Rigatoni mac and cheese on stovetop makes quick, easy, creamy homemade mac and cheese for holidays or everyday dinner! Rigatoni is in fact one of the most perfect substitutes (just like rotini, shell pasta etc) for elbow pasta in homemade mac and cheese recipes! Using rigatoni instead of elbow shaped pasta makes this a variety mac and cheese that's still very creamy and delicious like the traditional mac and cheese made using elbow pasta.
So if you wonder if you can use rigatoni to make mac and cheese instead of elbow pasta, whether you ran out of elbow pasta and want to still make mac and cheese, or if you want to just try a new variety of mac and cheese using a different variety of pasta shape than elbow, do try this easy homemade rigatoni mac and cheese! Also try this delicious rigatoni with pumpkin pasta sauce which is great for holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas!
can you use rigatoni for mac and cheese?
Yes, absolutely! You can use rigatoni pasta for making mac and cheese!
why rigatoni is a great substitute for elbow pasta in mac and cheese recipes
In fact, rigatoni is one of the best pasta types to make a variety mac and cheese if you regularly use elbow mac and cheese and want to try a different pasta shape for making mac and cheese, or if you are looking for a good substitute to elbow pasta to make mac and cheese! The shape of rigatoni is tubular like elbow and the rigatoni shells can hold the cheese sauce very well just like elbow pasta as they are both similar in shape!
Rotini pasta also works well with mac and cheese recipes, you can see baked rotini mac and cheese here and instant pot rotini mac and cheese with frozen corn!
ingredients used to make rigatoni mac and cheese recipe:
rigatoni pasta 16 oz
water as needed to cook pasta
shredded cheese 4 cups (mexican or cheddar works great)
salt adjust as needed
heavy cream ¾ cup
butter 2 tablespoons
how to make rigatoni mac and cheese?
step by step instructions to make rigatoni mac and cheese
Step 1 - Cook the rigatoni following package instructions. I boiled about 4 quarts of water in a pot, added salt and added the rigatoni pasta (while the water was boiling). And reduced the heat to medium and cooked for about 10 minutes (or until its completely cooked but not too soft in texture). Then drain the hot water carefully (leave a little water at the bottom of the pot) to retain the perfectly cooked rigatoni pasta.
Step 2 - Add butter, shredded cheese and heavy cream, mix in gently to fold with the pasta and let it sit for a few minutes.
Step 3 - After the above step, gently stir the pasta again so the melted cheese and butter would fold in perfectly with the cooked rigatoni pasta to give you the most creamy and delicious rigatoni mac and cheese!
Step 4 - Wait a few minutes so the cheese will completely melt and give the mac and cheese the perfect silky and smooth texture, serve the rigatoni mac and cheese hot or warm for best results!
Rigatoni Mac And Cheese (Stovetop Recipe)
Ingredients
- 16 oz rigatoni
- 4 quartz water or as needed to cook pasta
- 4 cups shredded cheese mexican or cheddar works great
- salt adjust as needed
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Cook the rigatoni following package instructions. I boiled about 4 quarts of water in a pot, added salt and added the rigatoni pasta (while the water was boiling). And reduced the heat to medium and cooked for about 10 minutes (or until its completely cooked but not too soft in texture). Then drain the hot water carefully (leave a little water at the bottom of the pot) to retain the perfectly cooked rigatoni pasta.
- Add butter, heavy cream and shredded cheese, mix in gently to fold with the pasta and let it sit for a few minutes.
- After the above step, gently stir the pasta again so the melted cheese and butter would fold in perfectly with the cooked rigatoni pasta to give you the most creamy and delicious rigatoni mac and cheese!
- Wait a few minutes so the cheese will completely melt and give the mac and cheese the perfect silky and smooth texture, serve the rigatoni mac and cheese hot or warm for best results!
Nutrition
frequently asked questions
Yes, you can use rigatoni for making mac and cheese! The tubular shape of rigatoni is perfect for mac and cheese recipes and rigatoni makes one of the best substitutes for elbow pasta in mac and cheese.
Yes, absolutely! Whether it's for making creamy stove top mac and cheese or for making baked mac and cheese or instant pot mac and cheese, rigatoni pasta is perfect for mac and cheese recipes! In this recipe, we make rigatoni mac and cheese on stove top and it's creamy and delicious!
Yes! Rotini pasta is another great pasta to be used for making mac and cheese instead of elbow pasta.
Obviously, elbow pasta is most commonly used to make mac and cheese! However, other pasta shapes like rigatoni, rotini, shells, cellentani etc can be used to make great mac and cheese as well!
more mac and cheese recipes:
one pot mac and cheese stove top
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