I was not a fan of mac and cheese back in the day. But I’ve come to love that cheesy, creamy American comfort food, thanks to my son, who seriously would live on mac and cheese every single day of his life. But of course, I’ve got to say no to breaking open that box from time to time. “Wait, what? You said a box?” Yes, he is a huge fan of boxed mac and cheese! He’d gladly turn down good homemade food for a plateful of his all-time fave boxed mac and cheese. You can imagine my delight when I tricked him into eating REAL HOMEMADE mac and cheese. Ahhh, it was a sweet victory! And another secret ingredient? My fave Creole seasoning kicks the flavor up and off the chart! Nothing compares to this recipe, with a smooth, silky sauce permeating every inch of macaroni. You’ll fall head over heels for the brimming Southern flavors this baked mac and cheese offers. You’ll need a bigger spoon, for sure!
Recipe Ingredients
How to Make Southern Baked Mac and Cheese
Macaroni – Cook the macaroni according to the package instructions. The Roux – Add butter to the skillet. As soon as the butter melts, whisk in flour. Continue whisking until flour is thoroughly mixed with butter. Then cook for about a minute to get rid of the flour taste. (Photo 1) The Sauce – While stirring, slowly add evaporated milk, a little at a time, followed by the half-and-half. You don’t want the mixture forming lumps. Simmer for 3-5 minutes until it thickens slightly. (Photos 2-4) Season – Add onion and garlic powder, Creole seasoning, and cayenne pepper. Bring to a simmer and let it simmer gently for about 2 minutes. Stir in the grated cheeses (reserving some as a topping later), and continue stirring until everything melts into creamy goodness—season with salt and pepper to taste. (Photos 5-6) Assemble – Add the pasta to the pot of cheese sauce, and stir to incorporate evenly. Then transfer the pasta mixture into a cast-iron skillet or a lightly greased 2-quart baking dish. Then top with remaining cheese. Bake it for 20 minutes in a preheated 375F°/190℃ oven. (Photos 7-8)
Recipe Variations
Tips and Tricks
Make-Ahead Instructions
This is a great make-ahead dish if you do it right. Pasta tends to absorb moisture, so add an extra splash of milk to the sauce when you assemble the ingredients. Refrigerate and bake it the next day, or freeze it for up to four months. Thaw frozen mac and cheese overnight and bake it for about 30 minutes.
Serving and Storage Instructions
Hot out of the oven (wait long enough not to burn your tongue😉) is the best way to enjoy Southern mac and cheese. You can store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for two or three days. Add a dash of milk when you’re ready to reheat.
What to Serve With Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Mac and cheese is a classic usually served with Southern fried chicken, easy coleslaw, and cornbread. Of course, a 7-UP pound cake is always a welcomed finishing touch.
More Incredible Southern Recipes to Try
Conclusion
Amazing Southern mac and cheese with creamy, cheesy goodness is the ideal comfort food. Would you like more soul food recipes? Follow me on Facebook to stay up to date.❤️
Watch How to Make It
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”8Qccmiee” upload-date=”2020-11-18T05:15:01.000Z” name=”Southern Baked Mac and Cheese” description=”Southern Baked Mac and Cheese – super creamy, cheesy, soulful baked mac and cheese filled with great Southern flavors. You will never break open a box again!” player-type=”collapse” override-embed=”false”] Thank you!😍 This blog post was originally published in September 2018 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.
