Southern Baked Mac and Cheese

This Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese are cheesy, buttery, and seasoned to perfection, which are just a few reasons this soul food dish makes your taste buds dance. The cheese pull from this recipe is insane!

Here are some divine dishes to serve with your macaroni: Smothered Turkey Wings, Crispy Southern Fried Chicken, Root Beer Braised Short Ribs, Southern Fried Fish, and Jamaican Oxtails.

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• Latest Recipe Video:
• Key Ingredients
• How To Make The Best Southern Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe
• How To Store Baked Macaroni
• Toppings for Baked Mac:
• Pro Recipe Substitutions, Tips & Tricks
• FAQs
• More Sides Recipes
• Before You Begin
• 📖 Recipe

Growing up in New Orleans, Louisiana, we eat our baked macaroni (baked spaghetti) differently from other Southern baked mac and cheese recipes because we use spaghetti noodles instead of the traditional macaroni. It's also creamier than cheesy but still packs a punch.

With that being said, I still learned how to make this recipe like most, with eggs, evaporated milk, and lots of cheddar cheese and whatever other cheeses my heart desired.

I remember selling dinner plates in college, and the one reason I stopped making my baked mac and cheese the traditional soul food baked mac way was that one friend of mine told me that she was allergic to eggs and asked if I had another way of making the macaroni and cheese.

Lucky for her, she was talking to a chef in training, so from that moment on, I clung to my roots and made a cheese sauce instead of using eggs and evaporated milk to create a velvety texture. Here's my New Orleans baked mac and cheese recipe.

This southern baked mac and cheese recipe uses four different kinds of cheese, pepper jack being one of them, for an extra level of flavor. I also added a bit of cayenne pepper to give it some pop!

This dish is perfect for holidays, potlucks, game-day gatherings, or dinner any day of the week. Also, for the holidays, we know the best cook in the family gets to bring the mac and cheese to dinner because baked mac and cheese is king in the South!

Key Ingredients

Here are the key ingredients you'll need to make an incredible southern baked mac and cheese that'll make you a soul food legend.

Macaroni

I’m from New Orleans, and we make ours with spaghetti noodles. Traditional baked mac and cheese is made with elbow macaroni, but it's a better bite of cheesy goodness if you can get the big elbow macaroni.

Butter

We need butter in two forms: melted to coat the noodles and at room temperature to grease our pans to avoid sticking.

Eggs

Eggs give Southern baked macaroni its creamy custard texture.

Seasoning Mix

I love to have tons of flavor in my food, but I like to keep it simple with mac and cheese: kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper.

Evaporated Milk

Canned evaporated milk is classic. Using evaporated milk adds more depth of flavor since the milk is cooked.

Heavy Cream

I love using heavy whipping cream to make creamy baked mac and cheese. You can use sour cream in its place, but a little cream goes a long way.

Sharp Cheddar

In this recipe, we’ll use four kinds of cheese (pepper jack, mozzarella, and Colby jack cheese), but the one required is sharp cheddar. Sharp cheddar has a better, deeper cheddar flavor than mild cheddar.

How To Make The Best Southern Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe

To become a legend in your family, you have to cook the best-baked mac and cheese recipe. I'm going to show you the easiest way to make a show-stopping dish.

Step 1: The first thing you want to do is preheat your oven. There is nothing worse than having a baking dish full of cheesy macaroni and the oven not hot and ready. Boil your macaroni for only 6 minutes in a large pot. This ensures your cooked macaroni doesn't turn into mush after you bake it.

Step 2: Next, to be efficient, I like to season my eggs with evaporated milk, heavy cream, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne. This ensures that where the eggs go, the seasoning goes. Also, combine your cheeses, so there's a little bit of sharp cheddar, pepper jack, Colby jack, and mozzarella cheese in every bite.

Step 3: Combine your noodles, egg mixture, and half of the cheese mixture in a large bowl. Make sure that your macaroni is completely coated. Then transfer to a buttered baking dish. Pour the rest of the cheese over the top and bake until your macaroni and cheese are bubbling and golden brown. Give it a few minutes to cool off and serve it hot at the table so everyone can see that amazing cheese pull.

How To Store Baked Macaroni

Southern baked mac and cheese are best when served hot out of the oven and will remain fresh in the fridge for seven days. 

To freeze, place in a freezer storage bag for three months—Thaw for 24 hours before reheating. 

Reheat in a 350°F oven for 12-15 minutes until hot.

Toppings for Baked Mac:

Here are some toppings you can add to make your Southern-baked mac and cheese unique.

• Bacon
• Fried chicken
• Bread Crumbs
• Green Onions
• Jalapeno Peppers

The option is yours to either add it on top or mix it into your mac and cheese recipe.

Pro Recipe Substitutions, Tips & Tricks

Here are some of my top tips and tricks to help you make this delicious Southern classic:

• Be sure to cook your macaroni for only 6 minutes; it should still have a bite, known as al dente. This is important because they'll continue cooking in the oven and can turn the noodles into mush.
• Pick a deep 9 x 13 casserole dish. This will ensure that as the mac and cheese cooks, it doesn’t overflow as it bakes.
• Do not overbake your mac and cheese. For one important reason, when you overcook eggs, they curled, and the eggs become scrambled, the cheese sauce loses its creamy texture, and worse of all, no one will enjoy your effort.
• If cayenne pepper is too hot for you, omit it altogether.
• Feel free to use whole milk, half and half, or heavy cream instead of evaporated milk.
• Your eggs should have bubbles to ensure they’re fully combined. You don’t want small scrambled egg pieces.
• For garlic and onion powder, I recommend only using granulated because it has more flavor. Powders leave a pasty/cakey aftertaste.
• Adding the pasta and cheese in layers creates social media-worthy cheese pulls.
• 2 oz. of sour cream, Velveeta cheese, or cream cheese adds to the creaminess of your mac and cheese.
• Pepper jack cheese adds some spice to the recipe, but you can use Monterey jack to achieve similar flavors.
• Mozzarella cheese gives this baked mac and cheese the social media cheese pulls.
• Sharp cheddar cheese adds depth of flavor, but you can also use white cheddar, cheddar cheese, or extra-sharp cheddar cheese as a swap. Smoked Gouda would be a great addition!
• For superior deliciousness, don't buy pre-shredded cheese; shred your cheese. Although pre-shredded cheese is convenient, and the cornstarch coating it helps it melt more easily, there's something different in the flavors when you shred your own cheese.
• This recipe is great with my Salisbury steak, smothered turkey necks, Cajun turkey, or smoked chicken wings.

FAQs

Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Southern baked mac and cheese with evaporated milk.

Who invented mac and cheese?

Although it is unclear who created macaroni and cheese, many historians think that Chef Hemings, Thomas Jefferson's enslaved chef, may have been the first to do so. He was inspired by his formal French culinary education when he initially developed the dish.

What is southern-style mac and cheese?

Southern-style mac and cheese is a dish passed down by black folks for generations in the southern United States. It is typically made with evaporated milk, sharp cheddar cheese, elbow macaroni noodles, and a few other key ingredients. The dish is then baked to perfection, resulting in a creamy and delicious meal.

Most other cultures only cook their mac n cheese on the stovetop, but baking the mac and cheese is probably the most significant key difference.

What is the best cheese for macaroni and cheese?

There are a variety of different types of cheese that can be used for mac n cheese, but the best type of cheese for this dish is usually sharp cheddar cheese. This type of cheese has a strong flavor that stands out in the dish and melts well when baked. Other good options include mozzarella, gouda cheese, smoked cheese, pepper jack cheese, velvetta cheese, and cream cheese.

What does evaporated milk do in mac and cheese?

Evaporated milk is used in mac and cheese because it thickens the cheese sauce and makes it creamier. Since the milk is cooked, it also helps to add a bit of flavor to the dish, bringing out a subtle sweetness in the milk.

How do you make baked mac and cheese creamy?

To make the best Southern baked mac and cheese, follow a few key tips. First, be sure to use sharp cheddar cheese in the sauce—this will add a lot of flavor. Second, evaporated milk and eggs are essential to make the sauce thick and creamy. Lastly, be sure to bake the mac and cheese until it's golden brown on top for the perfect finish.

More Sides Recipes

Here are a few twists on macaroni and cheese with some other side dishes.

• Fried Chicken Mac and Cheese
• Spanish Mac and Cheese
• Southern Black-Eyed Peas
• Southern Collard Greens
• Southern Candied Yams
• Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows

Before You Begin

Before getting started, here are the steps I use to get organized. 

Step 1: Get all the mac and cheese ingredients on the counter.

Step 2: Measure everything out into individual bowls to move faster.

Step 3: We don’t want any surprises, so use an oven thermometer to make sure your oven is calibrated. Any temperature difference can dramatically affect the results of your final recipe.

Step 4: Follow the recipe and get ready for the best southern baked mac and cheese you’ve ever enjoyed.

If you’re in the mood for some Southern comfort food, this baked mac and cheese is the perfect recipe to try. The flavors are out-of-this-world delicious, and they will satisfy your cravings. So go ahead and give it a try – you won’t regret it!

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