Southern Mac and Cheese: a family-table method

A spoon serving up a portion of Southern mac and cheese.

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 straightforward 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 kitchen-made macaroni and cheese. Some of our go-to 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 go-to side dish recipes and it goes great with other Southern favorites like fried corn, collard greens, red beans and rice and Coca Cola ham.

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.

A bowl of milk, cream, two types of shredded cheese and seasonings.

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 silky and tasty sauce while the noodles soak up all the flavor. Serve this mac and cheese with a little chopped parsley sprinkled on top.

Macaroni tossed with eggs, milk and cheddar.

Tips For The Reliable 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 reliable 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 finest flavor and texture.

A dish full of Southern macaroni and cheese ready to be served.

Recipe FAQs

What are the finest cheese for mac and cheese?

Mac and cheese must have a good flavor and be silky. I like cheddar cheese for that classic mac and cheese flavor. I add deli American cheese for that silky creaminess.

Is mac and cheese a Southern thing?

Mac and cheese is popular in the United States but it traces back to Virginia as one of Thomas Jefferson’s go-to dishes. It became popular across the South before it spread to the rest of America.

How long does mac and cheese last in the refrigerator?

Southern baked mac and cheese lasts up to 3 days in an airtight container in a refrigerator.

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Southern mac and cheese topped with melted cheddar and parsley.

Flavor Variations

While this Southern mac and cheese is tasty 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 silky and tasty. It tastes so good, no one will believe how straightforward 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

A sliced turkey meatloaf topped with ketchup and chopped parsley.

Turkey Meatloaf Recipe

1 hr 30 mins

Grilled Chicken Breast

1 hr 30 mins

Love This Recipe?

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Add as Google preferred source Authorthe Makdob kitchen A spoon serving up a portion of Southern mac and cheese.

This Southern mac and cheese is a baked macaroni dish made with two types of cheese, eggs, milk and seasonings. It's super straightforward to make and can easily be doubled or tripled to feed a larger crowd! Time Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes

Course Main
Cuisine American
Serves 8

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 finest 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 reliable consistency and temperature.