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February 1, 2018 By Quin 8 Comments

Southern Style Mac and Cheese + BHM Virtual Potluck

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It sure doesn’t get any better than this southern style mac and cheese. Rich in flavor, extra cheesy, and true to it’s classic southern roots with those crispy brown edges.

Happy Black History Month!!!

I’ve teamed up with 27 other amazingly talented black food blogger’s this month to showcase and celebrate food in black culture. We’re having a virtual Black History Month Potluck for the 2nd year in a row and I couldn’t be happier to contribute a recipe yet again this year! All of us bloggers will be sharing dishes that have deep rooted ties to black culture. I’ll be including all of the recipe links from these amazing bloggers below so be sure to check them out. You’ll find dishes from African to Creole, and Caribbean to Southern; there’s so much deliciousness! I made this epic southern cornbread last year for the potluck and it was a huge hit. There simply aren’t enough words to describe the food in black history and culture. So many dishes have ties to hugely impactful movements within black history.

And if you know me, you know I’m a big pro-black activist. I firmly believe in being vocal about social justice within the black community, buying from black-owned and operated businesses, loving and supporting my fellow black people, and so much more. For the sake of keeping things related, I’ll just stick to talking about food. I’m sorry, but I gotta say it. When it comes to food, black people usually don’t play. We will spend hours upon hours prepping for a special meal. Our food is usually seasoned well with delicious spices, marinades, and sauces. Black people pride themselves on making sure a dish is top notch. And don’t let that dish come out any less than or you will get talked about, ha!

Family get togethers, potlucks, and reunions are usually a staple within black history and culture. You’ll almost always find Aunt Bertha’s fried okra, Cousin Taye’s oxtail, or Momma’s sweet tea. Family reunions are the best where you’ll find copious amounts of food that has been loved on with such history behind it. A stereo blaring heavy beats and groovy tunes is often heard in the background. While everyone waits for the food to be finished and assembled, dance battles with family members have probably ensued. And you might even overhear various family members talking about each other too lol. No matter what though, these very elements make up such a culturally symbolic stamp within black history.

Now I don’t know what’s more southern than mac and cheese.

There is usually a big ole casserole dish full of mac and cheese at almost every, single, black function. I knew that when I was asked to participate in the #BHMPotluck again that I had to make this southern favorite. I’ve been making mac and cheese for years and I’ve always tweaked things, added new flavors, or taken certain ingredients out. I’ve found the most perfect recipe in this here southern style mac and cheese.

In my honest opinion, when it comes to mac and cheese, you either come correct or you don’t come at all. Hence the reason I’ve never found the perfect recipe until now. Southern style mac and cheese is usually baked with loads of cheese, a creamy base to “hold” and bring together the macaroni, and flavorful. It should be a crime for any mac and cheese to come out bland. For this recipe, I’m using three different kinds of cheese. And it’s important that you know I’m going to kindly ask you to hand-grate the cheese yourself instead of buying the pre-shredded kind. I know, I know. You’re probably like, Quin wtf. But I promise that hand grating the sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese yourself yields a more creamy consistency in the finished product.

I’m gonna let you in on a little secret. Next time you buy a pack of pre-shredded cheese look closely at it and you’ll see the saw dust coating on it. This is not entirely bad as it is safe to consume however because of that saw dust, it disrupts that creaminess we want in mac and cheese. Plus, you’ll get a little arm workout in the process and it only takes a few minutes. So hey, you’re still winning!

This southern style mac and cheese is perfect to make for just about any occasion. It’s great for dinner, potlucks, and for the holiday table. Seeing people take their first bite of this mac and cheese is my favorite part. Their eyes usually glaze over with that look. You know, the one where you don’t even have to say the words on how mouthwateringly delicious something is. Yeah, the best feeling ever.

Don’t forget to check out all of the other Black History Month Virtual Potluck recipes below!

Happy Black History Month ✊?

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Southern Style Mac and Cheese

Southern Style Mac and Cheese + BHM Virtual Potluck


★★★★★

5 from 3 reviews

  • Author: Quin
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 35 mins
  • Total Time: 50 mins
  • Yield: 10-12 1x
Print Recipe
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Description

It sure doesn’t get any better than this southern style mac and cheese. Rich in flavor, extra cheesy, and true to it’s classic southern roots with those crispy brown edges.


Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 lb (1 box) elbow macaroni
  • 1 stick unsalted butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups half and half
  • 2 cups (16 oz block) extra sharp cheddar cheese, grated
  • 2 cups (16 oz block) Monterey Jack cheese, grated
  • 8 oz block Velveeta cheese
  • 1 tsp seasoned salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground mustard
  • 1/4 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • A pinch of fresh cracked black pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350Β°F and butter a 9X13-inch baking dish.
  2. Hand-grate the extra sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese and set aside.
  3. In a large sauce pan, bring water to a boil.
  4. Cook macaroni according to package directions (al dente).
  5. Drain water from macaroni and return to pot.
  6. While macaroni is still hot, add butter, and stir until butter has melted completely and fully coated the macaroni.
  7. In a medium sized bowl, combine the eggs, half and half, and all of the spices together. Whisk until fully incorporated.
  8. Add egg mixture to macaroni pot as well as the majority of the grated cheese, leaving a few handfuls for topping. Cube the Velveeta and add in as well. Stir to mix well. The mixture will look creamy and all the cheese should have melted. If you see a few chunks of cheese unmelted, this is ok as any remains will melt away in the oven.
  9. Pour contents into prepared baking dish and top with any remaining grated cheese.
  10. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until top of mac and cheese is lightly golden brown.
  11. Let cool before serving and enjoy!
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Cuisine: Southern

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @butterbeready on Instagram and hashtag it #butterbeready

*BLACK HISTORY MONTH VIRTUAL POTLUCK*

…27 amazing recipes from the best black food bloggers around the web!

Beautiful Eats & Things  Turkey Sausage Stuffed Collard Green Wraps

Better With Biscuits  Corn Pudding

Beyond The Bayou Food Blog  Redfish Courtbouillon

Brandi’s Diary  Better than Jiffy Cornbread from Scratch

Chef Kenneth  Fried Sweet Potato Hand Pie

Chocolate For Basil  Pilau and Kachumbari (Spiced Rice with Pico)

Cooks with Soul  Braised Short Rib Meatloaf

D.M.R. Fine Foods  Cinnamon Raisin Bread Pudding

Dash of Jazz  Nigerian Jollof Rice

Domestic Dee  Fried Peach Hand Pies

Eat.Drink.Frolic.  Olive Oil Collard Greens

Food Fidelity  Mofongo Relleno

Food is Love Made Edible  Buttermilk Biscuits with Fried Chicken and Tabasco Honey

High Heels and Good Meals  Crawfish Γ‰touffΓ©e

HomeMade Zagat  Shrimp with Spicy Curry Cream Sauce

Houston Food Fetish  Sweet Almond Tea Cakes

In the Kitchen w/Kmarie  Pineapple Lemonade

Marisa Moore Nutrition  Bourbon Peach Glazed Salmon

Meiko and The Dish  Candied Bourbon Peach Cobbler

My Life Runs On Food  Lentil Soup and Roast Okra

Orchids + Sweet Tea  Carrot and Zucchini Noodles Stir Fry with Shrimp

Raised on Ramen  Orange Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Savory Spicerack  Creamy Fish Stew

Simply LaKita  Blackberry Cobbler

The Hungry Hutch  Orange Bundt Cake with Vanilla Glaze

The Kitchenista Diaries  Smothered Turkey Wings

The Seasoning Bottle  Honey Turmeric Skillet Chicken

Summary
recipe image
Recipe Name
Southern Style Mac and Cheese
Quin
Published On
2018-02-01
Preparation Time
15M
Cook Time
35M
Total Time
45M
Average Rating
51star1star1star1star1star Based on 2 Review(s)

Filed Under: Sides, Southern

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Trice says

    February 2, 2018 at 2:00 pm

    Girrrrrllll this mac n cheese looks like perfection!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Quin says

      February 4, 2018 at 8:29 am

      Thanks hun! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  2. Olivia says

    January 9, 2019 at 5:14 pm

    This looks De-licious!! Have you ever tired making this as a freezer meal to give someone? If so is there anything that should be done differently? Or just freeze before baking?
    Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Quin says

      January 15, 2019 at 9:52 am

      Hi Olivia! I haven’t tested this recipe to be freezer-friendly but I am thinking that if you freeze before baking, it should turn out just fine πŸ™‚

      Reply
  3. Debra says

    April 26, 2019 at 10:41 pm

    Wow!! Well this was everything you promised it would be. Made it for dinner tonight to test out, and it was flat-out DEVOURED by the family. I’ve been looking for the best Mac and cheese recipe ever as my son requested Mac & Chs for his graduation party (of course every recipe on the internet claims to be the best ever lol). Yours IS!! Deeeelishhh. And for anyone out there like myself who thinks they don’t do velveeta, just relax and go with it. It works, trust.
    Thanks for doing all the legwork and for passing this on! ?

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Quin says

      April 27, 2019 at 10:27 am

      Hi Debra! Thanks so much for this sweet comment- I’m so happy you and your fam enjoyed this mac’ and cheese. This recipe is in my rotation quite often πŸ™‚

      Reply
  4. Kristin says

    January 1, 2021 at 8:01 am

    I rarely take the time to leave a comment however, this needs to be said. This is by far the best mac and cheese recipe my family and I have ever tasted! I am 45 and have been cooking since I was a young girl. I thought my mac and cheese recipe was great. After tasting yours, mine doesn’t hold a candle to yours! I just made this for New Year’s Eve and our extended family was there. There wasn’t a person there who didn’t have seconds or thirds! They went crazy over it! The only thing I didn’t add was the Velveeta. We’re not big fans of it. But it came out amazing anyway! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. It’s going to be the only mac and cheese recipe I use from now on. My recipe is in the trash on it’s way to the dump!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Quin says

      January 1, 2021 at 8:36 am

      Hi Kristin- Wow, thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a sweet comment, I appreciate it!!! πŸ™‚

      Reply

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