Description
Southern Baked Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food, enveloping al dente pasta in a rich, creamy cheese sauce topped with a crunchy golden crust. This beloved Southern classic is perfect for family gatherings or cozy nights at home, offering a delightful blend of textures and flavors that will leave everyone craving more. With simple ingredients and easy preparation steps, this dish promises to warm hearts and satisfy appetites.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, grated
- 2 cups whole milk
- ? cup (1 stick) butter, melted
- ? cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350?F (175?C).
- Cook the elbow macaroni in boiling salted water until al dente (about 8 minutes). Drain and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour, letting it bubble for about 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in the milk until thickened (around 5 minutes).
- Remove from heat and stir in the cheddar and Monterey Jack until melted. Season with paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Mix the cooked macaroni into the cheese sauce until fully coated.
- Transfer to a greased baking dish, top with extra cheese if desired, and bake uncovered for 25 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 60mg