MY RECIPES MAC AND CHEESE FOR MAC

And finally, an extra-creamy cheese like mascarpone or cream cheese just to add to the creaminess of your baked mac and cheese recipe! What milk is best for mac and cheese?įor me, evaporated milk is the way to go. Then one creamy cheese that melts well, like mild cheddar, mozzarella or monterey jack. It's an extra step, but makes a huge difference! Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe What are the 3 best cheeses for mac and cheese?įirst, I like to use one semi-hard aged cheese like sharp cheddar. This dryness will then translate into your dishes, which we definitely don't want.įor this southern baked macaroni and cheese, you should definitely buy your cheese in blocks and grate it yourself to keep the sauce nice and creamy. But you'd be surprised how many people still use pre-shredded cheese to make their macaroni and cheese! It's so much faster, but pre-shredded cheese is often coated with cellulose (wood pulp!) to prevent it from sticking together, which dries it out significantly. It should help you to end up with more cheesy custard filling that makes the finished dish delicious! Baked macaroni and cheese Not-So-Secret #4: Freshly Grated Cheese This creates a barrier that prevents the other liquids from penetrating the macaroni as it bakes. That's what this step is about as well! We're going to toss the cooked macaroni in butter before adding the other ingredients.

You may have gathered from secret #1 that the key to making this easy baked mac and cheese super creamy is keeping the macaroni from absorbing too much liquid as it bakes. I got this idea from my Uncle Glenn, who told me about using mascarpone many Thanksgivings ago when I asked him how his mac n cheese recipe was so amazing! The mascarpone really takes it up a notch and makes this the best baked mac and cheese recipe! Secret #3: Coat your macaroni in butter OK, forget what I said about not being in Italy, because we're using a classic Italian ingredient to add to the creaminess of this soul food baked mac and cheese! Mascarpone is an Italian cream cheese that adds a smooth, mild soft creaminess to bump up the creamy flavor of the cheese filling even further! Trust me- it works! Old Fashioned Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe Secret #2: Mascarpone So by boiling it a little longer, we're preventing the macaroni from absorbing too much of the milk while it's baking, allowing more of the milk to form that creamy, cheesy, custardy filling around the pasta. So how does this make your southern baked macaroni and cheese creamier? Well, as your macaroni boils, it absorbs water. For example, the macaroni I used instructed me to boil it for 8-10 minutes, so I set my timer for 12 minutes. But for this recipe, forget everything you learned from Giada de Laurentiis and boil your macaroni for two minutes longer than the maximum time listed on the package directions. Normally, you would want to cook your macaroni until it's al dente - that is, it still has a bit of a chew to it. That's why I'm sharing my secrets with you to make this southern baked mac and cheese just as creamy as can be! But before we continue, these are secrets! I'm sure I can trust you guys to keep it on the hush, but just make sure no one is looking over your shoulder while you read this. Getting creamy mac and cheese can be a challenge, especially when you're using this custard-based method. If you haven't had this style of old fashioned baked mac and cheese with evaporated milk, this will be your new favorite side dish! Southern Baked Mac and Cheese with Cream Cheese How do you keep mac and cheese creamy? Homemade mac and cheese recipes can vary wildly, but for me the best kind has a cheesy custard filling made with egg and evaporated milk, and a topping of even more lightly browned cheese. But one of our all-time favorite recipes is baked macaroni and cheese! Cornbread dressing, collard greens, sweet potato pie, and pound cake are never missing from the table, and it just doesn't feel like a holiday without them. You have your hams, your turkeys, and roast beefs, but the stars of the show are definitely the sides and desserts. Southern Baked Mac and Cheese Recipeįor my family, there are certain foods that are absolutely mandatory for us to have for family gatherings and special occasions. *This post contains affiliate links - as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Pin Recipe Print Recipe Southern Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe

My recipes mac and cheese