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 have to watch my fat intake due to high cholesterol, so I tried this recipe at Christmas using skim milk, fat free cheddar cheese, and light vegetable oil spread. I know there are a lot of traditionalists out there who think comfort foods like this are ruined if you don’t use high fat ingredients, but I’m telling you this turned out beautifully and tasted great! My extended family (who are typically skeptical of anything “healthy”) loved it and happily took home left-overs. My son who was not a mac & cheese lover (either from the box or from scratch) ate it up like crazy and complained that I sent too much of it home with the relatives! He’s asked for this multiple times since, and I’m making it for him tonight, so he’s eagerly awaiting dinner! By the way, I also froze some of the left-overs at Christmas in individual servings as an experiment, and they thawed and reheated just fine in the microwave. Definitely a keeper recipe at my house!
ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!!! This was my 1st time making baked macaroni and cheese and this will be the only recipe I ever use!! Man oh man this is good!! Thank you so much!!!
HOT DAMN!!!!!!!!!!! Your right dis is the best recipy ever my mout is watarin just tinking about it
Thanks so much for this easy as 1-2-3 recipe! I was afraid to attempt baked mac and cheese. My children love it when others make it. I’ve always felt bad that I didn’t know how to make it. I love cooking all types of food. And though Im a soul sister Im more better at italian! LOL. They are eating it now! (all smiles) Thanks sooooooo much!
hella good… Best mac n cheese ive had in a long time. Definitely gonna make it again soon.
Just went around looking for a recipe for Baked Southern Style Mac & Cheese. I have grown up on it and have thru many moves lost my recipe. It is a tradition in the family and is made every sunday with dinner . Im a Southern Girl Born and raised so thsi si something I hold a Heart Warming food for the soul and Family lol.
So I will deffantly be getting the things I dont have already in my kitchen so I can make this. OMG I cant wait. Love the gooeyness of it all and as my mom mad it I will add the Crunchy cheesy parts to the top. Do love that and the whole mac and Cheesy goodness so much so thank you for posting this on the web for ppl like myself to find.
Tank care and Keep up with the wonderful Southern Belly Warming foods for the Soul and heart and Family:)
It’s in the oven right now!!! I love that I usually always have all of the ingredients and my 3 year-old mac’n’cheese lover can help with it!!!!
Thanks! Look good! Thanks for the the pictures as well!!!