1 Cup Dry Elbow Macaroni (125g) = 2 ¼ cups Cooked
1 US cup (125 grams) of uncooked elbow macaroni yields 2 ¼ cups (287.5 grams) cooked after standard stove-top preparation in water or broth—a verified 2.25× volume expansion and 2.3× weight multiplier providing roughly 2.2 standard cooked servings.
Boil in salted water for 7–8 minutes for firm macaroni salad texture, or 9 minutes for creamy homemade baked macaroni and cheese.
Method note: Boil in salted water for 7–8 minutes for firm macaroni salad texture, or 9 minutes for creamy homemade baked macaroni and cheese.
Elbow Macaroni Batch Yield Reference Chart
| Uncooked (dry) | Uncooked Grams | Cooked Volume | Cooked Weight | Est. Servings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ½ cup | 62.5 g | 1 ⅛ cups | 143.8 g (5.07 oz) | ~1.1 |
| 1 cup | 125 g | 2 ¼ cups | 287.5 g (10.14 oz) | ~2.2 |
| 1 ½ cups | 187.5 g | 3 ⅓ cups + 1 ¾ tsp | 431.2 g (15.21 oz) | ~3.4 |
| 2 cups | 250 g | 4 ½ cups | 575 g (20.28 oz) | ~4.5 |
| 3 cups | 375 g | 6 ¾ cups | 862.5 g (30.42 oz) | ~6.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much cooked macaroni does 1 cup dry make? ▾
1 cup (125g) of dry elbow macaroni yields roughly 2.25 cups (~285g) of cooked pasta, absorbing water into its hollow curved shape.
How much dry macaroni do I need for 4 cups cooked mac and cheese? ▾
You will need approximately 1.75 to 2 cups (220g) of dry elbow macaroni to produce 4 cups of cooked pasta for cheese sauce.