Description
Creamy southern comfort shines in Paula Deen’s macaroni and cheese, delivering rich cheesy goodness. Comfort classic guaranteed to satisfy hungry diners with its indulgent blend of cheeses and hearty pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups (10 oz) cheddar cheese, shredded, sharp
- ½ cup (2 oz) Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 3 large eggs
- 4 tbsps unsalted butter
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups (8 oz) elbow macaroni
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp dry mustard powder
Instructions
- Preheat Preparation: Warm the oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Pasta Preparation: Cook elbow macaroni in salted water until al dente, drain, and return to the cooking pot.
- Sauce Creation: In a saucepan, craft a velvety roux by melting butter and whisking in flour until golden, then gradually incorporate milk, stirring constantly to create a smooth, thickened base.
- Cheese Integration: Remove sauce from heat and blend in cheddar, sharp cheese, and eggs until the mixture becomes glossy and uniform.
- Combining Elements: Fold the cheese sauce over the cooked macaroni, ensuring every pasta piece is thoroughly coated.
- Baking Preparation: Transfer the mac and cheese to the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly and topping with additional cheese and breadcrumbs for a crisp crust.
- Final Cooking: Bake for 35-40 minutes until the top achieves a golden-brown hue and edges become slightly bubbly.
- Serving: Allow the dish to rest for 10 minutes, which helps the cheese set and enhances the overall flavor profile.
Notes
- Control Pasta Texture: Boil macaroni just until al dente to prevent mushy consistency, ensuring pasta retains slight firmness when baking.
- Prevent Sauce Separation: Temper eggs by slowly adding hot cheese mixture while whisking constantly to avoid scrambling and maintain smooth, creamy texture.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Use room temperature cheese and grate it freshly for optimal melting, creating a more uniform and luxurious sauce without graininess.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Substitute regular milk with lactose-free or plant-based alternatives, and use gluten-free breadcrumbs for individuals with dietary restrictions while maintaining rich, comforting flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg