Southern Mac and Cheese

Macaroni and cheese loaded with all the yummy things! This southern Mac and cheese is so creamy and delicious it will become a family favorite.

Southern Mac and Cheese

This macaroni and cheese has three different kinds of cheese, breadcrumbs, bacon, chives, sour cream, and more – if you aren’t already drooling you will be once your taste it! 

Easy Meal or Side Dish

This baked macaroni and cheese makes a yummy meal or a great side dish too. Both kids and adults love this easy recipe.

More great recipes to try:

• Bacon and Asparagus Pasta Salad
• Cheesy Sausage Dip
• Coca Cola Baked Beans

What can I mix with Mac and cheese?

• Bacon 
• Bread crumbs
• Cheese – change it up!
• Hot Sauce
• Black Pepper
• Buffalo Sauce
• Hot Dogs
• Ham
• Veggies

Really the sky is the limit, this tried and true macaroni and cheese recipe has a few of these ingredients and so much more!

How do you make creamy mac and cheese?

Cook your noodles in milk instead of water. If you boil your noodles in milk you instead of water you will already have a creamy base for your sauce.

Pro tips for making baked macaroni and cheese:

• Avoid over cooking pasta during the boiling process.
• I like to substitute chicken broth for some of the water for boiling the pasta. This adds a nice flavor! Or you can boil the pasta in milk for a creamier flavor.
• Store in airtight container in refrigerator IF you manage to have any left overs.
• This is a great recipe to hide some veggies! Yellow bell peppers would just disappear into this dish! They will never know! Just chop and saute with the butter before adding flour.

Mac and Cheese Ingredients

• large elbow macaroni noodles
• whole milk
• sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• parmesan cheese, shredded
• mozzarella cheese, shredded
• cream cheese, cubed
• butter
• flour
• salt
• pepper
• garlic powder
• ground mustard
• bread crumbs
• bacon
• green onions
• sour cream

How to make southern Mac and cheese

Begin by preheating your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Next cook pasta al dente according to package directions.

While pasta is cooking, also prepare bacon. 

Then add butter to a skillet and melt. 

Whisk in flour continue to cook for about 3 minutes over medium low until the mixture is golden in color. Slowly add milk, cream cheese, salt, pepper, garlic powder and dry mustard. Whisk continually until sauce is thickened and bubbly.

Remove from heat, add all cheeses to sauce mixture and stir until melted.

Combine cooked pasta with cheese sauce mixture. 

Add in the cooked and crumbled bacon, mix well until incorporated.

Pour cheesy pasta into greased 9×13 casserole dish.

Melt butter and combine with bread crumbs then sprinkle on top of pasta in casserole dish.

Bake uncovered at 400°F for 15 minutes until edges are bubbly. 

Remove from oven top with more crumbled bacon and green onions, then drizzle sour cream.

Southern Mac and Cheese

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 10

This southern mac and cheese is loaded with all the good stuff - from bacon to bread crumbs! A rich and creamy baked mac and cheese that everyone will love.

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What You Need

• 24 ounces large elbow macaroni noodles
• 4 cups whole milk
• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
• 1 cup parmesan cheese shredded
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
• 4 ounces cream cheese cubed
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3 tbsp butter for topping
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp ground mustard
• 1/2 cup plain panko bread crumbs
• 10 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
• 6 green onions chopped
• 1/4 cup sour cream

Directions

1. Begin by preheating your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Next cook pasta al dente according to package directions.

3. While pasta is cooking, also prepare bacon.

4. Then add butter to a skillet and melt.

5. Whisk in flour continue to cook for about 3 minutes over medium low until the mixture is golden in color. Slowly add milk, cream cheese, salt, pepper, garlic powder and dry mustard. Whisk continually until sauce is thickened and bubbly.

6. Remove from heat, add all cheeses to sauce mixture and stir until melted.

7. Combine cooked pasta with cheese sauce mixture.

8. Add in the cooked and crumbled bacon, mix well until incorporated.

9. Pour cheesy pasta into greased 9x13 casserole dish.

10. Melt butter and combine with bread crumbs then sprinkle on top of pasta in casserole dish.

11. Bake uncovered at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes until edges are bubbly

12. Remove from oven top with more crumbled bacon and green onions, then drizzle sour cream.