Southern Baked Macaroni & Cheese
Macaroni & Cheese allows you to get creative with your flavors. It was the first “adult” dish I learned to make – straight outta the box and boy did I get creative. I would add salt, black pepper, hot dogs, ketchup... pretty much anything I thought would add flavor. Eventually my taste buds out-grew my concoctions, my stomach eventually forgave me, and I moved on to Baked Mac & Cheese.
For years I searched for THE perfect Mac & Cheese recipes! You know – the ones that truly hits the spot and feeds the soul. After one forkful of this ultra-gooey cheesy goodness, you just might want to toss the boxed Mac & Cheese and find comfort in Ty's Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese.
Prep Time: 30 Minutes Cook Time: 45 Minutes Total Time: 1 Hour & 15 Minutes
Here's what you'll need:
16 oz of elbow noodles
4 cups of half & half
1 cup of butter, 2 sticks
3 EGGS
8 oz of cream cheese, softened
8 oz of mild cheddar cheese
8 oz of sharp cheddar cheese
8 oz of swiss cheese
4 oz of gruyere cheese
1 tablespoon of sugar
2 teaspoons of black pepper
2 teaspoons of kosher salt
2 teaspoons of mustard powder
Ready? Set. Go!
1. Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees
2. Blend together the salt, pepper, sugar and mustard powder
3. Boil elbow noodles to al dente (firm), drain and pour into your baking dish
4. Toss the noodle with the bled mix (from step 2), mild cheddar & sharp cheddar cheese and butter
5. Whip softened cream cheese in a bowl, until creamy. Add the eggs and mix until pale yellow and smooth
6. In a cold sauce pan or pot, pour the cream cheese egg mixture, followed by the half and half
stirring constantly
7. Turn the flame to low heat, then add the Swiss cheese, Gruyere cheese, remaining spice mix, and butter
allow the cheeses to melt, slowly - stirring constantly
stir until the sauce thickens and resembles a thin custard
you will notice that the cheese will become soft and stringy
8. Remove the pot from the heat and immediately pour the cheese sauce over the noodles and cheese
stir to mix well
9. Bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes
the sauce will be absorbed by the noodles and the top will be golden brown
10. Let it sit for 10 minutes
11. Enjoy :)
Side Note from Ty:
Be sure to assemble and bake on a cookie sheet because the cheese sauce may flow over.
Source(s)
Tynia. "Southern Soul Food Baked Macaroni and Cheese." On Ty's Plate, 1 October 2020, https://www.ontysplate.com/southern-soul-food-baked-macaroni-and-cheese/
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