Southern Baked Mac and Cheese – super creamy, cheesy, soulful baked mac and cheese filled with great Southern flavors. You will never break open a box again!
I wasn’t a fan of Mac and Cheese back in the day. But as they say, things change. Over the years, I’ve learned how to love that cheesy creamy goodness which is a staple in every American household. Thanks to my son who seriously would live for mac and cheese every single day of his life.
But of course, I’ve got to say no to breaking open those boxes from time to time. “Wait, what? You said boxes?”
Yes, he is a huge fan of those boxed mac and cheese! He’d gladly turn down any scrumptious chicken dishes I make just for a plateful of his all-time fave. You could imagine my face the day I tricked him into eating REAL mac and cheese. Ahhh, it was a sweet victory!
Mac and Cheese Sauce
To start off, this cheesy bechamel sauce here is over-the-top! Aside from 1/2 cup of half and half (of light cream and whole milk), I also added a can of evaporated milk (different from condensed milk) to add more creaminess and texture to my mac and cheese.
And another secret I’m adding to this sauce? CREOLE SEASONING. Yes! Sprinkling it with 1/2-1 teaspoon adds dimension to this Southern Baked Mac and Cheese. I’m telling you it makes all the difference unless you like bland food.
Best Cheese for Baked Mac and Cheese
Don’t be scared when using cheese for this recipe. I used three types of cheeses to grace every noodle of this dish. For the best flavor, I highly recommend adding a sharp cheddar to your baked mac and cheese. Just a warning though, don’t use the pre-shredded bagged cheese as it has preservatives that make it drier compared to fresh-grated cheese.
Sharp cheddar cheese, mozzarella, jack cheese, are my top fave. Or you can also use pepper jack cheese, gouda, fontina, and Gruyere.
How Long to Bake Mac and Cheese?
There is only one rule that you need to remember when baking mac and cheese: don’t bake it too long otherwise you’ll bake away the sauce leaving you with a dry mixture.
Baking it at around 20 minutes at 375 degrees F (190 C) guarantees you that same stretchy cheesy baked mac and cheese with all the heart-melting sauce. Or you can also bake it at 30 minutes at 350 F(177 C);
Although we’ve tried a couple of Mac and Cheese recipes, nothing compares to this one which has a smooth silky sauce that permeates every inch of elbow macaroni there is.
You’d fall head over heels with the brimming Southern flavors of what this baked mac and cheese has to offer. It’s got a note of heat and smokiness. You’d need a bigger a spoon, for sure!
This would be delightful at any time. Oh, especially during these cold winter months. So don’t wait for special occasions to whip up a pan of this.
Heck, you could even make this on the daily.
Want more recipes like this? Try my Ground Beef Casserole here, my mac and cheese the Caribbean way – Trinidad Macaroni Pie and my heartier and meatier Chili Mac and Cheese.
Happy eating!
More Crowd-Favorite Recipes To Explore
- Easy Lasagna
- Skillet Cornbread
- Chicken Alfredo
- Buffalo Wings
- Homemade Ranch Dressing
- Caesar Salad Dressing
- Pulled Pork Recipe
How to Make Baked Mac and Cheese
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 evaporated milk a little at the time, followed by the half and half; you do not want the mixture to form any lumps. Simmer for about 3-5 minutes until 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 and evenly combined and, smooth. Salt & pepper, to taste.
Then add the pasta to the pot, stir to evenly incorporate.
Transfer the pasta mixture into a cast iron skillet or into a lightly greased 2-qt. baking dish; top with remaining cheese.
Watch How To Make It
Southern Baked Mac and Cheese – 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!
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 12oz canned evaporated milk
- ½ cup half and half (half cream and half 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
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 8 ounce uncooked Macaroni
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Cook macaroni according to the package directions. Drain.
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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.
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Slowly add evaporated milk a little at the time, followed by the half and half ; you do not want the mixture to form any lumps. Simmer for about 3-5 minutes until mixture thickens slightly.
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Add seasonings, onion and garlic powder, creole seasoning and cayenne pepper.
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Bring to a simmer and let it simmer gently for about 2 minutes.
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Stir in the cheeses (reserve some as toppings later), and continue stirring until everything’s melted and evenly combined and, smooth. Salt & pepper, to taste.
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Then add the cooked pasta to the pot, stir to evenly incorporate.
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Transfer the pasta mixture into a the pan or into a lightly greased 2-qt. baking dish; top with remaining cheese.
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Bake at 375 Degrees F° for 20 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
Bread crumb topping (optional)
- Place a small skillet on medium heat with 2 tablespoons butter, then toss in 1 teaspoon minced garlic, stir for about 30 seconds and throw in bread crumbs. Saute for about 3-4 minutes or until fragrant. Lightly season with salt and pepper, if desired. Then top the mac and cheese with the bread crumbs and bake.
If using an egg (optional)
- In a medium bowl, beat egg then add about 1/2 cup of the sauce to the egg, return the egg mixture to the sauce, stirring to blend well. Proceed with the cheese and the proceeding steps.
Cheeses and Cheese Sauce
- Don't use pre-shredded bagged cheese as it is drier. You have to get blocks of it and shred it yourself.
- Sharp cheddar cheese, mozzarella and jack cheese are my top fave. Or you can also use pepper jack cheese, gouda, fontina and Gruyere.
- More mozzarella cheese can be added for it gives it a nice gooey pull in every bite.
- Do not cook cheese sauce too long.
Add-ins
- You can also throw in special ingredients such as garlic herbs, dried mustard, crispy fried onion strings and so on.
- For extra flavor, add chicken breast pieces, spinach, and red bell peppers.
Milk
- In case you want to cut down on the calories, use low fat milk instead of evaporated milk and cut back on half of the cheese.
- It’s best to warm milk. Cold liquid interrupts the cooking process. Heated milk also has a richer flavor than cold milk.
- To avoid lumps, try adding the milk about 2-3 tablespoons at a time. Whisk until it’s incorporated before adding more. Once the can of evaporated milk is all mixed in, add in all the half and half at once.
Make Ahead Instructions
- Mac and Cheese can be made ahead up to the point of baking, then bake about 30-40 minutes before serving, so it’s hot and fresh. It can as well be made right in the morning and bake just before dinner time.
- It can also be made ahead and frozen, but the sauce has to be kept separate from the pasta. Mix together the sauce and pasta the day you want to bake.
- Reheat in the microwave if there are any leftover then spray the top with oil or butter for moisture.
More Baking Notes
- Stick to the right pasta.
- You don't cover baked mac and cheese with foil as it would steam the inside and prevent it from achieving that slightly crusty golden bubbly top.
- If making for bigger groups of people, let’s say 15 servings, triple the ingredients listed.
- In the absence of cast iron, Mac and Cheese can be baked in an oven safe pan and aluminum baking pans is also a good substitute.
Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.
Initially made as directed and it was delicious! My son secretly asked me to make it, saying it is better than my Mom’s. Trying to cut carbs now, so I used roasted cauliflower and it’s still delicious! Thank you!
Awesome!! I am glad you loved it, Shey. And the roasted cauliflower does sound delicious. Thanks for sharing!
I love the seasoning in this recipe. It kicks up my regular macaroni and cheese. I made it for Father’s Day and my whole family loved it. Thanks for sharing!
Awesome!! I am so glad this recipe was a hit with your family, Diana! Thanks for the feedback :)!
I can’t wait to try this recipe!!
I would like to double the recipe… if I do will it come out the same?
Many thanks!
Delia
Hi Della, Yes it would
I just made this last night using blocks of mozzarella, Monterey jack, and sharp cheddar that I grated myself. We all loved it, the only change I made was using more cheese we are cheese lovers. I also doubled it and I’m glad we did because now we can use it as a side dish with tonight’s dinner.
Great!! I am so thrilled you loved this recipe. Thanks for the feedback, Cara!
What sized cast iron skillet should I use?? I have a 10 inch and a 12 inch.
I used a 10 inch pan
Added lumped crab to this recipe, it is amazing!
Awesome! That must have tasted absolutely divine! Thanks for sharing :).
Is the 8oz-1/2 box of macaroni measurement correct?
Hi Fallon! For this recipe, I used 8oz of uncooked macaroni.
This is the BEST mac n cheese recipe!! I’ve tried about 4 or 5 recipes and they ALWAYS came out too dry… but not this one! Love that it includes creole seasoning, one of the most underrated spices! The only thing I added was panko breadcrumbs for that yummy crunch. Can’t wait to make this again!!
Awesome!!! I am so glad you loved this recipe, Emily! True, creole seasoning is really underrated. It takes any dish to a whole different level. The addition of the breadcrumbs sounds delicious too. Thank you so much for the feedback!
I’ve been told im not allowed to family gatherings without macaroni… this is the recipe i use lol delicious!!!
Hahaha! Please do not show up without it. There might be a riot :)! Thanks for stopping by!
This recipe is perfect. I followed the spices as directed. The flavor was perfect. There is an obvious Creole flavor but it suites the cheesiness perfectly. I ended up having to use provolone instead of mozzarella (our grocery store was out), which was fine. I wanted this to be more meal like instead of a side dish, so I added green, peas, corn, and bacon crumbles. I’m sure it would have been fine without these additions. Best Mac N Cheese I’ve ever had.
Ohh.. that sounds Delish! That must have been really tasty with all the veggies and bacon. Thanks for sharing Sarah :)!
The seasoning called for overtook the cheese taste of the mac and cheese. Will try again with not as much seasoning as the ingredients call for:
U did that… my in laws love this recipe and ask me to make it every holiday
Just put this dish together! I had to put it in the oven ASAP before I ate the whole pan! Sinful! Best Mac n cheese I’ve ever made. I doubled the recipe and I’m sad I didn’t quadruple it 🙁 I can’t wait to taste this when it comes out of the oven. Thank you for sharing and Happy Easter!
Sister can cook her butt off wheww
Ha ha ha you are too kind.. I hope you tell me how the recipe turns out!
My favorite Mac and cheese! I use pepper jack instead of Colby jack and add extra of the spices listed. Everyone loves it, my best friends super picky husband even requested I made it while visiting them. This is a true soul food!
Can this recipe be doubled to 16 oz of pasta and increased amounts of seasonings?
Hi Joe. You would need to double every single ingredient and use a bigger dish to make your pasta in. Happy Cooking!
Whoa! We tried this recipe for Thanksgiving and it was requested for Christmas as well! Fontina, Gruyere, Sharp Cheddar and Smoked Gouda. This is our new Mac and Cheese recipe. I can’t wait to make it with Lobster! Thanks Imma!
Idk if you’ll ever read this all I did was add buttermilk and cream cheese but your recipe was hit with my family guess who was promoted to bringing in Mac and cheese dish thank you so much
Woohoo! I’m so proud of you, Chantal. Guess that’d call for a celebratory drink. 😉 Happy holidays!
Not really too fond of this recipe. I love onions and garlic, but there was just too much onion and garlic powder. I added extra cheeses and macaroni, which made it taste much better.
How long do you boil the elbow macaroni on stove top. I know you dont want to over cook it. I’m going to make this dish. It sounds magnificent. I’ll let you know how it turns out. Thanks
It’s hard to give an exact time. It depends on your pasta- usually cooks between 5-6 minutes , after water comes to a rolling boil.
How much bread crumbs should be used?
About a cup.
How many ml is the canned evaporated milk ?
About 350 ml.
What type of Jack cheese? Colby Jack? Pepper jack?
I used Colby Jack . Either works just fine .
This was my go-to Thanksgiving recipe as well as many others. A friend actually asked my to prepare an additional pan for them tonight because it was that good! Thank you this will be a new tradition. Traded Creole with cajun seasoning. Amazing flavor!
Is this recipe spicy?
No, it’s not. But with just a hint of heat.
I too made this recipe for Thanksgiving, and let me tell you! It was a hit! Everyone LOVED it! Thank you for sharing! I will now be using your recipe, for all occasions!
Awww. I’m so happy it turned out well for you.
This was a hit at my Thanksgiving feast!!! Thank you so much!!!
Awesome! So happy that this recipe made its way to your Thanksgiving table. Thank you!
Did this recipe for Thanksgiving, adding 2 more cheeses and quadrupled it…..everyone loved it!!!!!!!
Are you saying you made a larger portion?
This was by far the best Mac and cheese I’ve ever had! I doubled the recipe to make one big pan for thanksgiving. Everyone loved it! Thank you so
Much!
O-M-G!! Tried this recipe for yesterday’s Thanksgiving dinner. It was AMAZING! I don’t even make mac. It’s not one of my best sides, BUT! Baby, this was everything… AND THEN SOME! I forgot to pick up the mozzarella, so I used some smoked Gouda instead. The smokiness, OOHHHH! It was a hit! Very easy to follow recipe with A-M-A-Z-I-N-G results! I will be making this again… soon!
Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you for taking the time to let me know.