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Southern-style baked macaroni and cheese is probably my favorite side dish. I have always loved it. I also love the various mac and cheese preparations with lobster, breadcrumbs, and more. I have been to several catered events with a mac and cheese bar and I absolutely love this idea. This is a holiday recipe favorite, so it is loaded with tons of cheese and other goodness. Thus, this dish deviates from the typical guilt-free Stay Snatched recipes. Be sure to check out my Mac and Cheese Bites recipe for a lightened-up, guilt-free version of this dish.
If you are a fan of mac and cheese, you will probably love my Bacon Gouda Mac and Cheese recipe as well.
What Cheese Makes the Best Mac and Cheese?
This recipe was prepared for Christmas dinner with my family. I typically use 4-5 different types of cheese. I often use gouda and go back and forth between using gouda and pecorino romano, for no particular reason. I love gouda. I love pretty much any cheese. Feel free to use your favorite types of cheese.
Parmigiano Reggiano is my favorite cheese to use while cooking. I have used it often in other recipes such Shrimp Scampi Dip, Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles, and Warm Spinach Dip with Parmesan. It adds an amazing bold flavor to the dish.
How Do You Make Southern Mac and Cheese?
There are so many ways to prepare traditional, homestyle, baked, soul food mac and cheese (however you want to describe baked mac and cheese). I am not a fan of mac and cheese that is watery and has too much liquid. I do not like mac and cheese that is dry and does not have a cheesy texture. My preferred dish has a crunchy crust on top, with cheesy goodness within.
Grate all of the cheese. This is actually my favorite step! Cut the muenster into small chunks. I do this because it does not grate as easy.
If you need tips on How to Cook Pasta for Macaroni and Cheese, check out this post.
How Do You Make Baked Mac and Cheese Creamy?
First, melt the butter in the saucepan. Add the flour and whisk to create a slurry. After the flour has been fully mixed, add the milk and half of all of the cheeses. Stir until the cheese has melted.
Layer, layer, layer! Layers are the key here. In order to get a great burst of cheese in every bite, you will add the macaroni, and then shredded cheese. This is similar to preparing a lasagna.
I usually prepare this dish for very large groups of family and around the holidays. I decided to test if my recipe could be divided in half to serve a smaller group and still hold up. It does! The photos below show the results of using 1/2 of the ingredients noted below. I still followed the exact same steps.
Do You Put Eggs in Macaroni and Cheese?
I don’t. An egg will make the mac and cheese less creamy on the inside. Eggs are used to bind. If you want mac and cheese that is more like a casserole, and less creamy, then use eggs.
You can check out John Legend’s Macaroni and Cheese recipe here.
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More Southern Style Recipes:
Southern Style Homemade Cornbread
Smoked Mac and Cheese
Southern Cornbread Dressing
Southern Mustard Greens
Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes
Instant Pot Collard Greens
Instant Pot Southern Green Beans
Instant Pot Louisiana Gumbo
Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice
Lobster Mac and Cheese
Southern-Style Soul Food Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow macaroni or cellentani pasta
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 2-3 cups milk I often use 2 cups. Use your judgement. Start with 2 and add more if needed.
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- salt and pepper to taste
- onion powder to taste Start with 1/2 teaspoon. Taste and adjust.
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded parmigiano reggiano
- 1 cup shredded fontina cheese
- 1 cup shredded pecorino romano cheese
- 1/2 cup muenster cheese cut into small chunks
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Cook the pasta in accordance with the instructions on the package.
- Drain the macaroni and rinse with cold water. This is important. You want the pasta to cool so that it does not continue to cook. The pasta will cook again while baking in the oven. Over-cooked pasta results in a terrible texture.
- Heat a sauce pan on medium heat. Add the butter and allow it to melt.
- Once melted, add the flour and whisk.
- This will create a roux. Continue to whisk until the four is fully combined.
- Add the milk and heavy whipping cream and stir.
- Add half of the shredded cheese and stir until the cheese is melted.
- Add the seasonings and taste repeatedly. This step is important because you don’t want bland mac and cheese.
- Return the pasta to the large pot. Drizzle the liquid mixture over the pasta and stir until fully combined.
- Spray a 9 x 13 inch baking pan with cooking spray.
- Begin to layer in the pasta. Start with the pasta, then add a layer of all of the shredded cheese and muenster chunks.
- Add another layer of pasta, and then another layer of cheese.
- Ensure there is adequate liquid throughout these steps (additional milk works well). This can be tricky. You do not want the dish to appear like soup, but you do not want it to be dry.
- This step is important because without adequate liquid the dish will dry out while baking.
- Bake for 25-45 minutes until the cheese has melted and is bubbly. I like for the crust on top to turn a deep golden brown, which takes more time. Use your judgment based on what works for you.
- Cool before serving.
Meghann
Monday 30th of May 2022
Continue to make this recipe with different cheeses and it can’t be topped. Every group I make it for loves it!
staysnatched
Tuesday 31st of May 2022
Wonderful! So glad to hear that.
Tori
Monday 23rd of May 2022
This macaroni and cheese is THE BEST!!! Even my boyfriend, who doesn't like mac and cheese, went back for seconds with this one!! Don't let all of the different cheeses, turn you off, it's worth it!!!
staysnatched
Tuesday 24th of May 2022
Wonderful! I'm so glad you think so!
Lynda
Sunday 27th of March 2022
Omg this Mac and cheese was so good! I made it today for my family and they loved it.The instructions were easy to follow. I used all the cheeses pictured on the recipe and it didn’t disappoint! ( I love cheese) My daughter said this is the one she wants me to make all the time now!
staysnatched
Thursday 31st of March 2022
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Kim
Saturday 12th of February 2022
I just made this today. I used 3 cups of milk. It looked soupy when I transferred it to the baking dish but with all the additional cheese in the layers, it worked perfectly. I cooked the macaroni Al dente and covered the baking dish with aluminum foil so it wouldn’t dry out. Baked for 45 minutes and it turned out creamy.
staysnatched
Monday 14th of February 2022
I'm glad it turned out.
Shaday
Sunday 23rd of January 2022
Made this tonight for Sunday dinner, absolutely amazing! My kids (5 y.o boy and 11 y.o girl) are in love I’ll be adding this to the rotation.
staysnatched
Monday 24th of January 2022
I'm glad to hear it will be in the rotation!