This Southern mac and cheese is a macaroni dish made with two types of cheese, eggs, milk and seasonings and baked to perfection. It’s super easy to make and can easily be doubled or tripled to feed a larger crowd!
You can never go wrong with a piping hot pan of homemade macaroni and cheese. Some of our favorite recipes include slow cooker mac and cheese, buffalo chicken mac and cheese, and this Southern style version.
There are so many different ways to make mac and cheese, but this Southern mac and cheese is one of my all time favorites. There’s no need to take the extra time to make a cheese sauce. Simply toss everything together, bake it in the oven, then watch the rave reviews pour in!
This is one of my favorite side dish recipes and it goes great with other Southern favorites like fried corn, collard greens, red beans and rice and Coca Cola ham.
Table of Contents
Southern Mac and Cheese Ingredients
To make this Southern mac and cheese you will need cooked macaroni noodles, milk, heavy cream, eggs, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cheddar cheese, American cheese and parsley.
How Do You Make Southern Mac And Cheese?
The key to this Southern mac and cheese is the cheese mixture. Unlike some recipes, there is no need to whisk anything or cook up a sauce on the stove. First, mix together milk, cream, eggs, shredded cheese and seasoning in a large bowl. Combine this cheese mixture with al dente boiled macaroni elbows and put it all in a baking dish. Sprinkle a little cheddar on top as a finishing touch. After a trip through the oven, the cheese and milk turn into a creamy and delicious sauce while the noodles soak up all the flavor. Serve this mac and cheese with a little chopped parsley sprinkled on top.
Tips For The Perfect Mac And Cheese
- For the creamiest mac and cheese, buy a block of American cheese from your deli counter.
- Make sure to let the pasta sit for at least 10 minutes before you serve it. This allows the mac and cheese to reach the perfect consistency and temperature.
- Always use freshly shredded cheese. Avoid bagged pre-shredded cheese which can have anti-caking agents and may not melt as well as freshly shredded cheese.
- You can assemble the mac and cheese up to 4 hours before you plan to bake it. Simply mix together the cheese mixture and the macaroni and refrigerate it until it’s ready to go into the oven.
Quick Tip
Use whole milk for the best flavor and texture.
Recipe FAQs
Mac and cheese must have a good flavor and be creamy. I like cheddar cheese for that classic mac and cheese flavor. I add deli American cheese for that silky creaminess.
Mac and cheese is popular in the United States but it traces back to Virginia as one of Thomas Jefferson’s favorite dishes. It became popular across the South before it spread to the rest of America.
Southern baked mac and cheese lasts up to 3 days in an airtight container in a refrigerator.
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Flavor Variations
While this Southern mac and cheese is delicious as is, you can modify the recipe to suit your taste.
- Pasta: Feel free to use any small pasta shape that you like such as small shells, elbows, rotini or fusilli.
- Cheese: If you want to add other cheeses, you can mix in cheeses that melt well such as smoked cheddar, sharp cheddar, Gouda, Monterey Jack, colby-jack or fontina.
- Bacon: For a rich, smoky flavor add chopped cooked bacon to this dish.
- Meat: Add cooked diced ham, turkey or chicken to this mac and cheese. You could also add some diced cooked sausage.
- Spicy: Turn up the heat with jalapeno slices, cayenne pepper or a little hot sauce mixed into this dish.
- Veggies: This mac and cheese is great with diced tomatoes, spinach or peas mixed in with the noodles.
- Toppings: Try this mac and cheese with a mixture of crushed buttery crackers and melted butter on top or a mixture of breadcrumbs and melted butter.
This Southern mac and cheese bakes up creamy and delicious. It tastes so good, no one will believe how easy it is to make!
Dishes To Serve With Mac And Cheese
Grilled Chicken Thighs with Cilantro and Lime
1 hr 30 mins
Fried Chicken Wings
50 mins
Grilled Pork Chops
1 hr 30 mins
Turkey Meatloaf Recipe
1 hr 30 mins
Grilled Chicken Breast
1 hr 30 mins
Love This Recipe?
Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.
Southern Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 16 ounces macaroni noodles cooked in salted water for 1 minute less than package calls for
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided use
- 8 ounce block American cheese shredded
- cooking spray
- 1 tablespoon parsley chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 2 or 3 quart baking dish with cooking spray.
- Place the milk, heavy cream, eggs, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese and the American cheese in a large bowl. Stir to combine.
- Add the cooked noodles to the bowl and toss to coat the noodles evenly with the milk mixture.
- Pour the noodle mixture into the prepared dish.
- Cover the dish with foil. Bake for 25 minutes. Uncover the dish and sprinkle the remaining cup of cheese over the top. Bake for an additional 20 minutes.
- Let cool for 10 minutes so that the pasta can set. Sprinkle with parsley, then serve.
Notes
- For the creamiest mac and cheese, buy a block of American cheese from your deli counter.
- Use whole milk for the best flavor and texture.
- Make sure to let the pasta sit for at least 10 minutes before you serve it. This allows the mac and cheese to reach the perfect consistency and temperature.
Sara – love your website! Every recipe I have made has been a home run.
I want to try this for my husband’s family.
They are used to mac and cheese with buttered breadcrumbs.
Do you think I could add this to the recipe?
Thanks in advance.
Yes adding breadcrumbs would be fine!
I thought it was a bit dry. We always use stewed tomatoes with Mac & cheese. My husband did a dollop of sour cream on his and he thought it was good.
When you could regularly get cheese ends at the deli; they were very inexpensive. I would load up and then just put them all together thru the food processor, what an interesting mix, and different every time. Then I’d packed up the shredded cheese and freeze for when I wanted to cook with cheese. My friends and family always raved about my mac and cheese and what unique flavor it always had. The mixed cheeses made for great sauces, and any cheese dishes. Check your market to see if they sell cheese ends, you can usually identify what is what and even hand pick your favorite cheeses. I was also able to get deli meat ends, lots of things to do with these, too.
have fun. Holly
Finally, we can have people over for Canada Day (July 1st) and I am trying a Southern mac and cheese for a change.
We do not have American cheese in Canada , I do think it is the same as our cheese slices though ( we call it “plastic cheese) Do you have a suggestion as what I can substitute it for.
Thank you and Happy July 4th
You could use the cheese slices instead that you’re referring to!
Would it be ok to replace the heavy cream for evaporated milk to reduce the calories a bit?
Yes that’s fine!
Is it safe to double the recepie and use the same baking time?
Yes that should be fine!
Delicious! I change something every time I cook this dish. My favorite recipe for macaroni and cheese so far!!!
I love a good baked mac & cheese…and this looks sooo cheesy!
I am drooling over all this cheese! Looks fantastic!
This did not disappoint! We loved the two different cheeses and how quick it cooked up!
This sounds so delicious! I’m looking forward to trying it this weekend!
This mac and cheese was a home run at our household! Will make again for sure!
Looks so cheesy and comforting! Definitely great to serve a crowd.
So much cheesy goodness! This would make a great Thanksgiving dish!
After pizza, macaroni and cheese is my literal favorite thing in this world. I have never made it “southern style” but I will try this! Looks so much easier than making the cheese sauce.
I could never say no to good mac and cheese, especially if it’s as cheesy as this one. YUM!
Mac and cheese that looks likes this is ALWAYS a good idea!
I loved all the cheesy goodness in this recipe; easily this is a new family favorite recipe in our home! My kids devoured it instantly!