Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this mind-blowing Southern baked macaroni and cheese recipe. Creamy, cheesy, and perfectly seasoned, this dish is sure to become a family favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
Macaroni:
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 1 tablespoon salt for boiling pasta
Cheese Sauce:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
Cheese:
- 4 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Colby Jack cheese, shredded
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Topping:
- Paprika for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook macaroni: Boil elbow macaroni until just al dente, about 6 to 7 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare cheese sauce: Whisk together milk, heavy cream, eggs, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper.
- Combine ingredients: Mix cooked pasta with butter, then add milk mixture and half of each cheese. Pour into baking dish.
- Top and bake: Add remaining cheeses and Parmesan on top. Sprinkle with paprika. Bake for 35-40 minutes until golden and bubbling. Rest before serving.
Notes
- For extra richness, use smoked gouda in place of half the cheddar.
- Enhance with bacon or jalapeños for added flavor.
- Avoid overcooking pasta to prevent mushiness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 460mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 21g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
