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Southern Baked Mac and Cheese

Southern baked mac and cheese is a dish that’s always expected at family gatherings or Sunday dinners. Baked with 3 different kinds of cheese, this mac ‘ n cheese creamy, smooth, and delicious.

Mac and cheese is a staple at family gatherings, Thanksgiving, and Christmas dinners. It’s a dish that is expected to be seen and served so why not make it a great one?

Southern baked mac and cheese in oval baking dish.

Southern Style Mac ‘N Cheese

Southern baked mac and cheese is baked in the oven until the cheese is bubbly on top. It’s made with real cheeses and ingredients. This mac and cheese recipe is made with sharp cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, and Colby Jack cheese.

White pepper, paprika, and dry mustard brings out the cheesy flavor in this dish and adds a pleasant overall flavor.

Elbow noodles are used for this recipe and they’re cooked al dente before adding them to a buttered dish and set aside.

Southern baked mac and cheese baked in white oval casserole dish sitting on woven placemat.

INGREDIENTS IN SOUTHERN BAKED MAC AND CHEESE

  • macaroni
  • unsalted butter
  • eggs
  • heavy cream
  • milk
  • mozzarella cheese
  • sharp cheddar cheese
  • Colby Jack cheese
  • white pepper
  • paprika
  • dry mustard
  • shredded cheese
southern baked mac and cheese in a ceramic dish.

Tips for Making Baked Mac and Cheese

To make this mac and cheese, it’s best to use blocks of cheese and cube it. Shredded cheese has an additive that makes cheese dishes stringy when using it.

Cutting the cheese into cubes helps melt the cheese faster in the butter and heavy cream mixture. Start by adding just a few cubes at a time and stirring them until they are melted a bit and then continue the process with the remaining cheese cubes.

Once the ingredients are melted together and the seasonings are added, it’s best to taste the mixture and adjust any seasonings as necessary.

Baked mac and cheese in a red and white baking dish.

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Baking the Southern Baked Mac and Cheese

Boil the pasta – Cook the macaroni according to package directions. Cook to al dente.

Grease the dish – Butter a 13×9 baking dish and add the macaroni.

Preheat the oven – Preheat the oven to 350°F

Make the cheese sauce – In a large saucepan on medium heat, melt the butter and heavy cream together. Add in the milk. Slowly add in the cheeses and allow them to melt.

Add the white pepper, paprika, and dry mustard.

Beat the eggs in a separate bowl before adding them to the mixture.

Mix the cheese sauce and pasta – Once the eggs are added to the cheese mixture, pour the cheese sauce over the macaroni.

Add extra cheese and bake – Sprinkle with shredded cheese and bake in the oven for 35-45 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly.

Yield: 10 servings

Southern Baked Mac and Cheese

southern baked mac and cheese in a ceramic dish.

Southern baked mac and cheese is a dish that's always expected at family gatherings or Sunday dinners. Baked with 3 different kinds of cheese, this mac ' n cheese creamy, smooth, and delicious.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

  • 16 oz macaroni, cooked al dente
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1 ½ cup milk
  • 8 oz mozzarella cheese, cut into cubes
  • 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese, cut into cubes
  • 8 oz Colby Jack cheese, cut into cubes
  • 1 tsp white pepper
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp dry mustard
  • shredded cheese, topping

Instructions

  1. Cook the macaroni according to package directions. Cook to al dente.
  2. Butter a 13x9 baking dish and add the macaroni.
  3. Preheat the oven to 350°
  4. In a large saucepan on medium heat, melt the butter and heavy cream together.
  5. Add in the milk.
  6. Slowly add in the cheeses allow them to melt.
  7. Add the white pepper, paprika, and dry mustard.
  8. Beat the eggs in a separate bowl before adding it to the mixture.
  9. Once the eggs are added to the cheese mixture, pour the cheese sauce over the macaroni.
  10. Sprinkle with shredded cheese and bake in the oven for 35-45 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

10

Serving Size:

1 serving

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 506Total Fat: 27.9gSaturated Fat: 17.1gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 112mgSodium: 489mgCarbohydrates: 38.1gFiber: 1.6gSugar: 3.1gProtein: 25.3g

Did you make this recipe?

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Justin

Tuesday 1st of December 2020

Thank you for the recipe, I used Parmesan instead of Mozzarella and it came so good for thanksgiving it was the best dish, I broiled the top for some burn on the top.

Dana

Tuesday 1st of December 2020

I am so happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe! :)

Tanya

Sunday 30th of August 2020

Does the milk go in when the heavy cream goes in also?

Dana

Monday 31st of August 2020

Hi Tanya,

Yes, the milk is added in after the heavy cream. I changed the recipe to reflect that missed step.

Olivia

Sunday 12th of April 2020

It doesnt say what temperature to bake them on?

Dana

Sunday 12th of April 2020

Hi Olivia! It is 350° - I have updated the post!

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