Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Southern Style Special Occasion Macaroni and Cheese

This macaroni and cheese is insanely decadent, buttery, gooey, and over the top cheesy.

Southern Style Macaroni and Cheese

This is not a mac and cheese you want to serve once a week but more say for company, pot lucks, special occasions, events, or holidays ... but I so wanted to make it to share with you. Oh the sacrifice!

This recipe makes a huge casserole dish perfect for the holidays, but also can be easily halved for 6 to 8 servings. Halved it fits nicely into my CorningWare 2 1/2-quart casserole dish - the full recipe I do in a CorningWare 4-quart roaster. Serve hot right out of the oven. To reheat stir in a little extra milk before heating.


Here are some marvelous reviews this macaroni
and cheese has received! Thank y'all so much!!
Steven W: I have been making mac and cheese for years and it has always been a disaster! I made it for my clients over Thanksgiving! You have saved my life. ALL HAIL DEEP SOUTH DISH! I own a catering company in Maryland and I use your recipes all the time. What a life saver! Thank you!

Karen F:  I have to tell you that I tried your macaroni and cheese for thanksgiving, and it was a huge success. I have never been able to master mac and cheese, but I am the queen now.

Wendy H:  Made your wonderful Holiday Mac and Cheese! My family raved about it! Also made your wonderful buttermilk biscuits!

Angel H.  I made your Mac-n-cheese for Thanksgiving! It was amazing and will be the go to recipe from now on!
If you're looking for something a little less rich, more for every day, check out my Everyday Macaroni and Cheese.

If you think this sounds yummy, I'd sure it if you'd click to pin it, tweet it, stumble it, or share it on Facebook to help spread the word - thanks!

Share

Recipe: Mary's Southern Style Special Occasion Macaroni and Cheese

©From the Kitchen of Deep South Dish
Prep time: 20 min |Bake time: 35 min | Yield: About 12 servings

Ingredients
  • 2 pounds of elbow macaroni
  • 1 pound of cheddar cheese
  • 1 pound of Monterey jack cheese
  • 2 pound block of Velveeta cheese
  • 2 to 2-1/2 cups of milk
  • 4 eggs, beaten
  • Kosher salt, freshly cracked pepper and Cajun seasoning, to taste
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) of butter
Instructions

Boil noodles, rinse, drain and set aside. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Shred the cheddar and jack cheeses, stir together and set aside. Meanwhile, pour 2 cups of milk into a large saucepan and warm over medium low heat. Cut up the Velveeta into chunks, add to the saucepan and cook over medium low heat until all of the cheese has melted. Add the additional milk only if needed to thin. Remove from the heat and set aside. Crack the eggs into a separate bowl and lightly whisk. Scoop out some of the cheese sauce and slowly add that to the eggs to temper them, continuously whisking as you add the liquid to the eggs. Once well tempered, add the eggs to the cheese sauce and whisk together until well mixed.

Spray a large (3-/12 quart) baking dish or casserole pan with non-stick cooking spray. Add half of the elbow noodles and season with salt, pepper and Cajun seasoning. Slice thin layers of butter and spread them around on top of the noodles. Sprinkle 1/2 of the cheddar/jack cheese combo over the noodles. Ladle 1/2 of the Velveeta cheese sauce over that. Repeat the layers of noodles, seasoning, butter, cheddar/jack cheese, and Velveeta sauce.

Cook at 375 degrees F, uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes, or until bubbly and browned. Makes about 12 servings.


Note: I use Land O'Lakes butter.

Source: http://deepsouthdish.com

Requires Adobe Reader - download it free!
©Deep South Dish
Are you on Facebook? If you haven't already, come and join the party! We have a lot of fun & there's always room for one more at the table.
Check These Recipes Out Too!

Roasted Red Pepper Pimento Cheese
Cheesy Garlic Bread
Crabmeat Au Gratin
Posted by on December 17, 2008

Images and Full Post Content including Recipe ©Deep South Dish. Pinning and sharing links is welcomed and encouraged, but please do not repost or republish elsewhere such as other blogs, websites, or forums without explicit prior permission. All rights reserved.

Material Disclosure: Unless otherwise noted, you should assume that post links to the providers of goods and services mentioned, establish an affiliate relationship and/or other material connection and that I may be compensated when you purchase from a provider. You are never under any obligation to purchase anything when using my recipes and you should always perform due diligence before buying goods or services from anyone via the Internet or offline.
.

Bookmark and Share

82 comments:

  1. Mmmmmm. I can just imagine how good that tastes.

    ReplyDelete
  2. oh my, I'm addicted to cheese. . .that looks fantastic

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ladies it is so decadent! Thanks for stoppin' by!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I made this last night for a party we had. It was a hit with everyone but I have to tell you the biggest compliment came from my Hubby. First I have to tell you he hates my blogging hobby. It has been the cause of many fights. After he tasted your mac and cheese recipe and said how wonderful it was about 20 times he then said "you getting this recipe is worth your blogging!"
    That is as big of a compliment I've ever heard from my husband!
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Aw Tori, always good to get the hubs with the food LOL! thanks so much!

    Thanks MsMaj! So glad you enjoyed it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ok I just pulled it out of the oven and I couldnt wait for dinner to try it so I got myself a little bowl and it is sooooo good! I used Colby jack instead of chedder and jack and I am very impressed. My family is going to LOVE this one. I have yet to be disappointed with anything I have tried from your website! Having this and BBQ chicken pieces for dinner with of course another pitcher of the sweet tea :D I love to cook and have been looking for some good ole southern recipes that I loved as a child growing up in the dirty south of Tx and these definitely hit the spot! Thanks again

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks again Stephy!! I'm so glad you're enjoying the recipes. Thanks so much for taking the time to come back and leave a comment again. I hope I can continue to give you recipes you love!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. It was sounding wonderful until the Velveeta; can't stand that stuff, it tastes like fake cardboard. I'll have to try substituting another cheese cause I've gotta try it!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh I know not everybody is a fan of Velveeta but I most certainly am and well, sorry but I have to disagree about that taste comparison. I find it to be quite tasty actually. I have always been a fan, and always will be, and for mac & cheese, you cannot beat the creaminess it adds. But we can agree to disagree on that - happy Thanksgiving!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fake cardboard? What does real cardboard taste like? Too funny!

      Delete
    2. Lol. I have a question Dixiedaw: When you compared the taste of velveeta to that of cardboard; were you in fact eating the packaging or the cheese product? Lol...ija

      Delete
    3. If Velveeta tastes like cardboard, fake or real, I would gladly chew up a box in a heartbeat lol. Love me some Velveeta...the original and the newer white variety. Yum!!

      Delete
    4. I swear Kellie! And they have a new cheddar variety & one other that I can't remember that just recently got introduced! I love all kinds of cheeses but I will always love my Velveeta!

      Delete
    5. I'm a grown man, 53 years old who grew up southern and proudly still am.I LOVE to cook and always have. I thought I knew mac-n-cheese and that mine was best!But, I sat down and cried when I tried this!Mary, this brought back all the memories of covered dish suppers,dinner on the grounds at church, and all the homecomings growing up!But this is by far, better than any I ever had!My mother(who's the best southern chef I've ever known)who has taught me everything I know in the kitchen, cried the first time I ever made her pot roast and said "Kevin ,you amaze me!I You're a better cook than me..From now on you make the roasts"She is 86 now and not doing well in a nursing home.She hasn't eaten much in several days and mac -n-cheese is her favorite. When I brought her some of this last week,her eyes got wide open when she tasted this!She said" Kevin, I did'nt teach you this!Where did you learn to make this"?I told her of your blog as I watched her eat every bite!I left some in her fridge and the dietary staff and her roommate is having fits over how I made it(I'm keeping it a secret,haha).Mom is real popular now and residents and staff alike ask her, "Whens your son coming back Emma Jean?When,when,when"?"!!Thank-you soo much for helping me bring "comfort" to her when she needed it most!Her appetite has improved since ,and I think it was like a dose of TLC that she needed from a good ole plate of some "Down Home Love"!!Bless you Mary, I'll never make mine again.Love from Dixie!!

      Delete
    6. I'm a grown man, 53 years old who grew up southern and proudly still am.I LOVE to cook and always have. I thought I knew mac-n-cheese and that mine was best!But, I sat down and cried when I tried this!Mary, this brought back all the memories of covered dish suppers,dinner on the grounds at church, and all the homecomings growing up!But this is by far, better than any I ever had!My mother(who's the best southern chef I've ever known)who has taught me everything I know in the kitchen, cried the first time I ever made her pot roast and said "Kevin ,you amaze me!I You're a better cook than me..From now on you make the roasts"She is 86 now and not doing well in a nursing home.She hasn't eaten much in several days and mac -n-cheese is her favorite. When I brought her some of this last week,her eyes got wide open when she tasted this!She said" Kevin, I did'nt teach you this!Where did you learn to make this"?I told her of your blog as I watched her eat every bite!I left some in her fridge and the dietary staff and her roommate is having fits over how I made it(I'm keeping it a secret,haha).Mom is real popular now and residents and staff alike ask her, "Whens your son coming back Emma Jean?When,when,when"?"!!Thank-you soo much for helping me bring "comfort" to her when she needed it most!Her appetite has improved since ,and I think it was like a dose of TLC that she needed from a good ole plate of some "Down Home Love"!!Bless you Mary, I'll never make mine again.Love from Dixie!!

      Delete
    7. Oh my goodness Kevin now you have me in tears!! But... it's the good kind. This comment means the world to me, thank you so much for taking the time to share this. Much love to both you and your mother and many more happy dishes ahead!

      Delete
  10. You are gonna save my Thanksgiving!!! And I am all about cooking from scratch and with fresh ingredients... But Velveeta is like Cream of Mushroom Soup, or Sweetened Condensed Milk... It's not fresh or homemade, but an essential and traditional ingredient in the Southern kitchen! Way to go!!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. To the person who doesnt like Velveeta- all you have to do is get a large can of evap milk and heat it on med-lo heat. add sum butter and about a cup of sharp cheddar cheese. Its rich and creamy and so yummy instead of the fake cheese. This is to just replace the velveeta not the rest. =)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Rachelle In JacksonvilleNovember 24, 2010 at 10:50 AM

    Hey there I plan on making this for Thanksgiving tomorrow, do you think it would be okay to mix everything tonight and then just bake it off tomorrow or do you think it would lose its creaminess and the pasta would get to mushy?

    ReplyDelete
  13. I prefer mac and cheese fresh myself so I never make it ahead, but you can make mac and cheese ahead of course. Can't attest to the change in quality personally though. Just either allow it to come to room temperature or allow extra time for cooking and if you're using toppings don't apply those until just before you cook it.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I made this for our Thanksgiving Dinner. It turned out wonderful. Nothing but praises from the entire family. Especially my 5yo grand daughter, who is the picky one in the family. She even ate it the next day. Thanks so much for all of your recipes. You have single handedly restored my love of cooking with all your recipes.

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a great compliment Jeannie! Thanks so much for taking the time to come back and leave a comment. I'm so glad y'all enjoyed the recipe!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. This was a huge hit for Thanksgiving. My sis isn't a fan of velveeta either so I just didn't tell her it was in it. Well, low and behold she just had to have the recipe. I seem to love all your recipes.....Thanks bunches!!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh Amy that's hilarious! I can't imagine her expression when you showed her the recipe. Glad you're enjoying the recipes!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hello! Yummy, my daughter eats the leftovers in a Mac and cheese burrito with pickled jalapeño slices she loves it! And so do I!

    ReplyDelete
  19. My daughters eat the levers in a Mac and cheese burrito with jalapeño slices! We both love it! I just strolled across your sight and can not wait to try many more recipes. I lived in Louisiana from 4 hrs to 15 hrs of age. My family is all from Texas. So I am super excited!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Welcome Serenity! That burrito is new to me, but how can you go wrong?!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Ms. Mary, OMG!!! I made your mac-n-cheese, candied yams, and Coca Cola ham for dinner today. My whole NEIGHBORHOOD came to eat! It was wonderful. I swear, this is the BEST macaroni and cheese, EVER!!!! My husband's eyes literally rolled back in his head. With each bite, my best friend had to stop and sigh. I almost died, it was just so good. Thank you so much for sharing. You're the southern Mama I never had!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Karnisha, I'd be more than happy to sit in as your southern mama!! I wish you could see the smile on my face after reading your comment just now. Thanks for lighting up my night!! :D

    ReplyDelete
  23. Is the recipe above for Southern Style Special Occasion Macaroni and cheese the full version or the halved one? It says it can be halved to feed 6-8 people, but the directions say it is to feed 6-8. Just wanted to make sure I had the right size dish available. Thanks so much. Can't wait to try it!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi Rukhsana - thank you for pointing that out & sorry for the confusion. That was me playing around with some new coding that requires adding yield. The recipe as stated makes the big batch - probably around 12 servings or more, meant for holidays. Halved is the one that will yield about 6 to 8 servings. Hopefully I have clarified that. Thanks so much!!

    ReplyDelete
  25. i cooked this today and now have plenty of leftovers, just wondering can it be frozen?

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi Adrienne! Yeah, this is a holiday recipe so even halved it still makes a fairly large casserole. I have never had any leftover but I think if you prtion it out into serving sizes in small freezer containers or else freezer bags & it should be fine. Hope you enjoyed it!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I made the full recipe for Easter this year. We hosted our family and several friends. Needless to say, it was the belle of the buffet!! My sister-in-law had two girlfriends staying with her so she took home some of the leftovers! They had it for supper the next day. The rest went home with our daughter and the grandkids. Guess I'll have to make another batch so we can have some leftovers!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hey Renee! Thanks for coming back to share your comment - I appreciate that!

    ReplyDelete
  29. gotta love me some mac and cheese, i'll have to add some ingredients to my next shopping list for sure. PS, will this one eventually have the add to recipe box? or am i blind and just missed it, thanxxxxxxxxxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  30. Guess I haven't gotten to this one yet - I'll do it tonight!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Do you usually cook the noodles have way through so that they are not completely cooked so it can be cooked in the oven

    ReplyDelete
  32. I just cook them al dente, about 1 minute under the lowest time recommended on the package. Hope that helps & Happy Thanksgiving!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I'm making this for Thanksgiving tomorrow....will a 9 x 13 glass dish be big enough?

    ReplyDelete
  34. Hi BJ! A 9 x 13 will work if you're doing a half recipe. If you're doing the full recipe it needs about a 4 quart baking dish - like a small roasting pan. A 9 x 13 probably holds about 2 quarts, so potentially for the full recipe you would likely need two of those 9 x 13 inch pans. Hope that helps. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hi BJ! I just measured out my 9 x 13 x 2 inch baking dish. It held 12 cups - 3 quarts - but that is to the brim & won't allow for any expansion of the casserole. I would go with two 9 x 13s divided evenly and that'll be safe. Hope that helps!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Mary , Could I make this a day ahead??? Put it all together and cook it the next day ???
    Thanks Connie

    ReplyDelete
  37. Well Mary, I had asked you earlyer if I could put this dish together and cook it tomorrow, well could not wait for your answer, and went ahead and cooked it !!!! You have another winner here. OMG was SOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD !!! Now if me and hubby can stop testing and eating it , I will just heat it up for Mothers Day Dinner.....This will be the only mac and cheese I will ever cook again. It did half very easy .Thanks Connie from Va

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Connie - I'm thrilled that y'all enjoyed it!! Sorry I missed your question - was away from the computer & technology to spend some time with my family. I know that some readers have mentioned wanting to make it ahead, but I haven't done that personally so can't attest to how this dish does making it ahead.

      Delete
  38. Is there something that I could do to prevent the mac and cheese from becoming like scrambled eggs whenever it comes out of the oven? I did everything according to the recipe but when I use eggs in mac and cheese the eggs come out scrambled.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi again Jane! I've never had scrambled eggs in any sauce that is tempered well first. If you beat the eggs well first, then temper the eggs, by slowly adding a little bit of the hot cheese sauce to the eggs, while whisking, add a little more sauce to the eggs, while whisking, etc. you should not have any scramble. If you just add eggs directly to a hot sauce, you'll definitely get a scramble. Tempering the eggs is key anytime you make a sauce. However, if you find you have some little bits of scrambled egg, you can usually salvage the sauce before going forward, by straining it. Once you've scrambled the eggs with the hot sauce, the structure will not change through cooking further in the oven, so if you really scrambled them, you pretty much have to start over with your sauce. Hope that helps!

      Delete
  39. Hi Mary,I did temper it well(had hubby slowly add it whilst I continuously whisked it).Maybe its because I did not use enough Velveeta but regardless I will continue trying to perfect it until I get a creamy mac and cheese.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now I'm really confused that you got a scrambled egg effect in your sauce! Now, if what you are referring to is a curdled effect, then it sure could be that you didn't have enough Velveeta ratio. Cheddar will often create curdled mac and cheese without some kind of processed cheese like Velveeta in the mix, which is why I love this recipe. I know that the amount of cheese is ungodly in this recipe - that's why I make it as my "special occasion" mac and cheese - it's pretty rich! But yeah, it's the Velveeta that is the key to making a nice, creamy mac and cheese like this, so you definitely need the full amount of it to get the same one pictured.

      Delete
  40. Oops meant curdled instead of scrambled.I am going out to buy more Velveeta now.Either way I know that with your great recipe I will get it right next time :)

    ReplyDelete
  41. Oh good! Cheddar is notorious for curdling - that's why I use the Velveeta. It helps to balance that out. One day I'm gonna figure out how to make a mac and cheese without it that doesn't curdle though - I am determined!! In the meantime I've eaten a lot of mac and cheese LOL!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  42. Hello I want to try this recipe for turkey day what harm do you think it will do to add sour cream if any???

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, I don't really know Stacey! I like it just like it is, so I haven't added sour cream. Let me know if you try it though!

      Delete
    2. Thanks I think i will do half and half or two different ones not a cheese fan but the kids are but when I eat it it has to be from someone's grandma and they always say sour cream 0_o so I'm ready to try it lol!

      Delete
    3. This is my favorite holiday mac & cheese because I like mine super cheesy & creamy. There are so many varieties of mac and cheese out there though. I have been working on a recipe for a gooey version (even thought that's not my favorite way) to put up here on the site & I can't tell you how many revisions of the recipe I wrote I have run through, but still haven't' gotten to my vision yet!! I keep trying though.

      I hope everybody enjoys this version! I'll be anxious to see what you thought of the variation with sour cream. I'm sure that will just add more creaminess plus a little tang!

      Delete
  43. is there any other seasonings i can replace cajun with? i have creole seasoning and old bay on hand.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Creole seasoning is fine, though you can actually also just omit that if you don't want the "heat"

      Delete
  44. Hi Mary,
    I just want to make sure that the recipe calls for actual butter and not margarine? I'm making this for Thanksgiving, can't wait to try it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do use butter Geneva! Hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

      Delete
  45. I made this yesterday for Thanksgiving. YUM!! I have been looking for a mac and cheese that maintains a creamy texture even when cooling off. This is it! It was creamy even when cold. The only thing I'll do differently next time is wait to bake it until just before I'm ready to serve. I baked it all the way through, and then it cooled off. When I reheated it, the top layer got a little tough. All in all, it's a keeper, and I will make it again. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I prefer this one fresh from the oven too. I think if you covered it for a reheat it'd probably do better. Glad that you enjoyed it & thanks so much for coming back by to let me know!!

      Delete
  46. I like to add cherry tomatoes and diced ham for a bit of variety.

    ReplyDelete
  47. I have been making my famous Mac & cheese for years and am always asked to bring it to family gatherings. This year I decided to try your recipe and took it to our Christmas dinner. It was a huge hit! Everyone liked it better than my usual. Thanks...this will be my new Mac & Cheese recipe! So Good!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Misty! I'm so glad it was a hit with your family & really appreciate you taking the time to come back by to let me know. Happy New Year!!

      Delete
  48. Any idea what the calorie and fat content is? I might be skeered to find out LOL. I am curious though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Absolutely NO idea & I'm too skeered to find out LOL!!

      Delete
  49. I am making this TONIGHT!!!!!! looks soooooo good

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a site favorite so I hope that you enjoy it!!

      Delete
  50. I made this for a family gathering on Sunday and it was a huge hit. It passed the mac & cheese test of my four year old niece, my 13 year old daughter and my hubby! All three picky mac&cheese eaters. Daughter said it was the best she ever had!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, that's pretty amazing Kristie!! I'm so glad everybody enjoyed it & thank you for taking the time to come back and let me know. Happy New Year!

      Delete
  51. OMG, I made this tonight, and I think I died and went to Mac & Cheese heaven, this was the BEST, I mean BEST, did I mention BEST ever Baked Mac & Cheese I have ever eaten, This is my NOW & FOREVER recipe

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much & thanks for stopping back by to let me know!

      Delete
  52. OMG, I made this tonight, and I think I died and went to Mac & Cheese heaven, this was the BEST, I mean BEST, did I mention BEST ever Baked Mac & Cheese I have ever eaten, This is my NOW & FOREVER recipe

    ReplyDelete
  53. This was not creamy at all. All I did different was split it into two pans. The ingredients were so expensive. It was dry noodles with random globs of cheese from the cheddar. I don't know what went wrong.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gosh I'm so sorry! As you can see, there are plenty of great reviews and I can tell you that this mac & cheese is indeed very creamy so I really can't imagine why you didn't get the same results.

      Delete
    2. I'm wondering Joei if you attempted to make this without the Velveeta and only cheddar? The reason I wrote it with Velveeta is because I do not like the way that cheddar turns out on its own, or even in combination with other cheeses such as the Jack cheese here, much like the result that you describe. Velveeta is what gives this mac and cheese it's special creaminess & is a necessary ingredient in this recipe!

      Delete
  54. PamMaDee
    Bravississima, Mary. We don't get to have this treat often, but it is always a delight! Served yesterday as a special side dish for Easter. I let the kids have samples beforehand while the rest of our meal was being prepared. They still ate more at dinner and some even had thirds. Truly a 5 star recipe. Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome & thanks so much for stopping by to let me know! It's really a great recipe for the holidays & I'm so glad that the kids enjoyed it!!

      Delete

Thanks for taking the time to comment - I love hearing from readers and I read every single comment and try to respond to them right here on the site, so stop back by!

From time to time, anonymous restrictions and/or comment moderation may be activated due to comment spam. I also reserve the right to edit, delete or otherwise exercise total editorial discretion over any comments left on this blog.

Hey Y’all! Welcome to some good ole, down home southern cooking. Pull up a chair, grab some iced tea, and 'sit a bit' as we say down south. If this is your first time visiting Deep South Dish, you can sign up for FREE updates via EMAIL or RSS feed, or you can catch up with us on Facebook and Twitter too!
Articles on this website are protected by copyright. You are free to print and sharing via Facebook share links and pinning with Pinterest are appreciated, welcomed and encouraged, but do not repost photographs, post text or recipe text on other websites, blogs, forums or other internet sites without prior written approval.
Click for additional information.

 
Related Posts with Thumbnails