Black Folks Soul Food Baked Macaroni And Cheese
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Southern soul food baked mac and cheese – the Black folks way!
Mac and cheese is one of my favorite Southern comfort soul foods and a favorite of many households.
It’s a staple for soul food Sundays, summer cookouts, Juneteenth celebrations, and always a featured item at a soul food Thanksgiving or on a Black folks Christmas dinner menu.
Even though I love macaroni and cheese, I don’t always want to make it the traditional way.
Soul food baked macaroni and cheese
There are many variations of the classic dish macaroni and cheese. One such variation is Southern baked mac and cheese – the soul food way!
This recipe is made with rich, creamy cheese sauce and Southern comfort soul food flavorings baked ’til the edges are crispy and browned to taste like someone stewed over it in the kitchen all day!
We call this Black folks baked mac and cheese – an authentic soul food dish easy for anyone to make and everyone to love!
Watch the video – How to make soul food baked macaroni and cheese
African-American macaroni and cheese recipes
Why is Southern baked mac and cheese so important to Black culture?
Baked mac and cheese is just one of the many soul food cuisines turned American dishes. And this yummy dish has a really old history.
Known initially as macaroni pie, baked mac and cheese was created by James Hemings, an African American enslaved and trained as a culinary chef in France.
Hemings was born in Virginia in 1765. At eight years old, he becomes one of Thomas Jefferson’s many enslaved at his Monticello plantation.
At age 19, Jefferson takes young Hemings with him to France to train in the art of French cooking.
Did a Black person invent mac and cheese?
Southern baked mac and cheese the James Hemings way –
James Hemings was a highly trained cook known to many modern-day chefs and culinary historians alike. A notable African American chef who helped create and define American cuisine as we know it today.
According to Netflix’s soul food documentary High On The Hog, where an all-Black creative team tells the story of African American food. Baked mac and cheese is initially cooked by Hemings in a mixture of boiling water and milk.
Hemings placed sharp American cheese in between layers of butter and milk-coated macaroni. Then baked in a Dutch oven over an open-hearth fireplace stove with hot coals placed on the pot’s lid to bake.
Today, we can make easy macaroni and cheese while still incorporating the original recipe’s culinary technique. Much safer (no open fire needed)!
How did mac and cheese become soul food?
Hemings’ legacy of baked mac and cheese continued long after the Emancipation Proclamation in the 1860s.
Macaroni and cheese began to have new meanings and multiple identities in the Black community.
Mac and cheese became “a celebratory dish, a convenient comfort food, and a meal stretcher for impoverished families.”
We recognize this dish today as soul food!
How do you make Southern baked mac and cheese the Black way?
When I think of a traditional Southern soul food meal, baked mac and cheese is one of the first things that come to mind. A delicious combo of two perfect comfort foods- macaroni and cheese can be found all over the Southern states.
Southern baked mac and cheese – the Black way – is still boiled in milk and then baked. But nowadays, this iconic recipe includes additional ingredients with the traditional elbow noodles, butter, and milk.
Is mac and cheese an African American dish?
Southern mac and cheese, which originated in my home state of Virginia, is a popular recipe passed along from chefs like Hemings in the 1700s.
Its legacy continues as it’s passed from African-American generation to generation and handed down from chef to chef through today.
What makes Black folks soul food baked mac and cheese so different?
Today, this Southern recipe is still made from scratch. Prepared with a combination of soul food seasonings like salt, pepper, garlic, onion, paprika, flour, milk, and a mix of cheeses. Commonly sharp cheddar cheese, mozzarella, and American cheese, baked until creamy on top and golden brown on the edges!
Some soul food baked mac and cheese recipes interchange evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk.
What milk is best for mac and cheese?
While whole milk is the best version for this baked mac and cheese recipe because it’s the creamiest, other milk substitutes can be used.
Reduced-fat milk and milk alternatives will still yield a yummy mac and cheese without complaint.
Can you make macaroni and cheese in the slow cooker?
Mac and cheese is also one of the easiest dishes to make, but when you hear “slow cooker,” your first thought might be that it would take all day.
Not so! Slow cookers are a great way to make macaroni and cheese. You can have mac and cheese ready in less than an hour if you use the right ingredients and follow these simple instructions.
The best part about this recipe is that it requires only one pot. There is no need for multiple dishes and pots – just your slow cooker (or Instant Pot with a slow cooker setting)!
For baked mac and cheese, the extra baking step is necessary to achieve that golden bubbly texture!
What is Black mac and cheese?
Black mac and cheese, or Black folks mac and cheese, is Southern baked mac and cheese the way Black people make it with milk and lots of soul food seasonings and flavors.
Get ready for the most delicious baked mac and cheese you’ve ever tasted!
Rich in delicious Southern, soulful flavors.
Soul food baked macaroni and cheese recipe
Kitchen equipment for Southern baked mac and cheese
Ingredients for baked mac and cheese Southern soul food
- 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter (divided – 1 tablespoon & 3 tablespoons)
- 2 tablespoons of flour
- ¼ cup of heavy cream
- 1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup of shredded Colby-jack cheese
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- ½ teaspoon of black pepper
- ½ teaspoon of garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon of onion powder
- 1 teaspoon of ground mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon of paprika
- 3 cups of water
- 4 ¼ cups of milk (divided – 1 ¼ cups & 3 cups)
- 8 oz. uncooked macaroni noodles
How to make baked mac and cheese the Black way
Instructions for Black folks baked mac and cheese
- Turn the Instant Pot on the sauté setting for 25 minutes (although you may not need this entire amount of time).
- Fill the Instant Pot stainless steel inner pot with 3 cups of milk, 3 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of butter.
- Pro tip- For baked mac and cheese the Black way, use milk to coat the macaroni and give it a smooth, silky texture. Perfect for layering on cheese!
- Once the liquid begins to simmer, add the macaroni and cook according to the package directions, stirring occasionally to make sure the macaroni does not clump & stick.
- Drain the macaroni and set it aside.
- Add the 3 tablespoons of butter to the empty inner pot and turn it back on the sauté setting.
- When the butter is melted, add the flour, 1 ¼ cups of milk, and seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, ground mustard, and paprika) and whisk until smooth.
- Change the Instant Pot cook setting from sauté to slow cook for 1-hour (although you will not need this entire amount of time).
- While the cook setting changes from sauté to slow cook, allow the ingredients to simmer for about 3 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly.
- Stir in the cheeses (reserve some for topping when baking).
- Close the Instant Pot with the lid and let slow cook for 5-10 minutes until the cheeses are blended.
- Open the lid to add the cooked pasta and the heavy cream to the inner pot, stirring the mixture to blend evenly.
- Transfer the pasta mixture into an 8-inch cast iron skillet or baking pan.
- Top with the remaining shredded cheese.
- Bake in the Instant Pot Omni Plus oven at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Or bake in the conventional oven for 25 minutes or until mac and cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Serve this Black folks’ soul food baked macaroni and cheese recipe right away, and enjoy!
🎙Join the conversation about Southern baked mac and cheese on The Soul Food Pod!
Soul food mac and cheese pro tips:
- First: Southern mac and cheese must include sharp cheddar cheese.
- Then start with a good quality macaroni.
- Making baked mac and cheese the Black way – boil the macaroni in a mixture of half water and half milk. The milk coats the macaroni and gives it a smooth, silky texture. Perfect for layering on cheese!
- Make sure you’re using a baking dish that’s not too deep. An 8-inch baking pan or 8-inch cast iron skillet is perfect for this oven recipe!
- Make sure not to walk away from the Instant Pot when using the sauté setting to avoid burning or over-cooking.
What to serve with soul food baked mac and cheese?
What goes with mac and cheese?
Baked macaroni and cheese can be eaten as a side dish or main course, depending on how hungry you are!
But what else should you serve with it?
Here are some great Southern soul food ideas for veggies and sides that go great with Black folks baked mac and cheese.
What is a traditional African American meal?
African American soul food dinner favorites may include Southern style whole chicken, Black folks Southern cabbage, Soul food candied yams, and Soul food collard greens.
And for dessert? Southern peach cobbler or soul food banana pudding!
Black folks baked mac and cheese cooking tips
It’s time for some cooking tips!
Southern baked mac and cheese is a classic dish that everyone loves. However, it can sometimes be challenging to know how to make the perfect version of this timeless favorite, so I’m here with some cooking tips for baked mac and cheese, so you never have to worry about making a bad batch again!
- Start with a good quality macaroni. Cook the elbow macaroni according to the package instructions. Add a drizzle of olive oil to the water to keep noodles from sticking.
- Make sure you’re using a baking dish that’s not too deep. An 8-inch baking pan or 8-inch cast iron skillet are perfect for this oven recipe!
Don’t skimp on the cheese!
Use enough cheddar cheese so that you can see it peeking out of the top of your dish while baking.
Cover as much surface area as possible for maximum browning potential.
Sprinkle some shredded Parmesan over the top (optional) before popping into the oven if desired for an extra burst of flavor.
What toppings can you put on baked mac and cheese?
How do you spruce up baked mac and cheese?
Not that this recipe needs any help! But some folks love to add toppings to any dish, so here are a few Southern mac and cheese topping favorites.
The options for macaroni and cheese toppings are endless. From crunchy to creamy, spicy to sweet, there’s a topping out there for everyone!
Take a look at some Mac and cheese topping favorites.
- Bacon bits
- Panko bread crumbs topping
- Fresh tomatoes, sliced thinly
- Chopped green onions
- Diced bell peppers or pimientos
- Dry thyme or fresh thyme sprigs
- Shredded parmesan cheese
Parmesan cheese
This is the most popular of the mac and cheese topping because it adds flavor without adding too many calories.
Bacon bits
Bacon makes everything better!
Chopped green onion
If you like things on the salty side, then this will be your favorite way to add some zing to your baked mac and cheese recipe.
Shredded cheddar cheese
For those who like their macaroni and cheese with a kick, shredded cheddar is the way to go.
Sour cream:
If you want something creamy but not too heavy on the stomach, sour cream is your best bet.
This will add texture and enhance the flavoring.
Creamy pesto sauce
If you love pasta dishes that have pesto in them, then this topping may be just what you’re looking for!
Pesto can add both flavor and color so keep that in mind when choosing toppings.
Black folks baked mac and cheese FAQs
Why is Black folks mac and cheese the ultimate comfort food?
Mac and cheese is warm, gooey, and cheesy – everything you want on a chilly evening.
But baked mac and cheese has a bonus crunchy texture on top with a yummy cheesy, creamy texture in the middle.
And when you make Southern mac and cheese the Black way – there’s the unrivaled addition of delicious, heart-warming soul food flavors!
Just when you think you’ve mastered mac and cheese, it seems like there’s always new toppings and techniques to try out!
What are the best seasonings for mac and cheese?
This Southern mac and cheese recipe calls for the best combination of soul food seasonings, including salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, ground mustard powder, and paprika.
Do you have to use macaroni pasta for mac and cheese?
You can use any pasta to make homemade mac and cheese!
Try substituting any of your favorite pasta varieties in place of elbow noodles for your stovetop or baked mac and cheese.
Here are a few pasta options that work well with this dish.
- Elbow macaroni noodles
- Rotini noodles
- Macaroni shells
- Penne rigate
- Bow tie pasta
What cheese is best for a baked mac and cheese recipe?
Another tricky part of making mac and cheese is deciding what type of cheese to use.
There are so many different types of cheeses that people often get overwhelmed by the choices.
While American and cheddar cheese are often mac and cheese lovers’ favorites, a soul food Southern mac and cheese recipe should always incorporate sharp cheddar cheese in the recipe, even if you’re adding other cheeses, too.
Here are a few cheese options to consider.
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Havarty cheese
- Monterey Jack
- Gouda cheese
This baked mac and cheese recipe calls for sharp cheddar cheese and Colby-Jack cheese.
Why put mustard in baked mac and cheese?
This recipe calls for ground mustard powder. It’s not enough to get a robust mustardy taste.
The mustard in this recipe is just enough to cut the overwhelming creaminess and round out the flavors.
Why add egg to baked mac and cheese?
Some Southern baked mac and cheese recipes call for an egg as an ingredient for binding and adding creaminess.
However, you won’t need eggs for this recipe. Instead, the flour is a binding and texture agent, and the milk adds the necessary silkiness and creaminess.
Should you cover baked mac and cheese when cooking?
Covering Southern baked macaroni and cheese is not necessary because you want the edges of the cheese to be caramelized and browned from the oven’s direct heat!
Can you make baked mac and cheese ahead of time?
Are you wondering how to make mac and cheese ahead of time? And why would anyone want to do that anyway?
Well, the answer is yes you can – for sheer convenience!
Making macaroni and cheese ahead of time can be a huge lifesaver for those with busy schedules. You could make this dish the day before, and the next day add toppings and bake.
- Put all ingredients in a baking dish and cool completely (do not bake). Place in an airtight container or tightly seal with plastic and refrigerate.
- Let the dish sit on the countertop for 30 minutes before baking.
- It needs to be baked at the recipe temperature (350 degrees) for 20 minutes until hot, bubbly, and crispy.
Can mac and cheese be cooked on the stovetop?
Making macaroni and cheese on the stovetop is super easy and faster because it doesn’t have the extra step of baking the macaroni dish.
Here are four tips that will help you make the perfect stovetop macaroni and cheese:
- Melt butter over medium heat before adding flour or other thickeners.
- Add milk or heavy whipping cream slowly while stirring constantly.
- Add salt, pepper, and any other desired seasonings after removing them from heat.
- Stir in shredded cheddar until melted before adding other desired toppings.
Is baked mac and cheese better than stovetop?
Although stovetop mac and cheese cooks faster, baked mac and cheese has an unrivaled and addictive cheesy and crispy topping.
Proving that faster isn’t always better!
Baked macaroni and cheese is a Southern family favorite because it’s hearty, easy to make, and kids love it! It’s delicious as soon as it comes out of the oven.
This recipe for oven-baked mac and cheese will have you coming back for seconds – and thirds!
It’s the perfect recipe to try at home when you’re feeling bored with your usual pasta dinner routine or you’re ready for a soul food take on an old classic!
What do you think of this soul food baked mac and cheese recipe?
Did you enjoy this Black folks baked macaroni and cheese recipe?
Have you had it?
Would you make it?
Comment below and lemme know.
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This recipe appeared first on TheSoulFoodPot.com on May 26, 2021.
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Equipment
- Instant Pot electric pressure cooker
- 8" cast iron skillet or baking dish
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter divided – 1 tablespoon & 3 tablespoons
- 2 tablespoons flour
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese (pre-shredded cheese or grated cheese)
- 1 cup Colby-jack cheese (pre-shredded cheese or grated cheese)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 3 cups water
- 4 ¼ cups milk divided – 1 ¼ cups & 3 cups
- 8 oz. macaroni noodles uncooked
Instructions
- Turn the Instant Pot on the sauté setting for 25 minutes (although you may not need this entire amount of time).
- Fill the Instant Pot stainless steel inner pot with 3 cups of milk, 3 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of butter.
Pro tip: For baked mac and cheese the Black way, use milk to coat the macaroni and give it a smooth, silky texture. Perfect for layering on cheese!
- Once the liquid begins to simmer, add the macaroni and cook according to the package directions, stirring occasionally to make sure the macaroni does not clump & stick.
- Drain the macaroni and set it aside.
- Add the 3 tablespoons of butter to the empty inner pot and turn it back on the sauté setting.
- When the butter is melted, add the flour, 1 ¼ cups of milk, and seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, ground mustard, and paprika) and whisk until smooth.
- Change the Instant Pot cook setting from sauté to slow cook for 1-hour (although you will not need this entire amount of time).
- While the cook setting changes from sauté to slow cook, allow the ingredients to simmer for about 3 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly.
- Stir in the cheeses (reserve some for topping when baking).
- Close the Instant Pot with the lid and let slow cook for 5-10 minutes until the cheeses are blended.
- Open the lid to add the cooked pasta and the heavy cream to the inner pot, stirring the mixture to blend evenly.
- Transfer the pasta mixture into an 8-inch cast iron skillet or baking pan.
- Top with the remaining shredded cheese.
- Bake in the Instant Pot Omni Plus oven at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Or bake in the conventional oven for 25 minutes or until mac and cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Serve and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- First: Southern mac and cheese must include sharp cheddar cheese.
- Then start with a good quality macaroni.
- Making baked mac and cheese the Black way – boil the macaroni in a mixture of half water and half milk. The milk coats the macaroni and gives it a smooth, silky texture. Perfect for layering on cheese!
- Make sure you’re using a baking dish that’s not too deep. An 8-inch baking pan or 8-inch cast iron skillet is perfect for this oven recipe!
- Make sure not to walk away from the Instant Pot when using the sauté setting to avoid burning or over-cooking.
A right recipe to satisfy your cheesy cravings!
I know right! Baked Mac & cheese is always right!
Might have to incorporate this one into our traditional meals
You’ll be so happy you did!
I could eat this everyday!
Me too!
Delicious! I feel like it gets missed but a touch of onion powder definitely does level up mac and cheese!
I so agree!
Is there any food more synonymous with comfort food than mac & cheese? I think almost everyone loves it. I know I do.
I couldn’t agree more!
Would this recipe turn out the same if I used the stove instead of an Instant Pot?
Yes, you can definitely make this recipe on the stovetop and have it turn out the same. Then bake in the oven to finish.
The stovetop macaroni and cheese recipe is here: https://thesoulfoodpot.com/southern-mac-and-cheese/
We are going to have to try this one for sure!
Baked mac and cheese is always a good idea!
thanks
My kids asked me for this on Thanksgiving and I forgot, but I will be using this recipe and making it for Christmas! Thanks
You’re welcome – & it’ll be worth the wait!
hmmm interesting
Hi (: I wanted to make this recipe but Im not too sure if this will be enough for everyone in my house lol. To make double the size do I just double the measurements? Thank you! 🤍
Hi, Yasmine! Yes, this is one of those recipes where you can easily double the ingredients to make more. Enjoy!!
Great…BTW, love the McKenzie-Childs utensils.
Thanks so much, Debra! I love that you’re a MacKenzie Childs fan too!!
I made this! Completely delicious! I don’t own an instapot, so I used the stovetop and pretended. When you cook skip the gadgetry and get in there, old school. Grandma didn’t have a damn instapot. Great recipes, excellent instructions. It came out great. Thanks.
You’re so welcome – I’m glad that you were able to make this old school Mac and cheese recipe work your way!!
This is a great recipe! I love macaroni and cheese, and this recipe is definitely a keeper.
I stopped using whole, 2% fat free milk for mac and cheese and used evaporated milk. I use onion and garlic to give it that extra goodness vs using the powder. I use one can for a 16 oz box. The amount of milk and butter you used for 8 oz does it make it real creamy?
I’ve made this many many times, trying different ways and ingredients. This is the best and only way I make mine now. But, I mix my roux (~3 TBS butter & 1/2 C flour) with equal parts evaporated milk and whole milk, equalling about 2 cups for a 16oz box of noodles, and 1.5 Pounds cheese mixed in. I save .5 pound or so of cheese for layering and topping. Remember, always shred your own cheese. Pre-shredded cheeses have an ingredient that keeps it from sticking and clumping, so it will be grainy and not stick to your noodles like block cheese.
Hemmings, who was the brother of Sally Hemmings, the slave with whom Thomas Jefferson fathered several children, was taken to France by Jefferson (along with Sally) where he was trained in French Cuisine. Hemmings learned to make Mac and Cheese in France. Macaroni which is an Italian pasta is the primary ingredient. So no, black folks did not invent Mac and Cheese, but in my opinion, we did make it better!
Thanks for the Sally Hemings tie-in to the story! Historians have documented that while Hemings was indeed a French-trained chef, he was also an African-American. His recipe combination of pasta (yes, also European), milk, and cheese baked over an open fire created macaroni pie. What we know and enjoy today as baked mac and cheese – Black folks’ baked mac and cheese!
Miss Shaunda, I am like an amateur anthroplogist and I LOVE to learn about culture through cuisine…thank you for all the info you provide on the history, origins and cultural signifigance of these recipes. I also love your recipe cards. This is really a first rate operation you have going. I followed you on Pinterest and subscribed to your newsletter after discovering you tonight as I sought out a good fried chicken recipe. I cant wait to to get in the kitchen and make some of these recipes, so thanks for sharing.
Have you tried making this with gluten-free pasta? Which gf pasts did you use and how did it turn out?
Usually pasta boxes come in 16oz which is a pound. This recipe only requires 8oz… so should I just use half of the pasta box? I know this seems like a silly question, but I just want to be sure not to use the whole box (: looking forward to making this!
Thanks for asking! Yes, you are correct. Use 8 oz (half).
Proud to say this is exactly how I make my Mac & cheese. After testing many different ways over the years and many trial and errors, this one is tried and true and the only way I make mine now days. However, I’ve never boiled my noodles in milk so I will try that next time. Too bad I didn’t see this before Easter. Something made me Google “soul food recipes” because I’m trying to make new, different things that my kids will eat and this came up.
I also use regular yellow mustard instead of dried and most importantly I shred my own cheeses because pre-shredded cheese has an ingredient that keeps it from sticking or clumping, in turn giving it a grainy texture when cooked and not sticking to your noodles properly. And y’all, it’s just as good if not better as leftovers..if there are any!
Thank you for sharing how you’ve made this recipe your own. Your comment made my day, and I’m so glad you Googled soul food baked mac and cheese!