Description
Creamy Southern comfort shines in Paula Deen’s macaroni and cheese, a classic dish that blends rich cheeses and hearty pasta. Hungry guests will savor each comforting, golden spoonful of this crowd-pleasing Southern classic.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups (8 ounces) elbow macaroni
- 2 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Dairy and Fat Components:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
Seasoning and Spices:
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon dry mustard powder
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350°F (175°C), preparing a suitable baking dish with a light coating of cooking spray or butter.
- Boil the elbow macaroni in generously salted water, ensuring it remains slightly firm to the bite. Carefully drain the pasta, then transfer back to the original cooking pot.
- In a separate large saucepan, create a velvety cheese sauce by melting butter and whisking in flour to form a smooth roux, cooking until it turns a delicate golden hue.
- Gradually pour in milk, continuously stirring to prevent lumps from forming, and allow the mixture to thicken and become creamy.
- Remove the sauce from heat and fold in shredded cheddar, sharp cheese, and eggs, blending until uniformly combined and glossy.
- Pour the luxurious cheese mixture over the cooked macaroni, gently stirring to ensure every pasta piece is lavishly coated.
- Transfer the mac and cheese to the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly and creating a tempting surface.
- Sprinkle additional cheese and breadcrumbs across the top for a crisp, golden crust.
- Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 35-40 minutes, or until the top turns a beautiful golden brown and the edges become slightly bubbly.
- Allow the dish to rest for 10 minutes before serving, which helps the cheese set and intensifies the flavors.
Notes
- Prevent mushy pasta by cooking macaroni exactly al dente, ensuring a perfect texture when baked.
- Enhance creaminess by using a blend of cheeses like sharp cheddar and gruyere for deeper flavor complexity.
- Customize the dish for dietary needs by substituting whole milk with lactose-free milk or creating a gluten-free version using alternative pasta.
- Add crispy breadcrumb topping for extra crunch by mixing panko with melted butter and sprinkling over the mac and cheese before final baking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg