This southern baked macaronis and cheese is full of soul and flavor. Smoked cheddar is the secret to this truly addictive, baked macaroni and cheese recipe.
Course macaroni and cheese, Main, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine American, southern
Keyword baked, cheese, elbow pasta, soul food
Prep Time 10 minutesminutes
Cook Time 35 minutesminutes
Total Time 45 minutesminutes
Servings 6
Calories
Author Divas Can Cook
Ingredients
3cupselbow macaroniuncooked
1 ½cupsmilk
1/2cupheavy whipping cream
1cupColby & Monterey Jackshredded (cheese blend)
6-8ozVelveeta cheeseshredded (feel free to cut back on the Velveeta if you don't want it to be super creamy)
1cupsharp cheddarshredded (can use less if you don't like a sharp taste in your mac n cheese)
salt & pepperto taste
2eggs
1cupsmoked cheddar cheeseshredded (a must)
paprikaoptional
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Cook macaroni until just al dente or a little under al dente. (Look on the back of the box to see how long you need to cook your pasta for it to reach al dente.) Be careful not to overcook.
Drain pasta and set aside.
In a large bowl, add milk, heavy cream & cheeses (except for the smoked cheddar).
Stir to combine.
Taste the milk mixture and add salt & pepper until it has a good taste. (You can also add in other seasonings like onion powder, paprika, etc. Tasting will help avoid having a plain, bland baked macaroni & cheese.)
When you are content with the taste, add the eggs.
Stir well until combined.
Butter a 9 x 9-inch baking dish.
Add macaroni to the baking dish.
Pour cheese mixture over macaroni.
Make sure the cheese is distributed well.
Top with the smoked cheddar cheese. (I add a little more Colby jack as well.) Sprinkle with paprika and/or black pepper, if desired.
Bake for 35-45 minutes. Do not overbake. It may be a bit jiggly when you take it out of the oven. It will firm up as it cool.
Let cool for about 10-15 minutes or until fully set.
Enjoy!
Video
Notes
~Tips~ Smoked cheddar cheese can be found in grocery stores in the specialty cheese section, not with the shredded, common cheeses. I get mine from Walmart. Do not over bake! Mac and cheese may be a tad jiggly when removed from oven but it will firm up as it cools. Feel free to use other cheeses, but that smoked cheddar is a MUST!