Oven-Baked Mac and Cheese (Southern Plate Favorite)
This oven-baked mac and cheese recipe is a favorite among Southern Plate readers and it’s easy to see why. You need just a short list of ingredients to make this easy baked macaroni and cheese dish the whole family will love.
It’s just about a requirement that all Americans love classic baked macaroni and cheese in some form and at some time in their lives, I’m no different. Growing up, my mother made a creamy homemade mac and cheese with a sauce that was smooth as silk and permeated every particle of perfectly cooked macaroni. It was my brother’s favorite comfort food, so she usually made it every Sunday.
As a teen, we all became well acquainted with the boxed stuff, thrilling over the marvel and convenience of the powdery sauce which combined with milk to deliver the ideal after-school snack for three busy young people on the go.
After I had my own kids, however, I quickly learned why my mother seldom ate mac and cheese. My kids loved it so much that I got burned out just from stirring those countless pots of pasta.
Then a few years ago I realized something – I missed my mac and cheese. I needed to reacquaint myself with it. While my mother’s mac and cheese is to die for, I longed for a stringy, cheesy, casserole, version in my adult years. Something as far from the boxed stuff as I could get without introducing things my children would consider “weird”.
That’s when this oven-baked mac and cheese recipe was born. It’s super simple and easy to make. All you need is 5 ingredients (well six or seven if you count the salt and pepper 🙂 and after about an hour and your macaroni and cheese will be ready. Let’s begin!
Recipe Ingredients
- Cheddar cheese
- Plain flour
- Macaroni pasta
- Butter
- Milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
Simple ingredients = an amazing oven-baked mac and cheese recipe!
How to Make Oven-Baked Mac and Cheese
Cook the pasta until tender and then drain it.
Mix all of the dry ingredients together and then set them aside.
Spray an oven-safe bowl or dish with cooking spray. Place half of the cooked macaroni inside.
Sprinkle half of the flour mixture over the top.
Then top it with half of the butter slices.
Sprinkle 1+1/2 cups of shredded cheese over the top.
Repeat the layering process again.
Pour milk over the entire macaroni and cheese casserole.
Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 35 minutes.
Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Serve hot.
Everything I’ve ever wanted in oven-baked mac and cheese is pictured right there!
A lot of people view this as a side dish but I confess, it’s been the entire meal on more than one occasion.
At this point, my son came in and said “Ma, when is the macaroni and cheese gonna be done?”.
I showed him this and his eyes got “big as dollars” as my grandmother would say!
Oh to be a kid again :).
Storage
Store mac and cheese leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave.
Recipe Notes
- You can definitely make this oven-baked mac and cheese recipe your own. Here are some ideas:
- Add shredded chicken or cooked bacon.
- Need some vegetables? Add sautéed onion and finely chopped bell pepper.
- Add the dried herbs of your choice, such as onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika for heat.
- As I said, I totally serve this as a main dish and my family doesn’t complain! But if you serve it as a side dish, it goes great with Southern favorites like fried chicken and pulled pork.
- Need to top your Southern baked mac and cheese with a crumbly topping? Sprinkle on some panko breadcrumbs and you’re good to go!
- You can use any you like (just not pre-shredded!). I like and combined.
You may also like these recipes:
Baked Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
One-Pot No Drain Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups uncooked macaroni
- 2 1/2 tbsp flour
- 1 1/4 tsp salt
- pepper to taste I use about a teaspoon
- 4 tbsp butter, thinly sliced
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese mild or sharp, your preference
- 1 cup whole milk
Instructions
- Cook the pasta until tender and then drain it.2 1/2 cups uncooked macaroni
- Mix all of the dry ingredients together and then set them aside.2 1/2 tbsp flour, 1 1/4 tsp salt, pepper to taste
- Spray an oven-safe bowl or dish with cooking spray. Place half of the macaroni inside. Sprinkle half of the flour mixture over the top and then top it with half of the butter slices. Sprinkle 1+1/2 cups of cheese over the top and repeat.4 tbsp butter, thinly sliced, 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Pour milk over the entire macaroni and cheese casserole.1 cup whole milk
- Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Serve hot.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
I know im late…but i tried this recipe yesterday for the 4th of July and this is by far THE BEST mac recipe ever. It was gone in about 10 mins. Thank you!
Oh my goodness, I am so glad to hear it was a hit!!! Hope you had a great 4th!!
This is close to how my mom and I now make my mac and cheese, but I melt the butter and add bread crumbs to the butter, put it on top after you poor in the milk and don’t add the butter to the layers. Makes a nice crispy topping. Sometimes I use garlic salt instead of the salt. Delicious!!!
THIS is the mac and cheese recipe I’ve been looking for! Perfection!!! Now if only I could find the long skinnier macaroni like my aunt used to make I could go back in time 😉
I am so glad you like it Kathryn!!! I hope you can find the noodles!!!
I just made this mac & cheese a couple of nights ago. It is now my go to! I absolutely love it!!! It’s better than boxed Kraft or frozen Stouffers and so easy. Thank you thank you thank you 🙂
I am so glad you like it Robin!!
I make this recipe at every holiday to take to my parent’s house. My dad loves it and so does the rest of the family.
I grew up in the boxed stuff, but it just doesn’t seem right to serve it at the holidays. I would rarely make homemade macaroni and cheese because of all the complicated recipes out there (with a lot of ingredients) that could get expensive for a simple side dish. This recipe is so quick and easy! Thanks so much for helping me make a holiday tradition.
I am so glad to hear it is always a big hit!!!
Made this last nite and it brought back memories! This is exactly how my mother in law used to make hers. After she passed I could never recreate it…until now! Thank you so much for this recipe. Made it exactly as you listed …except I might have added more cheese. Seem to remember my mother in law not measuring.
I am so glad to hear you liked it and that it brought back some precious memories!!!
I should have added that I LOVE this recipe as is and friends request it 🙂 I just have a bunch of LOLakes American and am curious if it would be a creamy version. Thank you!!