Description
This Best Southern Baked Mac and Cheese recipe features a creamy, cheesy sauce made with sharp cheddar, Colby Jack, and Parmesan cheeses, baked to golden perfection. Rich and comforting, it’s a classic Southern side dish perfect for family gatherings or soul food menus.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
Cheese Sauce
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (divided)
- 1 cup Colby Jack or Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
- 1 large egg, beaten (optional, for extra structure)
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pasta: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Cook the elbow macaroni in salted boiling water until just shy of al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Make the roux and sauce: In a large saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Whisk in the all-purpose flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes to create a roux. Gradually whisk in the whole milk and heavy cream, stirring constantly until the mixture is smooth. Continue cooking and stirring for 5 to 7 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Flavor and cheese the sauce: Remove the saucepan from heat. Stir in Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and paprika for seasoning. Add 2 cups of sharp cheddar, the Colby Jack, and Parmesan cheeses, stirring until fully melted and smooth. If using, whisk in the beaten egg now to add extra structure to the sauce.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Mix the cooked elbow macaroni into the cheese sauce until all the pasta is well coated. Pour this mixture into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of sharp cheddar evenly on top.
- Bake and rest: Bake the mac and cheese uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes until it’s bubbly and golden brown on top. Once out of the oven, let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving to set.
Notes
- For extra texture, add a buttery breadcrumb topping before baking.
- Incorporate cooked bacon, jalapeños, or hot sauce for a flavorful Southern twist.
- This dish reheats well and can be prepared ahead of time, then baked just before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 470mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
