Cheesy Stovetop Rotini

Comfort Food

The one comfort food that we all remember from childhood has to be mac and cheese! This Cheesy Stovetop Rotini Recipe is my twist on the classic. With just a few simple swaps, this recipe will become one of your favorite dishes.

I’ve always loved rotini, shells and penne pasta. I think it’s a much more interesting choice than the usual macaroni. A great way to step up your mac and cheese game. There is something about comfort food like this that always pleases a crowd. Like a warm hug when you need it the most.

Sure, you can make mac and cheese from the box…but I really think the BEST way to make it is to ditch the powdered cheese packet that’s full of unknown ingredients and go for more real ingredients. Real cheese is so much more flavorful!

More Cheese Please!

I love using a few different types of cheese in this Cheesy Stovetop Rotini Recipe. My favorite is a mix of sharp cheddar and a creamy pepper jack cheese.

You could also use a white cheddar or gouda cheese in place of one of these. It just needs to be a creamy cheese to make a creamy sauce. I love how the pepper jack adds some spice.

You can experiment with different flavors and find what you like best. This pasta recipe is a classic favorite but should be custom to your family. Everyone has their own variation of mac and cheese. Keep experimenting until you find the perfect combination.

Dairy Free Options

I do try to pick some “healthier” ingredients to balance out the use of real butter and cheese. For me, there is no replacing those. I use almond milk all of the time anyways and find that using it in this recipe keeps the sauce from getting too rich.

I don’t always use dairy free ingredients because I have to, more because I like it better. Unsweetened almond milk doesn’t have any sugar, while real whole or nonfat milk can. So for that reason, I choose to use an unsweetened almond or coconut milk. I make the exception to use real cheese and butter because I don’t have them all the time.

You should do you. The great thing about this basic Cheesy Stovetop Rotini Recipe is that you can customize it how you need to. You could do dairy free butter, cheese and milk if needed.

Let’s Talk Pasta

I have also been experimenting with more gluten-free pastas. I try to follow a mostly anti-inflammatory diet and for that reason I use a lot of gluten free options when they’re available.

There are a lot of good pasta options out there. My two favorites are the gluten-free pastas by Barilla and the gluten-free pastas from Trader Joe’s (my favorite is the Brown Rice and Quinoa).

The Perfect Cheese Sauce

Every good cheese sauce starts with the perfect white roux. Also known as béchamel, it has equal parts of butter and flour in addition to salt and pepper. This is an important part of making a good sauce.

A lot of people may not know that also adding a dash of nutmeg makes your roux even better. It’s a little bit of a secret ingredient but, in my opinion, is definitely needed to make a really good cheese sauce.

I also love to add garlic and onion powder to my sauce because it blends well and adds so much flavor. It’s all of these layers of flavor that takes this dish to another level. Once you make a really good “mac and cheese” recipe, you won’t ever go back to the box.

The convenience of this Cheesy Stovetop Rotini makes it just as fast to make homemade as the recipe you may be used to. With just a little extra effort you can have an elevated recipe that everyone will love.

The cheese sauce alone would also be perfect as a fondue dip or the perfect side for any party or get together. It would be good served with chips, veggies, or a crispy baguette bread. Yes please!

Make It Fun

A few ways to dress up mac and cheese is to add some fun ingredients. You can always add onion or veggies like peas or carrots to this dish. If you like spicy, add some hot sauce.

For the kids you could add some diced up ham or chicken. It’s also fun to top it with green onions, bacon, or some toasted bread crumbs. The possibilities are endless.

I’d love to see what you come up with and hope you enjoy this recipe! Be sure to also follow me on Instagram (@motivate.educate.repeat) or click the direct link HERE.

For another pasta recipe, check out my Easy Taco Pasta HERE.