Description
This soul food Southern baked mac and cheese is creamy, cheesy, and never dry. Made with five kinds of cheese, heavy cream, and a custard-base, it bakes into that ooey-gooey texture readers love.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tbsp butter (for buttering the pan)
- 16 oz elbow macaroni (uncooked)
- 10 cups water mixed with chicken broth
- 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese (shredded, save half for topping)
- 8 oz colby jack cheese (shredded, save half for topping)
- 8 oz part-skim mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- 8 oz American cheese (cubed)
- 4 oz softened cream cheese (warmed in the microwave for 30 seconds)
- 1 cup half and half
- 1 cup heavy cream
- kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper (to taste)
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1–2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp mustard powder
- 2 large eggs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Butter an 8-by-11 or 9-by-13-inch baking dish and set aside.
- Fill a large stockpot or dutch oven halfway with chicken broth (or water and 1 tbsp salt if you don’t have broth), and bring to a boil. Add in elbow macaroni and cook until just under al dente. Drain the pasta.
- While the pasta boils, mix the half and half, heavy cream, half of the cheddar cheese, half of the colby jack cheese, mozzarella cheese, American cheese, and cream cheese in a large mixing bowl.
- Add smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder, and some salt and pepper, stirring well. Stir in the cooked macaroni and eggs until well incorporated with the cheese.
- Pour the macaroni mixture into the baking dish and spread evenly.
- Top the macaroni and cheese with the rest of the cheddar cheese and colby jack cheese. Sprinkle the top with more smoked paprika, if desired.
- Bake for 35 minutes or until the cheese crust is bubbly and browned. Do not over-bake.
- Let cool for about 5 minutes before serving hot.
- Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Notes
- This dish is perfect for Sunday dinners and holidays.
- Adjust seasoning according to your taste.
- Store leftovers properly to maintain freshness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 424
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 19 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
Keywords: Southern Baked Mac and Cheese, Macaroni and Cheese, Comfort Food