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    Home » Sides and Veggies

    Published: Oct 6, 2021 · Modified: Feb 8, 2022 by Heather · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Southern Cheddar Mac and Cheese

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    Southern Cheddar Mac and Cheese is everything you want in a mac and cheese. All the carbs, cheesy, saucy, southern goodness you could want!

    Ok, listen. Here is the thing. Mac and cheese is one of my most favorite foods. I'm not ashamed about it. When the craving hits, I satisfy it. But I also don't eat this every day - or even once a week. So when I want some mac and cheese, I get some mac and cheese. 🙂

    Feel me?

    spooning out a scoop of southern cheddar mac and cheese from a clear bowl

    Also, I have been holding out on posting a mac and cheese recipe for a long time, and for good reasons. I have a running list of recipes that will be included in my cookbook someday and this was one of them.

    I should also mention, the cookbook recipes will not be blog recipes. Just FYI 😉

    But alas, I gave in. For lots of reasons - none of which matter now, because Thanksgiving is soon and of course you need another side dish idea and recipe. 😉

    So you're welcome.

    Plus lets be honest. This is a perfect recipe 360 days out of the year. So there you go!

    Ingredients Needed for Southern Cheddar Mac and Cheese

    • Pasta
    • Butter
    • Flour
    • Half and Half
    • Whole Milk
    • Mild Cheddar
    • Salt 
    • Pepper
    • Mustard Powder
    box of pasta, salt, stick of butter, wooden spoon, spoon of flour, pepper, and a bowl of milk in a white counter top

    How to Make Mac and Cheese from Scratch

    Here is the thing. I am actually incredibly picky about my mac. I DO NOT repeat, DO NOT like baked mac and cheese.

    GET OUT OF HERE!

    I need creamy. I need cheesy. I need SAUCY! That comes out of a pot - on the stove - not out of the oven.

    It is simple. No baking required. No crunchy bread crumby topping needed. Just pure cheesy saucy southern goodness.

    PS (If baked bread crumb-y mac is your thing - go for it! It just isn't mine. We can agree to disagree 😉

    This is how my mom made it for us growing up and how it should be done.

    1. First step: make a roux. Equal parts butter and flour, cooked until the flour taste has been cooked out.
    2. Second: Then slowly add in the half and half and milk while getting an arm workout of the year by whisking like your life depends on it. This is the foundation of the thick creamy cheesy sauce that you will want to swim in. As you whisk, the milk mixture will become warm and thick - the perfect scenario to melt some cheese in.
    3. Third: Add in your cheese and spices. Melt slowly. Add in your cooked noodles. Stir to combine and eat immediately.
    • the start of a roux in a black pot on the stove
    • thick milk mixture for Southern Cheddar Mac and Cheese in a black pot on the stove
    • adding shredded cheese to milk mixture in a pot on the stove
    • adding noodles for Southern Cheddar Mac and Cheese in a pot on the stove

    Have I made you hungry yet?

    No one will be able to turn down Southern Cheddar Mac and Cheese. So whenever the craving to creamy and saucy and oh so cheesy carb craving hits - this will be your go-to recipe!

    3 bowl of southern cheddar mac & cheese with a blue napkin and chives next to it

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What if My Mac and Cheese Sauce Gets Too Thick?

    This is best eaten hot and fresh and right away. Once it sits for a while, the noodle will continue to absorb the liquid, making the cheese sauce not as creamy and saucy as before.

    If this happens, you can thin it out by stirring some milk into it and bring it back to life. You can also do this over the stove to warm back up as well.

    What Other Cheese Can I Use for Mac and Cheese?

    I love to use a variety of cheese sometimes if I am feeling like switching things up. Any cheese that melts well will work for this recipe.

    Cheeses such as white cheddar, mild cheddar, gruyere, gouda, cream cheese, goat cheese, or monetary jack.

    Mozzarella works as well but will give you some "stringy pull" to your sauce. Try any combo of your favorites above for a twist on a traditional mac and cheese recipe!

    Can I Use Pre-shredded Cheese for mac and Cheese?

    No. It is best to grate your own cheese for this.

    Using a pre -shredded cheese will result in a clumpy and textured sauce - not smooth and creamy - because of the binding coating agents, they use to make sure the shredded cheese doesn't stick together in the bag.

    Take the extra 5 minutes and shred your own. It is worth it!

    What Kind of Noodles are Best for Mac and Cheese?

    Personally, I think bowtie noodles are the best noodles for anything.

    However, cavatappi, shells, penne, macaroni, and radiatori are some of the other favs I like to use.

    Anything with an opening, holes, and a shape that holds the sauce. So that every bite you take, the noodle is holding a little bit of the lovely cheesy goodness.

    Want More Cheesy Recipes? Here you go!

    • Sous Vide Vanilla Bean Cheesecake
    • Come to the Table: Cheese​y Pepper Pasta
    • Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates Wrapped in Bacon
    • Spinach and Artichoke Puff Pastry Swirls
    • Broccoli Casserole Made without Velveeta
    • Come to the Table: How to Make a Charcuterie Board
    • Broccoli & Cheddar Risotto
    Print
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    3 bowl of southern cheddar mac & cheese with a blue napkin and chives next to it

    Southern Cheddar Mac and Cheese


    • Author: Heather
    • Total Time: 35 minutes
    • Yield: 8-10 1x
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Southern Cheddar Mac and Cheese is everything you want in a mac and cheese. All the carbs, cheesy, saucy, southern goodness you could want!


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 Pound Pasta
    • 1 Tablespoon Butter
    • 1 Tablespoon Flour
    • 1 Cup Half and Half
    • 2 Cups Whole Milk
    • 2 Cups Mild Cheddar - shredded
    • ½ Teaspoon Salt + more to taste if needed
    • ½ Teaspoon Pepper
    • ¼ Teaspoon Mustard Powder

    Instructions

    1. Fill a large pot with water and a generous amount of salt (2 big pinches). Bring to a boil. Add noodles once at a boil and cook according to package directions. Drain once finished and keep to the side until needed.
    2. Shred the cheddar cheese while the noodles are cooking.
    3. In the same large pot, the noodles cooked in, add 1 tablespoon of butter and flour on medium heat. Whisk together as the butter starts to melt and cook for 2-3 minutes.
    4. the start of a roux in a black pot on the stove
    5. Turn heat down to medium-low. Add in ½ cup of half and half while whisking vigorously. The mixture will start to become thick very quickly. It is important to not stop whisking. You want to get all of the clumps of flour out and for this to become a smooth, creamy, and thick mixture. Add in the other ½ cup of half and half and repeat with whisking.
    6. thick milk mixture for Southern Cheddar Mac and Cheese in a black pot on the stove
    7. You will continue on to add the milk, repeating the same whisking process as above and only adding a ½ cup at a time. You want to make sure after each addition the mixture is whisked enough so there are no clumps and it begins to thicken. Once you add the milk, the mixture won't be as thick until you add the cheese - but as it continues to cook it will thicken. It is also important not to stop whisking for the risk of scouring the bottom of the pan and burning the milk mixture.
    8. Once all the liquid has been added, add in your salt, pepper, mustard powder, and cheeses. Whisk to combine. The cheese will slowly begin to melt.
    9. adding shredded cheese to milk mixture in a pot on the stove
    10. Cook for 5-10 minutes or until the cheese has completely melted and the mixture is smooth and warm.
    11. Add in your cooked noodles and mix to coat entirely with cheese.
    12. adding noodles for Southern Cheddar Mac and Cheese in a pot on the stove
    13. Turn the burner on low and serve immediately.

    Notes

    • You can also use up to 3 cups of cheddar in the recipe. You can also sub in gruyere or other melting cheeses for some different variations. 
    • This is best enjoyed right away after you have made it. If the mac and cheese will be sitting on the stove for a while until you eat, it will begin to lose some of the sauce and get too thick. Just add a splash of milk and stir to combine making it sauce and creamy again.
    • Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for 3 days.
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 20 minutes
    • Category: Side Dish/Dinner
    • Method: Cooking
    • Cuisine: American

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 scoop
    • Calories: 402
    • Sugar: 4.9 g
    • Sodium: 305.3 mg
    • Fat: 19 g
    • Carbohydrates: 38.8 g
    • Fiber: 1.5 g
    • Protein: 18.3 g
    • Cholesterol: 57.1 mg

    Keywords: Southern Cheddar Mac and Cheese

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    Tag @fuelingasouthernsoul on Instagram and hashtag it #fuelingasouthernsoul

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    Disclosure. Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means that if you click on a product link, I may receive compensation. This compensation comes at no additional cost to you, and as always I only recommend products I trust!  Heather Bilyeu is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
     
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    Hi, I'm Heather! Grab a glass of wine, a blanket, and a cozy seat on your back porch. I am so glad you are here! Born and raised in Kentucky and with proper southern roots, my love for entertaining and hospitality runs deep within my soul. There is nothing that I love more than having people around my table and loving them through food and drink!

    More about me →

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