BABS’ HOMEMADE SOUTHERN MAC AND CHEESE
_(800_x_150_px)_(2).gif)
Every family on the Gulf Coast has a dish that shows up at every holiday, funeral spread, and baby shower. For my family, this is it. My mom, Babs, has been making this homemade Southern mac and cheese for as long as I can remember, and it has become my go-to soul food dish when I need something warm and steady at the end of a long real estate day.
The recipe is simple, comforting, and forgiving, with a creamy onion-and-garlic cheese sauce, a whisper of Worcestershire for depth, and a buttery breadcrumb and Parmesan crust that bakes up beautifully golden. When I pull this out of the oven, it smells like my childhood kitchen and every holiday table we ever gathered around.
Why I Love This Recipe
- It is family-tested. This is straight from my mom’s handwritten recipe – the one stained with butter and half-and-half on the edges.
- It feeds a crowd. It pairs with anything from fried Gulf shrimp to roasted chicken and is right at home beside barbecue or holiday turkey.
- It is flexible. You can use macaroni or penne, play with the cheese mix, and adjust the thickness of the sauce to your taste.
On busy days running between showings in Orange Beach and checking on new construction sites, this is the dish I can assemble almost on autopilot. It is pure comfort and always worth the effort.
Ingredients
For the pasta and sauce
- 8 ounces large elbow macaroni or penne pasta (about half of a 1-pound package)
- 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/3 cup Wondra flour (or other instant flour)
- 1 1/2 cups half-and-half, plus more as needed
- 1–2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce (a good, heavy dash)
- About 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese mixed with Gruyere
(I like roughly 1 1/2 cups cheddar and 1/2 cup Gruyere) - Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Extra milk or half-and-half, if needed, to adjust consistency
For the topping
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups seasoned or panko-style bread crumbs
(Mom always wrote “oriental bread crumbs” on the recipe card; today I often use panko.) - 2–3 tablespoons melted butter
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook the macaroni or penne until just shy of al dente – almost done, but still slightly firm in the center. Drain and set aside.
- Start the sauce base. In a medium saucepot, melt the 1/2 stick of butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until tender and translucent, stirring occasionally so it does not brown. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute, just until fragrant.
- Make the roux. Sprinkle the Wondra flour over the onion and garlic, stirring constantly. Cook for a couple of minutes until the flour is fully moistened and just slightly golden. This step keeps the sauce from tasting floury.
- Add the half-and-half. Slowly pour in about 1 1/2 cups of half-and-half while whisking or stirring constantly. Keep cooking over medium heat until the mixture thickens into a smooth, creamy sauce. If it seems too thick at this stage, you can always splash in a little more half-and-half.
- Season and add the cheese. Add a generous dash of Worcestershire sauce, then stir in the shredded cheddar and Gruyere until completely melted and smooth. Taste and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
For baking, this cheese sauce does not need to be overly thick. If it feels too heavy, thin it with a bit more milk or half-and-half until it flows easily but still coats the back of a spoon. - Combine pasta and sauce. In a large bowl or the pot you used for the pasta, toss the drained pasta with the cheese sauce until every piece is well coated. Transfer the mixture to a lightly buttered baking dish.
- Prepare the topping. In a small bowl, stir together the bread crumbs, melted butter, and grated Parmesan until the crumbs are evenly moistened. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the top of the mac and cheese.
- Bake. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Bake the mac and cheese for 20–25 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned, the sauce is bubbling around the edges, and the kitchen smells like pure comfort.
- Serve. Let the dish rest for a few minutes before serving so the sauce can settle slightly. Then scoop generous portions into bowls or onto plates and enjoy.
Serving Notes From My Gulf Coast Kitchen
I love serving this alongside fresh Gulf seafood – shrimp, fried fish, or even a simple grilled chicken breast. It travels well, so it is an easy dish to bring to a neighbor’s house or to set out on a buffet when everyone is coming and going between the porch and the kitchen.
If you want to add a little twist, you can fold in a handful of extra-sharp cheddar on top before the crumbs, stir a pinch of cayenne into the sauce, or use smoked Gruyere for a deeper, slightly smoky flavor.
A Real Estate Advisor Who Also Loves a Good Casserole
When I am not in the kitchen making Babs’ mac and cheese, I am helping buyers and sellers navigate the Gulf Coast real estate market. If this recipe has you dreaming of a larger kitchen, a better oven, or a home where you can host everyone you love, I would be honored to help you explore your options.
You can browse all Gulf Coast listings on my site, www.searchthegulf.com, the Gulf Coast’s premier website for searching homes, condos, and waterfront properties. As a Gulf Coast expert real estate advisor, licensed in Alabama and Florida, I specialize in helping buyers and sellers find the lifestyle and home that fit them best.
If you have found this recipe or story helpful, I would truly love to know. Please drop me a quick note and let me know how your mac and cheese turned out, or if you are starting to think about a kitchen – or a home – that better fits your life on the Gulf Coast.
If you are considering buying or selling along the Gulf Coast and would like a thoughtful, locally grounded approach, I am here to help.
#searchthegulf #meredithamon #becausewelivehere
SEARCH ORANGE BEACH REAL ESTATE LISTINGS FOR SALE
- All Listings
- $200,000 - $300,000
- $300,000 - $400,000
- $400,000 - $500,000
- $500,000 - $600,000
- $600,000 - $700,000
- $700,000 - $800,000
- $800,000 - $900,000
- $900,000 - $1,000,000
- Over $1,000,000
.gif){kind=logo}
A Quiet Horizon: An Abstract Coastal Study in Light and Reflection
A Quiet Horizon: An Abstract Coastal Study in Light and Reflection
This piece reads like a deep breath over still water, where the horizon becomes a soft seam and the sky drifts down into its own reflection. It is minimalist, calm, and slightly dreamlike, with gentle layers of blue-gray and warm, early-day…
Drago’s Inspired Charbroiled Oysters in New Orleans | Meredith Folger Amon
Ask A Question or Sign Up To See New Real Estate Listings Before Your Competition
When it comes to finding the home of your dreams in a fast-paced market, knowing about new listings as soon as they are available is part of our competitive advantage.Sign up to see new listings in an area or specific community. Contact Meredith with any questions you may have.
Posted by Meredith Folger Amon on
Leave A Comment