David Chang's Genius Macaroni And Cheese Uses Only One Pot

Whether you are crunched on minutes or just don't want to spend copious amounts of time in the kitchen cooking, David Chang's one-pot macaroni and cheese is a must-have in your repertoire for quick, easy, and delicious meals. In an Instagram post, the Momofuku founder shared a video of himself making a family meal in under 15 minutes, using just one pot, and whatever ingredients were in the kitchen. 

What might be the most impressive talking point of the process of making this mac and cheese is Chang does so without a colander. That's right, there is no water to drain. But before mac and cheese aficionados turn skeptical, rest assured the chef uses all of the basic, traditional ingredients you would use to make this dish — including milk, flour, butter, and shredded cheese. And because it is so basic, it would be easy to customize and add some of your own secret ingredients to really make the flavor pop. 

Instead of using the classic pasta pot to boil his macaroni, Chang opts for a wok. He notes that this pot, which is designed to create steam, will help the water evaporate so there is little left in the pot, hence the reason you will not need to drain your noodles. Additionally, Chang is very intentional with the water he uses, adding just four or five cups to cover the macaroni. He also offers a word of caution regarding salt and pasta water — don't oversalt the water or your mac and cheese will wind up tasting over-seasoned. When the water is all but gone, leaving perfectly cooked macaroni, Chang adds butter, milk, flour, and cheese straight to the pot and stirs it until the cheese sauce is velvety smooth. 

However, if you're looking to add a little more flavor to your meal, it's easy to customize. Try adding some breadcrumbs to your mac and cheese which will add some nice texture or add some protein like chicken or bacon, which will really take it to the next level. If you're feeling extra fancy, you can even sprinkle some truffles into the mix which will add an earthy and complex taste that will impress even the pickiest eaters.