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Black Folks Southern Baked Mac And Cheese

Black Folks Soul Food Baked Macaroni And Cheese

A Black folks’ mac and cheese recipe isn't any ol’ mac and cheese recipe. It's baked, never boxed, and always loaded with soulful seasonings. This is that creamy, cheesy, soul-hugging masterpiece that gets baked until it’s bubbling around the edges and golden on top!
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 53 minutes
Resting Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 18 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Soul Food
Servings: 6
Calories: 522kcal
Author: Shaunda Necole • The Soul Food Pot®

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 3 cups water
  • 4 ¼ cups milk divided – 1 ¼ cups and 3 cups
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter divided – 1 tablespoon and 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)
  • 8 oz. macaroni noodles uncooked
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ tablespoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground mustard powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, bring 3 cups of milk, 3 cups of water, and 1 tablespoon of butter to a boil.
  • Add the macaroni and cook according to the package directions, stirring occasionally to prevent the noodles from sticking together. Drain the cooked macaroni in a colander and set aside.
    macaroni cooking in a mixture of milk and water
  • Return the empty pot to the stovetop over medium-low heat. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter and allow it to melt.
  • Whisk in the flour, remaining 1¼ cups of milk, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, ground mustard, and paprika until smooth.
    adding seasonings to a milk-based sauce
  • Allow the sauce to simmer gently for 2–3 minutes, stirring, until it begins to thicken.
    slightly thickened seasoned sauce for mac and cheese
  • Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the sharp cheddar and Colby Jack, allowing the cheeses to melt into the sauce until smooth and creamy.
    Shredded cheese being added to a seasoned sauce
  • Add the cooked macaroni and heavy cream, stirring until the noodles are evenly coated in the cheese sauce.
    Shaunda Necole adding drained elbow macaroni
  • Turn off the heat and transfer the macaroni and cheese to an 8-inch cast-iron skillet.
    Macaroni transferring into the skillet
  • Bake at 350°F for 20–25 minutes, or until the top is golden, the edges are bubbling, and the center is set but still creamy.
    Golden Black folks’ skillet baked macaroni and cheese
  • Remove from the oven and let the macaroni and cheese rest for 10–15 minutes before serving. This allows the sauce to settle so the macaroni holds together when portioned. Enjoy!
    Black folks finished baked macaroni and cheese

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 522kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 541mg | Potassium: 386mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1094IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 505mg | Iron: 1mg

❤️ Shaunda's Soul Food Standard

Created and tested by Shaunda Necole, creator of The Soul Food Pot® (real cook, real kitchen). Rooted in African American culinary traditions, with modern shortcuts that never sacrifice flavor or legacy. No AI-generated instructions. Every measurement, timing note, and technique is written, cooked, and verified by Shaunda, with make-it-your-way guidance so you can cook confidently with the tools you have.

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