Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese—a bubbling baked macaroni casserole made with a blend of sharp cheeses, salty butter, and luscious cream.
Prep Time:30mins
Cook Time:45mins
Total Time:1hr15mins
Ingredients
16ozelbow noodles
4chalf and half
1cbutter2 sticks
3eggs
8ozcream cheese softened
8ozmild cheddar cubed
8ozsharp cheddarshredded
8ozswiss cheese shredded
4ozgruyere cheese
1tbspsugar
2tspblack pepper
2tspkosher salt
2tspmustard powder
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Blend together the salt, pepper, sugar, and mustard powder. Next, boil elbow macaroni noodles to al dente, drain and pour into the baking dish. Toss the noodle with half of the spice mix, mild and sharp cheddar, and butter.
Whip softened cream cheese in a mixing bowl until creamy. Add eggs and mix until pale yellow and smooth.
In a cold saucepan or pot, pour the cream cheese egg mixture followed by the half and half. Stirring constantly, turn the flame to low heat then add the Swiss and gruyere cheese, remaining spice mix, and butter. Allow cheeses to melt slowly stirring constantly. Continue stirring until the sauce thickens and resembles a thin custard. You will notice that the cheese will become soft and stringy. Remove the pot from the heat source.
Immediately pour the cheese sauce over the noodles and cheese. Stir to mix well. Bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes. The sauce will be absorbed by the noodles and the top will be a golden brown. Let it sit for 10 minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
Be sure to assemble and bake on a cookie sheet because the cheese sauce may overflow a little.