Southern Baked Mac and Cheese is super creamy, cheesy, soulful baked mac and cheese filled with great Southern flavors topped with crispy bread crumb. You will never break open a box again!
Prep time: PT15M
Cook time: PT20M
Total time: PT35M
Rating
4.97 stars (752 reviews)
Keywords
mac and cheese
Ingredients
8 ounce uncooked macaroni
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 12-ounce can evaporated milk
1 cup half and half ((or ½ cup cream and ½ cup milk))
½ -1 tablespoon onion powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
½ -1 teaspoon Creole seasoning
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ cup mozzarella cheese, (grated )
½ cup sharp cheddar cheese , (grated )
½ cup jack cheese ((any jack cheese you prefer))
Salt and pepper, (to taste)
Categories
Side
Cuisine
Southern
Steps
Cook macaroni according to the package directions. Drain.
Add butter to skillet, as soon as butter melts whisk in flour. Continue whisking until flour is fully mixed with butter. Then cook for about a minute to get rid of the flour taste.
Slowly add the evaporated milk a little at a time, followed by the half and half; you do not want the mixture to form any lumps. Simmer for about 3-5 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly.
Add seasonings, 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 cheeses (reserve some as toppings later), and continue stirring until everything’s melted, evenly combined, and smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Then add the cooked pasta to the pot, and stir to incorporate evenly.
Transfer the pasta mixture to a pan or a lightly greased 2-quart baking dish; top with the remaining cheese.
Bake at 375F°/190℃ for 20 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
Nutitrion
Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 492 kcal
Carbohydrates: 47 g
Protein: 19 g
Fat: 24 g
Saturated Fat: 15 g
Cholesterol: 72 mg
Sodium: 268 mg
Sugar: 1 g
Reviews
Chrissy on 2025-08-27 (5 stars): This was yummy! Doubled the recipe and finished it 3 different ways...as stated in the recipe, not baked & with ground beef in it! They loved all three!
Karen Skillman on 2025-07-07 (5 stars): Best ever. Finally found a Mac & cheese my husband loves
Aysha on 2025-04-30 (5 stars): I have been using this recipe for years, it’s great. I think there was a metric conversion for the recipe once (I’m from the UK) and whilst I can work out most stuff, would it be possible to have it again? Thank you.
LB on 2024-12-25 (5 stars): Made this for Christmas this year. No leftovers, unless you count the 2 bites that were stuck to the spoon. RECOMMEND!! :)
Penny on 2024-12-01 (5 stars): I read aplenty about mac & cheese but never actually made it.
Out of three different recipes on three websites, this is the best & most reliable recipe hands down because it cooks the fastest & is a proper firm-ish baked mac & cheese (unlike those baked mac & cheese with soupy interiors).
It's very customisable & I've made it with & without the egg. I have also tried seasonings like ajinomoto & ginger powder. As a student who lives in a house with a combi oven, I quartered the recipe quantities (for 2 servings) & it always came out edible, filling, well-cooked & flavoursome each time. A keeper!
Naureen on 2024-11-29 (5 stars): I have this recipe twice now and it is a huge hit for my family! Thank you so much, we love the creaminess and the flavors. I substituted Cajun seasoning for the creole seasoning and it was amazing. I doubled the recipe and it was the only Thanksgiving dish that had zero leftovers!
