Easy Baked Mac and Cheese

Creamy, cheesy, soft, comforting, southern soul food like easy baked mac and cheese is the BEST, right? Even better when it only takes 30 minutes! 

Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese

Why This Recipe Works

• Uses up leftover macaroni noodles!
• Easy way to use extra evaporated milk! 
• FAST 
• EASY!

 Here’s How It’s Done

STEP 1. 

Start off with already cooked macaroni noodles.

soul food macaroni and cheese

STEP 2. 

Add Cheese.

creamy baked mac and cheese

STEP 3. 

Add more cheese! (You’ll notice that this is a different dish! My family ate up the previous one before I could get good photos, so I switched to the other dish for photos here). 

soul food macaroni and cheese

STEP 4. 

Keep layering cheese and noodles. 

Creamy mac and cheese

STEP 5. 

Mix up the wet ingredients. 

soul food macaroni and cheese

STEP 6. 

Pour those over the top of the layered noodles and cheese. 

creamy mac and cheese

STEP 7. 

Bake and Serve!

Soul food macaroni and cheese

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Can I Freeze this Mac and Cheese?

Yes, you absolutely can!  Put in a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. 

How Long Is Mac and Cheese Good For?

This will last for 5 days in the refrigerator.

Don’t allow it to sit out for more than 2 hours before refrigerating. 

Can I make a crunchy top for this Super Creamy Mac and Cheese? 

Yes! Here’s how…

1. Use 1/2 cup of one of the following and mix it with
2. 3 Tbs of melted butter and
3. 1/4 tsp of salt .
4. Sprinkle over the top of the mac and cheese before baking. 

Try one of these: 

• Panko Bread Crumbs
• Crushed Potato Chips
• Pretzels Crushed
• Seasoned Italian Bread Crumbs
• Crushed potato stix
• Toasted bread crumbs

Should I Put Egg in My Mac and Cheese? 

Yes! Definitely put egg in your Mac and Cheese!  The egg gives the whole dish that fluffy quality that everyone loves! 

Can You Use Evaporated Milk in Soul Food Mac and Cheese?

Yes! For SURE!  Evaporated milk is what makes this dish so creamy! 

Can I substitute Milk for the Evaporated Milk in this Recipe?

Yes, you can, but your final dish will be less creamy! 

Can I Use Almond Milk or another Milk Substitute in This Recipe? 

Yes, You can, but the end result won’t taste the same and will not have the same creaminess.

Can I Make Soul Food Macaroni and Cheese on the Stove Top? 

This recipe only works in the oven. Check out the related recipes below for my super creamy and soulful mac and cheese recipe!

What Kind Of Cheese Do I Use for Baked Mac and Cheese? 

Use very flavorful cheeses! Check out the recipe, I give you several to try. 

What To Serve With This Super Creamy Mac and Cheese? 

We love these Ribs and how about Meatloaf or Hamburgers?

Corn and Tomato Pie are winners too! 

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR EASY BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE

• Prepare the 9×13 pan with non stick cooking spray. If you forget, it won’t’ be the end of the world, but some of the stuff might stick to the pan, which is no fun to clean up.
• You will want to buy the blocks of cheese and grate them yourself – the cheese just has a better taste that way. Cabots is a great choice for this.
• Do NOT over cook the noodles when you are pre cooking them – just follow the package instructions for “al dente”. That means the noodles will still be a tiny bit firm or “toothsome” (what al dente means anyway). If you over cook the noodles, they will be floppy and that makes mac and cheese yuck!
• Make sure to drain your noodles well – don’t rinse them!
• You CAN use MORE cheese, if that is what you like! I LOVE more cheese!
• You CAN make a topping for this if you want – just crush up some crackers (like a ritz cracker) and mix in a few tbs of melted butter – sprinkle over the top before baking.
• Nutmeg?  Yep – you’ll be glad you did. In case you want to know what the USDA recommends, you can check it out!
• Make sure your eggs are beaten well.
• I know, I know. Some of you don’t like garlic – just leave it off if you don’t. No harm – but, really, you don’t like garlic?
• What kitchen utensils do you need for this? Not anything special – a 9×13 baking dish, a pot to boil the noodles, a whisk is useful for the egg mixture, a can opener for the evaporated milk. That’s about it – you can do it!
  That reminds me – EVAPORATED MILK. NOT Sweetened condensed milk. Believe me, you’ll have a problem if you use the sweetened condensed milk. Ewww. yuck. If you don’t have evaporated milk – just use regular milk. This recipe is a GREAT way to use up evaporated milk from making my buttermilk biscuits!

If You Enjoyed This Super Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese, you might also enjoy…

Death by Mac and Cheese

Best Ever Macaroni and Cheese

Macaroni and Cheese Soup

Smoked Sausage and Cheesy Orzo

Easy Baked Mac and Cheese

This simple and easy recipe for Easy Baked Mac and Cheese uses few ingredients and is simple and delicious!  

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: main

Cuisine: American

Keyword: baked macaroni and cheese, mac and cheese

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 258kcal

Ingredients

• 16 oz macaroni noodles - cooked per package instructions in salted water
• 1 8 oz package of sharp cheddar cheese - grated
• 3 eggs - beaten
• ½ cup evaporated milk
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350.
• In a prepared 9x13 baking dish, spoon half of the cooked macaroni noodles.
• Sprinkle half of the grated cheese over the top of the noodles.
• Spoon the other half of the noodles over the grated cheese.
• Sprinkle the other half of the grated cheese over the top of the noodles.
• In a medium mixing bowl, mix together the eggs, milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and nutmeg.
• Pour the egg mixture over the top of the noodles and cheese (pour gently - you may need to use a fork or spoon to make various holes in the noodles and pour the egg mix down into the pan).
• Bake at 350 until hot and bubbly - about 30-40 minutes.

Notes

• Prepare the 9x13 pan with non stick cooking spray.  If you forget, it won't’ be the end of the world, but some of the stuff might stick to the pan, which is no fun to clean up.
• You will want to buy the blocks of cheese and grate them yourself - the cheese just has a better taste that way.  Cabots is a great choice for this.
• Do NOT over cook the noodles when you are pre cooking them - just follow the package instructions for “al dente”.  That means the noodles will still be a tiny bit firm or “toothsome” (what al dente means anyway). If you over cook the noodles, they will be floppy and that makes mac and cheese yuck!
• Make sure to drain your noodles well - don’t rinse them!
• You CAN use MORE cheese, if that is what you like!  I LOVE more cheese!
• You CAN make a topping for this if you want - just crush up some crackers (like a ritz cracker) and mix in a few tbs of melted butter - sprinkle over the top before baking.  
• Nutmeg?  Yep - you’ll be glad you did.
• Make sure your eggs are beaten well.
• I know, I know.  Some of you don’t like garlic - just leave it off if you don’t.  No harm - but, really, you don’t like garlic?
• What kitchen utensils do you need for this?  Not anything special - a 9x13 baking dish, a pot to boil the noodles, a whisk is useful for the egg mixture, a can opener for the evaporated milk.  That’s about it - you can do it!
  That reminds me - EVAPORATED MILK.  NOT Sweetened condensed milk. Believe me, you’ll have a problem if you use the sweetened condensed milk.  Ewww. yuck. If you don’t have evaporated milk - just use regular milk. This recipe is a GREAT way to use up evaporated milk from making THESE BISCUITS.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Easy Baked Mac and Cheese

Amount Per Serving

Calories 258 Calories from Fat 90

% Daily Value*

Fat 10g15%

Saturated Fat 5g25%

Cholesterol 66mg22%

Sodium 258mg11%

Potassium 156mg4%

Carbohydrates 30g10%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 12g24%

Vitamin A 298IU6%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 195mg20%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Tried this recipe?Mention @loavesanddishes or tag #loavesanddishes!

***This recipe originally posted to Loaves and Dishes on March 8, 2018 and has been updated with “why this recipe works” “here’s how it’s done” with photo instructions, Frequently asked questions, Updated recipe information including equipment, nutrition information and video***

A VERSE TO SHARE

Do you ever get a message from God, right when you need it? Me too. When is the last time that happened to you?

Me? I read a meme that said, “I Got You, Just Like I Always Do ~ God”.

That’s so true, isn’t it?

Sometimes I think about Jesus’ last words on the cross – God why has thou forsaken me?

But God didn’t forsake Jesus. If anything, that shows us just how human Jesus is, right? 

What happened in three days? The stone was rolled away and he was OUT of there! He appeared to many and their testimony stands today.

Matthew 28:  16-20

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.