 693IU | Calcium: 574mg | Iron: 1mg