Description
This Southern Baked Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food! Creamy, cheesy, and packed with flavor, it’s made with a secret ingredient: mascarpone cheese! Perfect for Sunday dinners or holiday celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (275 g) elbow macaroni
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter (plus more for the baking dish)
- 1 large egg (beaten, room temperature)
- 1 can (13 oz) evaporated milk
- 1 cup (249 g) whole milk (room temperature)
- 8 oz (227 g) extra-sharp white cheddar cheese (shredded)
- 12 oz (340 g) mild cheddar cheese (or Monterey Jack, Fontina, Colby Jack, or Gouda, shredded)
- 8 oz (227 g) mascarpone cheese (room temperature)
- 1½ tsp salt (or to taste)
- 1 tsp Cajun or Creole seasoning
- ½ tsp dry mustard powder (or 1 tsp Dijon mustard)
- ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg
- Fresh cracked pepper (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly coat a 3-quart casserole dish or 9×13 pan with butter or cooking spray.
- Cook macaroni in unsalted water according to package directions, adding 2 extra minutes (usually 12 minutes). Drain and stir butter into macaroni until melted.
- Shred cheese using a box grater or food processor, then mix together the shredded cheeses.
- In a large bowl, whisk together mascarpone and evaporated milk until smooth (lumps are fine).
- Mix in whole milk, salt, Cajun seasoning, mustard powder, and nutmeg.
- Add buttered macaroni to the bowl, then stir in half of the shredded cheese mixture.
- Taste the mixture to adjust seasoning as needed, then stir in the beaten egg.
- Layer half of the mixture in the prepared baking dish, sprinkle with half of the remaining cheese, and repeat with the second half of the mixture and cheese. Top with fresh cracked pepper.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the filling is bubbling. For a browner top, broil for 2-3 minutes, watching carefully.
- Cool for 15 minutes before serving to let the filling set.
Notes
- For a creamier texture, you can substitute half-and-half for the whole milk.
- If you want a bit more heat, add extra Cajun seasoning or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Let the dish cool for 15 minutes to ensure the filling sets properly before serving.
- For added flavor, you can add cooked bacon bits or sautéed onions to the mixture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 95mg