Description
Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese is a creamy, cheesy masterpiece that captures the essence of comfort food.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 ounce elbow macaroni
- 6 cup chicken broth
- 8 ounce sharp cheddar cheese
- 8 ounce Colby jack cheese
- 8 ounce part-skim mozzarella cheese
- 8 ounce American cheese
- 4 ounce cream cheese
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1–2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Kosher salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with the 1 tablespoon of butter.
- In a large pot, bring the 6 cup of chicken broth to a boil. Add the uncooked elbow macaroni and cook until al dente, according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta well and set it aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the half-and-half, heavy cream, half of the cheddar cheese, half of the Colby jack cheese, all of the mozzarella cheese, all of the American cheese, and all of the cream cheese. Stir until the cheeses are melted and the mixture is well blended.
- Add the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder, salt, and pepper to the cheese mixture. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
- Gently fold the cooked macaroni into the cheese mixture until it’s evenly coated. Beat the 2 eggs in a small bowl, then stir them into the macaroni and cheese until fully incorporated.
- Transfer the macaroni and cheese mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
- Top the dish generously with the remaining cheddar cheese and Colby jack cheese. Sprinkle a little extra smoked paprika over the top, if desired.
- Bake the Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese for 35-40 minutes, or until the cheese crust is bubbly and nicely browned.
- Allow the dish to cool for about 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy the irresistible combination of creamy, cheesy goodness!
Notes
For a crispy topping, mix panko breadcrumbs with melted butter and sprinkle over the top before baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 100mg