How To Make A Baked Mac And Cheese Recipe Easy
This homemade mac and cheese is an ideal side dish that you can prep ahead for special holidays like Thanksgiving or for large family suppers. Assemble it in advance and keep it in the fridge for a couple of days! You can also serve the mac and cheese as a main course for dinner. Throw in some shredded chicken or diced ham, add veggies like steamed broccoli or frozen peas, and you’ve got a delicious and satisfying meal in one pan. The simple, old-fashioned combination of pasta and cheese is always crowd-pleasing!
How To Make Good Ole Fashion Mac And Cheese
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Tips For The Best Mac And Cheese
- Grate the cheese yourself. I know using pre-shredded cheese is so much more convenient, but it really makes a difference. The anti-caking agents in pre-shredded cheese keep it from melting well.
- Heres another reason why you should grate your own cheese: blocked cheese is cheaper than pre-shredded!
- Salt the pasta water. It gives the pasta itself a little bit of flavor. And dont skimp on the salt, as the pasta will only absorb so much of it. Dont be afraid to add a whole spoonful to the pot!
- Cook the macaroni to al dente, or about 1-2 minutes less than prescribed by the package. I find that the pasta gets a little too mushy if cooked exactly according to instructions.
- If youve accidentally overcooked the macaroni, just toss it with butter to coat. The butter will create a protective coating that will keep the pasta from absorbing more liquid.
- Storage Instructions:
- Place mac and cheese in an air-tight container or cover it with plastic wrap. Store it in the fridge for 5 days.
- Reheat it in a saucepan over medium-low heat. If the sauce dries up, add a bit of milk or cream to thin it out.
- When reheating small servings, place mac and cheese in a microwave-safe bowl and reheat for 1-minute or until warmed through.
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Making Ahead Storing And Reheating
Make Ahead: You can make this recipe as directed but dont bake it or add the topping. After transferring the cheesy pasta into the baking dish, cool it completely then, cover it and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
Before baking, allow the dish to sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes . If the mixture seems a bit too dry , you can stir in a couple of tablespoons of milk until the dish becomes a bit creamier. Add the topping and bake as directed.
Storing: Store leftover mac and cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Reheating: Before reheating, stir in a bit of milk to make the pasta a bit creamier then, reheat in the microwave in small increments, covered until heated through.
Find Tons Of Other Dreamy Cheesy Meals In Ree’s Bestselling Cookbooks
And stir together until its all melted. Go ahead and turn off the heat.
Now its time for seasoning! Add about 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt If youre sensitive to salt, start really low and work your way upand remember that the cheese imparts quite a bit of salt to the mix.
BUTand this is importantbe careful not to UNDERSALT the mac & cheese. It really needs ample salt to put the flavor over the top.
*I also use paprika, cayenne pepper, even ground thyme every now and then. Play with different ground spices and see what you like best.
And finally, add plenty of black pepper, of the Black Dust variety. Honestly, I love freshly ground pepperbut not in homemade Mac & Cheese. For me, it has to be the powdery stuff.
Now THATs what Im talkin about.
And guess what? You can just steam some fresh broccoli and spoon some of this over the top. Kids from all over the land will show up at your doorstep.
Did you know a single serving of broccoli is positively loaded with Vitamin C?
Now just dump in the drained, not-fully-cooked macaroni!
And stir the mixture together.
I use a little less than the full amount of cooked macaroni, because I love it extra creamy and coated. Just add it according to how you like it.
Now, you can either dish it up as it is right now, which makes for an ultra-creamy love fest
OR you can pour the macaroni into a buttered baking dish. This is a 2-quart dish, but a 9 x 13 pan would work just fine.
Kinda like this.
Hello, lover.
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Why You’re Going To Love My Soul Food Southern Baked Mac N Cheese Recipe
It’s a dump and bake, super easy recipe. Just shred your cheese, or even use pre-shredded cheese in this recipe, stir it with your half and half and milks and creams, season to taste , add your eggs, stir it all together with the macaroni, and bake in the oven. No roux, no bechamel, no fancy stuff, no stoves, no add-ins. Not even bacon this time.
It uses real ingredients. No Velveeta, no pre-mixed seasoning salt, no boxed stuff.
It’s the ultimate creamy soul food macaroni and cheese. I, too, have been accosted by that weird baked mac and cheese that is clumpy, goopy, dry, and stiff. This is not her. We don’t know her here. My mac is luxuriously creamy, made with five different types of cheeses, heavy cream, and plenty of flavor. If you’re a true fan of mac and cheese, this recipe is for you.
Baked Macaroni And Cheese
Ingredients:
1 lb of elbow macaroni
4 cups of extra sharp cheddar cheese
2 cups of Colby jack cheddar blend
3 large eggs
1 stick of unsalted butter
2 cups of whole milk
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cook macaroni until just al dente or a little under al dente. Be careful not to overcook.
3. Drain pasta and set aside.
4. In a large bowl, add pasta, salt, pepper, butter , then add your 3 beaten eggs.
5. Add two cups of cheddar cheese to your pasta and mix.
6. Butter a baking dish.
7. Add half of macaroni into the baking dish.
8. Sprinkle another two cups of Colby cheddar cheese blend in the middle of your pasta and top with another layer of macaroni . Make sure the cheese is distributed well.
9. Pour the milk over your pasta.
10. Bake covered with aluminum foil for 25-35 minutes. Do not over bake. It may be a bit jiggly when you take it out of the oven. It will firm up as it cools.
11. Top with the remaining cheddar cheese. and broil until brown.
12. Let cool for about 10-15 minutes or until fully set, and enjoy!
*Chefs: If you dont like sharp cheese, please feel free to use mild or any other cheese you like.
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Tips For The Best Easy Baked Mac And Cheese Recipe
- Boil the noodles in very well-salted water. The salt in the water seasons the noodles, adding flavor to the dish.
- Cook the pasta just until its al dente almost tender, but still firm to the bite. You dont want to completely cook the noodles until theyre tender, because they will continue baking in the oven.
- Allow the cheese, milk, and half-and-half to come to room temperature before adding them to the recipe. They will blend together smoothly if theyre not cold.
- Start with blocks of cheddar cheese that you grate yourself at home, rather than using bags of pre-shredded cheese from the store. The pre-shredded cheese includes stabilizers and other ingredients to prevent the cheese from clumping, which inhibits its ability to melt smoothly into the dish.
- If you prefer a crispier, darker brown top on your mac and cheese, place the dish under the broiler during the final few minutes of baking. Just be sure to keep a close eye on it so that the top doesnt burn.
- Cooking for a smaller family? Cut all of the ingredients in half and bake the casserole in an 8-inch square casserole dish.
Southern Baked Macaroni And Cheese
The Hungry Bluebird » Recipes » Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Creamy baked southern-style macaroni and cheese, a cheesy baked casserole and soul food classic.
Ive lived in St. Louis for some time now, and as Ive said before, its very southern here in terms of cooking. One of our favorite soul food restaurants had the best mac and cheese, and that would be Sweetie Pies. Miss Robies recipe is easily found on the web and the local paper has published a paired down recipe for the home cook.
Im pretty sure the location we went to in The Grove neighborhood has closed and I dont understand all the drama surrounding the closing. It was the subject of a reality TV show at one point. I just know we went often and always, always had her macaroni and cheese.
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What Makes Black Folks Soul Food Baked Mac And Cheese So Different
Today, this Southern recipe is still made from scratch. Prepared with a combination of soul food seasonings like salt, pepper, garlic, onion, paprika, flour, milk, and a mix of cheeses. Commonly mozzarella, cheddar, and American cheese, baked until creamy on top and golden brown on the edges!
Some soul food baked mac and cheese recipes interchange evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk.
What Type Of Cheese
This classic mac and cheese recipe is made with cheddar cheese. I particularly love medium or sharp cheddar cheese but any type will do. If you want a more luxurious mac and cheese or youre really trying to impress a crowd, you could use a combination of different cheeses. Just be sure to select a type of cheese that is good for melting, like white cheddar, smoked gouda, gruyere, brie, goat cheese, mozzarella, or fontina.
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Can I Freeze Mac And Cheese
While technically you can freeze mac and cheese, I dont recommend it because after you thaw it out and bake, the creamy consistency is gone. However if you really wan to freeze it, before the baking step, transfer the mac and cheese to an airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw it out, then transfer it to a skillet or 9×13 inch baking dish and bake it as instructed.
Tips For The Best Mac & Cheese
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Freshly grated cheese dont use pre shredded. They have anti caking agents that can make the sauce grainy.
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No bloated overcooked pasta Cool macaroni slightly and lightly coat in butter. This stops the macaroni from absorbing more liquid while baking, resulting in bloated overcooked pasta and less sauce.
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To avoid lumps in your sauce, stir constantly as you slowly pour the milk in and keep stirring once the milk is all added. If necessary, switch to a whisk to get rid of stubborn little lumps!
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Plenty of sauce Because I like my Mac and Cheese saucy, not dried up so you can cut it like cake!
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Can you make Mac and Cheese ahead of time? Most recipes are not suitable for making ahead, but this recipe is! The best way is to cool pasta then toss with sauce and adding breadcrumb topping. Cool, refrigerate or freeze then bake on the day of .
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How long can Mac and Cheese stay in the fridge? Unlike most, this Macaroni Cheese recipe is good for 3 to 5 days in the fridge. Most Mac and Cheese will not keep well because theres not enough sauce so it gets absorbed by the pasta and youre left with dry, sauceless pasta.
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Freezing? Yes! Assemble, cool, do not bake, just freeze it. Thaw then on the day of, bake per Note 5 in the recipe.
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Add ins? This recipe is great as it is, but theres tons of add-in options. Add shredded chicken, sautéed onion and bell peppers/capsicum, bacon, hot sauce , dried herbs of choice.
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Why Is Southern Baked Mac And Cheese So Important To Black Culture
Baked mac and cheese is just one of the many soul food cuisines turned American dishes. And this yummy dish has a really old history.
Known initially as macaroni pie, baked mac and cheese was created by James Hemings, an African American enslaved and trained as a culinary chef in France.
Hemings was born in Virginia in 1765. At eight years old, he becomes one of Thomas Jeffersons many enslaved at his Monticello plantation.
At age 19, Jefferson takes young Hemings with him to France to train in the art of French cooking.
Why Does My Baked Mac And Cheese Come Out Dry
Baked Mac and cheese can get dried if baked for too long. Follow the recipe and if your topping is not golden brown by the time the baking time is done, simply place it under the broiler to toast the breadcrumbs.
Another reason for dried macaroni and cheese is if you are using more noodles than the recipe calls for. You need to have enough cheese sauce to generously coat the cooked pasta.
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Did A Black Person Invent Mac And Cheese
Southern baked mac and cheese the James Hemings way
James Hemings was a highly trained cook known to many modern-day chefs and culinary historians alike. A notable African American chef who helped create and define American cuisine as we know it today.
According to Netflixs soul food documentary High On The Hog, where an all-Black creative team tells the story of African American food. Baked mac and cheese is initially cooked by Hemings in a mixture of boiling water and milk.
Hemings placed sharp American cheese in between layers of butter and milk-coated macaroni. Then baked in a Dutch oven over an open-hearth fireplace stove with hot coals placed on the pots lid to bake.
Today, we can make easy macaroni and cheese while still incorporating the original recipes culinary technique. Much safer inside an Instant Pot!
My Love Affair With Mac And Cheese
I have a mini love affair with mac and cheese. As a child, I would take it any way I could get it out of a box or made from scratch by Mom. Wait what am I saying, I do that now Mounds of cheese melted into a velvety, creamy sauce and tossed with pasta. Yes, please!
There are lots of recipes for macaroni and cheese in the world and to be completely honest, Id probably love most of them. That said, I do think there are a few key elements for the best mac and cheese.
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Baked Macaroni And Cheese Recipes
There are as many different baked macaroni and cheese recipes as there are home cooks. In the South, baked mac and cheese is typically just a simple combination of pasta, eggs, butter, milk, and cheese. The eggs set up to create a firm casserole that you can slice into squares to serve. If you prefer that style dish, try my favorite Southern Baked Mac and Cheese recipe. This recipe, by contrast, uses a roux to make a creamy béchamel that coats the noodles in sauce. If you’re looking for the ultimate creamy, easy baked mac and cheeserecipe, then you’ve come to the right place!
How To Make Macaroni And Cheese From Scratch
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