Paula Deen's Macaroni and Cheese is Easy To Make and Wonderfully Cheesy! (2024)

Paula Deen's macaroni and cheese recipe is made with simple ingredients and always comes out deliciously cheesy and rich! Combine the ingredients in a baking dish and pop it in the oven for 30 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling. It's the ultimate Southern comfort food!

Serve this with homemade or my delicious Stove Top meatloaf.

If you're from the South or a fan of Southern cooking, then you undoubtedly know of Paula Deen. Her cheesy baked macaroni epitomizes Southern comfort food, and now you can recreate it in your kitchen!

This super simple recipe yields rich and satisfying mac and cheese every time. There are eggs added to the cheese sauce, so it bakes into an almost 'fluffy' consistency that is hard to resist!

🥘 Ingredients

These are the ingredients that Paula Deen uses to make her popular baked macaroni. You can use substitutes as needed; just remember the texture and flavor will also change.

• Elbow Macaroni - 8ounces ofelbow macaronicooked, drained, and rinsed in cool water (2 cups of uncooked noodles).
• Cheddar Cheese - 3 cups of freshly shreddedcheddar cheese(divided into 2 and 1 cup portions).
• Eggs - 3large eggs, or you could try your preferredegg substitute.
• Evaporated Milk - 1cup or 8 ouncesof evaporated milk.
• Sour Cream - ½cup of sour cream or asour cream substitute.
• Salt - ½teaspoon ofkosher salt.
• Unsalted Butter - ¼cupof cubed unsalted butter or a butter substitute.

*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*

🔪 How To Make Paula Deen's Macaroni And Cheese

This macaroni and cheese is ready to eat after a few simple steps! You'll need your measuring utensils, 2 mixing bowls, a whisk, and an 8x8 baking dish to get started.

One 8x8 pan of baked macaroni makes 6-8 servings as a side dish.

1. Preheat. Preheat your oven to 350°F(175°C)and grease an 8x8 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

Mix The Cooked Pasta & Sauce

Mix pasta and cheese. If you haven't already, prepare 8 ounces (250 grams) of elbow macaroni. Add the cooked and drained pasta to a large mixing bowl with 2 of the3 cups (334 grams) of cheddar cheeseand mix until thoroughly combined.

Whisk together liquid ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together3 large eggs,1 cup (252 grams) of evaporated milk,½ cup (61 grams) of sour cream, and½ teaspoon (2 grams) of kosher salt.

Combine. Fold the egg mixture and¼ cup (54 grams) of cubed unsalted butterwith the pasta and cheese until evenly distributed.

Transfer to baking dish. Pour the mixture into your prepared baking dish.

Bake. Bake uncovered at 350°F(175°C)for 30 minutes or until the cheese bubbles.

Add more cheese. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheddar over the top, then pop it back in the oven for 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

Serve. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

🍴 What to Serve With

You can serve this cheesy baked mac and cheese alongside your favorite recipes. In fact, I have a whole page dedicated to what to serve with mac and cheese! Enjoy

💭 Tips & Notes

• 8 ounces of elbow macaroni is about 2 cups of uncooked pasta.
• Always use freshly shredded cheese when making macaroni and cheese. The pre-shredded bags of cheese at the grocery store are coated with cellulose to prevent the cheese from sticking or melting.
• You can butter the dish to prevent sticking. It's not required, but I have found it to be helpful.
• This is Paula Deen's signature recipe, but you can still try out some different cheeses if you prefer a variety. I recommend using at least 1½ cups of cheddar, but the other 1 ½ cups could be Gruyere, gouda, brie, or whatever melting cheese you like! See my post on thebest cheeses for mac and cheesefor more suggestions.

🥡 Storing & Reheating

Once your macaroni has cooled completely, cover it with foil or transfer it to an airtight container and keep it in the fridge. Enjoy within 3-4 days.

Reheating

Individual portions can be reheated in the microwave. Otherwise, you can pop the mac and cheese(in the baking dish)in your oven at350°F(175°C)for 15-20 minutes or until warmed through and bubbling.

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❓ FAQ

🧀 😋 More Mac And Cheese Recipes

• Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese - A gourmet mac and cheese perfect for any occasion!
• Chili Mac - Two comfort foods come together in this savory and satisfying
• Sour Cream Macaroni and Cheese - Super creamy and slightly tangy, this sour cream mac and cheese is downright addicting!
• Velveeta Mac and Cheese - A classic recipe for super creamy Velveeta macaroni that kids and adults will enjoy!
• Crockpot Mac and Cheese - A fuss-free mac and cheese recipe you can set and forget in your slow cooker.
• Microwave Mac and Cheese - If you're craving mac and cheese but don't have much time, microwave mac and cheese will hit the spot!

📖 Recipe Card

Originally published May 25, 2023