Our Old-Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese boasts a rich and creamy sauce oozed in between melted chunks of Colby jack and sharp cheddar cheese, and elbow pasta with a breadcrumb topping. Bake until bubbly, cheesy, and crispy for the ultimate nostalgic pasta recipe!
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Macaroni and cheese is a recipe that’s come a long way. From its 17th-century origin to the famous blue box to gourmet versions infused with truffle oil, lobster, or fancy cheeses like our Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese for Adults, it’s a comforting dish that has taken on many interpretations. But nothing compares to a classic, good old-fashioned baked mac and cheese.
Traditionally, a southern dish known as mac and cheese casserole or macaroni pie, this comforting recipe is typically made with a milk-and-egg base rather than a roux and is usually served as a side dish with any barbecue recipe or holiday gathering like Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Our version is inspired by Southern-style mac and cheese, swapping classic ingredients like Velveeta cheese, cream cheese, and evaporated milk for sour cream, and half and half. The result is a rich and creamy cheese sauce oozed between chunks of sharp cheddar cheese and macaroni elbow noodles with a crispy breadcrumb topping.
Serve this creamy Old Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese with our Sweet Potato Cornbread, Green Bean Casserole, or Curry Fried Chicken.
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
1. Boil the macaroni.
Fill a large pot ¾ full of water and add 1 tablespoon of salt. Bring to a boil, add the macaroni noodles, and cook until al dente, or as per the package instructions.
2. Make the creamy egg mixture.
In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, sour cream, and cream, until the eggs are fully incorporated into the cream. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, then set aside.
3. Toss the noodles with cheese and butter.
Drain and transfer the noodles to a large deep baking dish (about 8”x13”). Add 1 stick of the cubed butter, the cubed Colby jack cheese, and all but 2 cups of the grated cheddar, then toss until evenly distributed throughout the noodles.
4. Add the creamy egg mixture.
Pour the egg mixture over the noodles and toss once more.
5. Top the mac and cheese
Sprinkle the top of the macaroni and cheese with the remaining cheddar, the breadcrumbs, and the chives. Arrange the remaining butter cubes overtop.
6. Cover and bake.
Cover the baking dish with foil or oven-safe glass lid and bake at 375°F for 40 minutes, then remove the foil.
6. Finish baking and enjoy.
Bake an additional 30 minutes, or until the top of golden and crisp, and the mac and cheese is hot and bubbling. Cool for 5 minutes before serving with an additional sprinkling of chives.
This is a great recipe for meal prep. Prepare the macaroni and cheese up to step 5, using a freezer-safe container. Pull it out the day before or the morning you want to eat it and add 20-30 minutes to the cooking time while covered.
Macaroni and cheese is a great canvas for all sorts of flavors. Below are a few of our favorite additions which can be mixed in with the cheese and butter in step 3.
Print
Our Old Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese is loaded with melty Colby jack cheese, sharp cheddar, and a creamy egg custard that's then topped with a cheesy bread crumb topping, making this the most decadent mac and cheese you can find.
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine American, English Inspired, north american
Keyword Adult Mac n Cheese, creamy mac and cheese, Southern mac and cheese
Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes
Total Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
Servings 12 servings
Calories 624kcal
Author Philip Lago and Mystique Mattai
The post Old Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese appeared first on Chef Sous Chef.
[feast_advanced_jump_to]
Macaroni and cheese is a recipe that’s come a long way. From its 17th-century origin to the famous blue box to gourmet versions infused with truffle oil, lobster, or fancy cheeses like our Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese for Adults, it’s a comforting dish that has taken on many interpretations. But nothing compares to a classic, good old-fashioned baked mac and cheese.
Traditionally, a southern dish known as mac and cheese casserole or macaroni pie, this comforting recipe is typically made with a milk-and-egg base rather than a roux and is usually served as a side dish with any barbecue recipe or holiday gathering like Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Our version is inspired by Southern-style mac and cheese, swapping classic ingredients like Velveeta cheese, cream cheese, and evaporated milk for sour cream, and half and half. The result is a rich and creamy cheese sauce oozed between chunks of sharp cheddar cheese and macaroni elbow noodles with a crispy breadcrumb topping.
Serve this creamy Old Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese with our Sweet Potato Cornbread, Green Bean Casserole, or Curry Fried Chicken.
Ingredient List
- Elbow Pasta: Also known as macaroni. When buying dry pasta, choose noodles that are light in color, more cream than yellow. This means the pasta was dried more slowly and generally means it is higher quality vs a more yellow pasta.
- Eggs: Farm fresh, if available.
- Cream: Half and half cream, which we used as a replacement the typical evaporated milk you often find in mac and cheese.
- Sour Cream: Full-fat sour cream brings extra richness and creaminess to the dish.
- Butter: We use salted butter, always have, and always will. Use the best quality available.
- Colby Jack Cheese: Also known as marble cheddar or farmer’s cheese. It is mild, soft, and melts wonderfully.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese: As the name says, it provides a sharp flavor only cheddar brings. Use old or extra-old cheddar if available.
- Breadcrumbs: Use homemade or store-bought, seasoned or unseasoned. The breadcrumbs provide extra texture to the top of this casserole-style macaroni and cheese.
- Chives: Not only makes the dish look beautiful, but chives add a very subtle onion flavor to the mac and cheese.
- Salt: Sea salt or kosher salt.
- Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper.
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
Recipe Steps: How to Make Old Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese
1. Boil the macaroni.
Fill a large pot ¾ full of water and add 1 tablespoon of salt. Bring to a boil, add the macaroni noodles, and cook until al dente, or as per the package instructions.
2. Make the creamy egg mixture.
In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, sour cream, and cream, until the eggs are fully incorporated into the cream. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, then set aside.
3. Toss the noodles with cheese and butter.
Drain and transfer the noodles to a large deep baking dish (about 8”x13”). Add 1 stick of the cubed butter, the cubed Colby jack cheese, and all but 2 cups of the grated cheddar, then toss until evenly distributed throughout the noodles.
4. Add the creamy egg mixture.
Pour the egg mixture over the noodles and toss once more.
5. Top the mac and cheese
Sprinkle the top of the macaroni and cheese with the remaining cheddar, the breadcrumbs, and the chives. Arrange the remaining butter cubes overtop.
6. Cover and bake.
Cover the baking dish with foil or oven-safe glass lid and bake at 375°F for 40 minutes, then remove the foil.
6. Finish baking and enjoy.
Bake an additional 30 minutes, or until the top of golden and crisp, and the mac and cheese is hot and bubbling. Cool for 5 minutes before serving with an additional sprinkling of chives.
Chef's Tip
This is a great recipe for meal prep. Prepare the macaroni and cheese up to step 5, using a freezer-safe container. Pull it out the day before or the morning you want to eat it and add 20-30 minutes to the cooking time while covered.
Additions
Macaroni and cheese is a great canvas for all sorts of flavors. Below are a few of our favorite additions which can be mixed in with the cheese and butter in step 3.
- Spicy: Add 1-2 diced jalapeno peppers into the mac and cheese, then top with thinly sliced jalapeno rings before baking.
- Garlic and Herb: Add a whole head of roasted garlic and 1 sprig of finely chopped fresh rosemary into the mac and cheese before baking.
- Bacon: Cook half a pack of bacon and finely chop it before mixing it into the mac and cheese.
- Greens: If you want to add greens, kale or spinach are your best bet. They will wilt and cook down so you can add a pretty substantial amount. Mix 4 cups of chopped greens into the macaroni and cheese before baking.
Recipe Card
Old Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Our Old Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese is loaded with melty Colby jack cheese, sharp cheddar, and a creamy egg custard that's then topped with a cheesy bread crumb topping, making this the most decadent mac and cheese you can find.
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine American, English Inspired, north american
Keyword Adult Mac n Cheese, creamy mac and cheese, Southern mac and cheese
Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes
Total Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
Servings 12 servings
Calories 624kcal
Author Philip Lago and Mystique Mattai
Ingredients
- 16 oz elbow pasta macaroni shape
- 3 large eggs
- 2 cups cream half and half
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 ½ sticks butter cubed, divided
- 16 oz Colby jack cheese cubed
- 16 oz sharp cheddar cheese grated,divided
- ½ cup bread crumbs
- ¼ cup chives freshly chopped
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the macaroni noodles and cook until al dente, or as per the package instructions.
- In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, sour cream, and cream, until the eggs are fully incorporated into the cream. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, then set aside.
- Drain and transfer the noodles to a large deep baking dish (about 8”x13”). Add 1 stick of the cubed butter, the cubed colby jack cheese, and all but 2 cups of the grated cheddar, then toss until evenly distributed throughout the noodles.
- Pour the egg mixture over the noodles and toss once more.
- Spinkle the top of the macaroni and cheese with the remaining cheddar, the breadcrumbs, and the chives. Arrange the remaining butter cubes overtop.
- Cover the baking dish with foil or oven-safe glass lid and bake at 375°F for 40 minutes. Remove the foil, and bake an additional 30 minutes, or until the top of golden and crisp, and the mac and cheese is hot and bubbling. Cool for 5 minutes before serving with an additional sprinkling of chives.
Notes
Scroll up to view a visual walkthrough of the recipe. If you love cheese pasta, try our Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese for Adults, Camembert Mac and Cheese with Bacon and Kale, or Creamy Baked Gnocchi with Spicy Vodka Sauce. Meal Prep: Prepare recipe steps 1 through 5, adding the macaroni and cheese to a freezer-safe container. Pull it out the day before or the morning you want to eat it and add 20-30 minutes to the cooking time while covered. Pasta Shape Options: Other great pasta shapes for mac and cheese are cavatappi, fusilli, shells, penne, or rigatoni. Cheese Substitutions: You need a soft cheese for melting and a flavorful cheese. Colby jack can be substituted with Monterey Jack, mozzarella, or fontina, while the sharp cheddar can be replaced with a smoked gouda or wine-soaked cheese. Cream Substitution: Evaporated milk is very common in traditional macaroni and cheese which can be used in place of the half and half. For an even creamier version, you can use heavy cream. Choosing Pasta: When choosing pasta in the grocery store, look for lighter-colored noodles, cream in color vs yellow. This is usually an indication that the pasta was dried slowly and evenly, resulting in a higher quality pasta vs yellow noodles. Green Tip: Save the pasta water to clean up after cooking. The starch in the water makes an excellent detergent for washing dishes.Nutrition
Calories: 624kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 25g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 168mg | Sodium: 638mg | Potassium: 235mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1472IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 582mg | Iron: 1mg
The post Old Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese appeared first on Chef Sous Chef.