How Long to Cook Elbow Macaroni
Once you've brought a pot of water to boil and added in the elbow macaroni, it will generally take between 9 and 12 minutes to fully cook. However, if you're going to be cooking the pasta more as part of another dish, it's a good idea to stop boiling it after 7 to 8 minutes, so it doesn't end up overcooked. Elbow macaroni can be served simply with any pasta sauce, but it's also commonly used as part of a goulash or mac and cheese recipe.