Southern Creamy Mac & Cheese Recipe
Creamy, cheesy, & soulful baked Mac & cheese is the absolute best! This cheesy creamy goodness is such a delicacy and stable in my household, especially for Sunday supper. Once you try this delicious Mac & cheese recipe, the box stuff will be a thing of the past.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces uncooked elbow noodles
- 2 to 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (Substitute: flour)
- 1 1/2 cup Evaporated milk
- 1 Tbsp Sour cream
- 1 cup shredded cheese of your choice (Options: mozzarella, any jack cheese, gouda, fontina, and/or Gruyere)
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese (1 cup for cheese sauce and 1 cup for layering/to top Mac n cheese)
- ½ cup Velveeta cheese shredded (Feel free to add less Velveeta cheese if you don’t want it to be too creamy)
- salt & pepper to taste
- Smoked Paprika to taste
- Pinch of Ground Mustard
- 1 Egg (Optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil, then add the elbow noodles.
- Cook the elbow noodles according to the package directions. Then, drain the noodles and set aside.
- On medium high heat, in a skillet or pot - add some butter. Once the butter melts whisk in the cornstarch (or use flour as a substitute for the cornstarch)
- Continue whisking the cornstarch until it’s fully mixed with the butter. Then cook for about a minute or two to get rid of the cornstarch/flour taste.
- Next, slowly add the evaporated milk a little at a time. you do not want the mixture to form any lumps. Simmer for about 3 minutes or until the mixture thickens slightly.
- Stir in the cheeses (reserve some of the cheddar cheese for topping & layering the Mac & cheese later)
- Continue stirring the cheese until everything’s melted and smooth.
- Tip: Keep an eye on the cheese sauce, you don’t want the cheese to burn.
- Add the sour cream and stir until well combined.
- Add the black pepper, smoked paprika, and pinch of ground mustard for taste.
- Do a taste test before your cheese sauce and adjust if needed.
- Then add the cooked pasta to the pot and stir to incorporate evenly.
- Optional: add 1 whisked egg to the pasta and cheese sauce.
- Next, add the cooked elbow pasta to the cheese sauce and stir the noodles into the cheese until it’s well incorporated.
- Grease the baking dish with some butter.
- Transfer some of the pasta mixture to the baking dish. Then add a layer of cheddar cheese.
- Repeat the layering process until all the Mac & cheese is in the baking dish.
- Top the Mac & cheese with the remaining cheese.
- Place baking dish into the oven and bake uncovered.
- Allow the Mac & cheese to cook for 30 to 35 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
- Once the Mac & cheese is done, remove from the oven and allow the Mac to rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Serve, Enjoy!