4-Cheese Mac & Cheese - Plain Chicken (2024)

4-Cheese Southern Mac and Cheese Recipe – so easy and it tastes AMAZING! No roux or white sauce! Simply boil the pasta and toss with butter. Add cream cheese, Velvetta, Jack and Cheddar cheese, egg, heavy cream, salt, and pepper. Can freeze for a quick side later. Add ham for a main dish! This is our family’s favorite macaroni and cheese recipe! YUM!

4-Cheese Mac & Cheese - Plain Chicken (1)

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The BEST Southern Baked Mac & Cheese

This 4-Cheese Mac & Cheese is so creamy and delicious! I could make a meal out of this yummy pasta! Pasta and butter tossed with heavy cream, cream cheese, Velveeta, Jack & Cheddar cheese. SO much amazing flavor! We ate this with some grilled chicken for lunch and had the leftovers for dinner. SO good! You could easily turn this into a main dish by adding some diced ham and/or broccoli to the casserole dish. Equally delicious!

4-Cheese Mac & Cheese - Plain Chicken (2)

How To Make Mac & Cheese from Scratch

This Southern baked mac & cheese is really easy to make with only a few simple ingredients. The best part about this recipe is there is no flour roux or cheese sauce to make. Simply boil the noodles in a large pot and cook to al dente. Drain the macaroni. Place the hot pasta in a large bowl, add some butter, and stir until it melts. Add the cheeses, egg, and heavy cream. Season with seasoned salt and black pepper. Place in a baking dish and bake. So easy!

  • You can use any types of cheeses that you prefer. I used cream cheese, Velveeta, Monterey Jack, and cheddar cheese. Sharp cheddar, gruyere, and fontina would also be great.
  • Feel free to add some onion, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, broccoli, or ham to the pasta mixture.
  • You can also add a quick breadcrumb topping if you like. Mix together breadcrumbs and melted butter. Sprinkle on top of the macaroni mixture before baking.
  • Can Mac & Cheese be made in advance? Yes! You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate it before baking. You may need to add a few minutes to the cooking time if baking straight from the refrigerator.
  • Can Mac & Cheese Be Frozen?Yes! You can make this ahead of time and freeze it baked or unbaked for later. Assemble the casserole and let it cool completely. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and aluminum foil and freeze.
    • To bake this casserole after freezing, thaw completely and bake as directed below. I usually take the casserole out of the freezer the day before baking and let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
    • To reheat this mac & cheese after freezing, thaw and pop in the microwave or cover with foil and heat in the oven for about 30 minutes.
4-Cheese Mac & Cheese - Plain Chicken (3)

What to Serve WithMacaroni & Cheese

Mac & Cheese is a great side dish or meatless main dish. Heck, we consider mac & cheese a veggie in the South. LOL! We love to serve this yummyMac & Cheese with grilled chicken, burgers, steak, pork chops, pork tenderloin, BBQ – basically everything! Here are a few of our favorite recipes from the blog to serve with this4-Cheese Mac & Cheese:

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Morton’s Steakhouse Marinade – recipe from the famous steakhouse. Garlic, thyme, cayenne pepper, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, oil, lime juice,…

Recipe Print Recipe

4-Cheese Mac & Cheese - Plain Chicken (8)

4-Cheese Mac and Cheese

Author: Plain Chicken

Yield: 8 people

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

4-Cheese Mac and Cheese Recipe – so easy and it tastes AMAZING! No roux or white sauce! Simply boil the pasta and toss with butter. Add cream cheese, Velvetta, Jack and Cheddar cheese, egg, heavy cream, salt, and pepper. Can freeze for a quick side later. Add ham for a main dish! This is our family’s favorite macaroni and cheese recipe! YUM! #macandcheese #pasta #macaroniandcheese #sidedish

Ingredients:

  • 8- oz elbow macaroni
  • 3 Tbsp butter softened
  • 4- oz Velveeta cheese, cubed
  • 4- oz cream cheese, softened and cubed
  • 1 (8-oz) bag shredded Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheese
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • seasoned salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste

Instructions:

  • Preheat oven to 350ºF. Spray a 9×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.

  • Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain.

  • Place hot pasta in a large bowl. Add butter and stir until the butter melts.

  • Add Velveeta, cream cheese, and Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheese. Stir.

  • Whisk together egg and heavy cream. Add to pasta mixture. Stir.

  • Pour pasta into prepared dish.

  • Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.

Notes:

  • You can use any types of cheeses that you prefer. I used cream cheese, Velveeta, Monterey Jack, and cheddar cheese. Sharp cheddar, gruyere, and fontina would also be great.
  • Feel free to add some onion, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, broccoli, or ham to the pasta mixture.
  • You can also add a quick breadcrumb topping if you like. Mix together breadcrumbs and melted butter. Sprinkle on top of the macaroni mixture before baking.
  • Can Mac & Cheese be made in advance? Yes! You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate it before baking. You may need to add a few minutes to the cooking time if baking straight from the refrigerator.
  • Can Mac & Cheese Be Frozen?Yes! You can make this ahead of time and freeze it baked or unbaked for later. Assemble the casserole and let it cool completely. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and aluminum foil and freeze.
    • To bake this casserole after freezing, thaw completely and bake as directed below. I usually take the casserole out of the freezer the day before baking and let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
    • To reheat this mac & cheese after freezing, thaw and pop in the microwave or cover with foil and heat in the oven for about 30 minutes.

Plain Chicken

https://www.plainchicken.com/4-cheese-mac-cheese/

All images and text © Plain Chicken, Inc.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @plainchicken or tag #plainchicken!

Steph

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4-Cheese Mac & Cheese - Plain Chicken (2024)

FAQs

How many calories in a cup of homemade mac and cheese? ›

Macaroni and cheese, homemade (1 cup) contains 38.6g total carbs, 36.7g net carbs, 23.7g fat, 19.5g protein, and 446 calories.

How long can homemade macaroni and cheese last in the refrigerator? ›

Tips For Storing And Eating Leftover Macaroni And Cheese

In general, leftovers stored in a refrigerator set at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower should be eaten within three to four days, according to the USDA.

How does Gordon Ramsay make the best mac and cheese? ›

Preparation
  1. In a large pot over medium heat, combine the pasta and milk. ...
  2. Once the pasta is cooked, remove the pan from the heat and add the butter, cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper. ...
  3. Divide between serving bowls and top with the bread crumbs.
  4. Enjoy!
  5. All your favorite recipes, stored in one place.
May 4, 2023

Is one box of mac and cheese enough for 2 people? ›

A typical box of macaroni and cheese has "about 4 servings per container". Unless you're starving, this is just too much for one person. But with a little forethought and effort, you can prepare half a box.

How many calories in a full plate of mac and cheese? ›

Macaroni and cheese is typically high in calories, containing 300–500 calories per serving. It's also high in sodium with 600–1,200 mg per serving.

How many servings is 1 cup of mac and cheese? ›

Pay attention to the serving size and how many servings are in a food package. In the sample label, one serving of macaroni and cheese equals 1 cup. If you eat the whole package, you will be eating 2 cups. That doubles the calories and other nutrient numbers.

How do you keep mac and cheese creamy? ›

If you want a very creamy mac n' cheese, you can add Velveeta processed cheese or American cheese (from the deli) to your melted cheese base mixture. The American cheese provides the creaminess you are looking for, and when reheating the mac n' cheese add a little bit of milk.

Is it OK to eat macaroni and cheese left out overnight? ›

Anything perishable should go into the fridge within two hours. If perishables are sitting in temperatures of more than 90 degrees, the time limit to get them into the fridge goes down to one hour.

How to make baked mac and cheese creamy again? ›

The #1 secret to creamy reheated mac and cheese

"Stir in about 2 Tbs. of milk per 1 cup of mac and cheese and reheat," he says. The milk loosens up the pasta and helps create the creamy sauce as it's reheating. Heavy cream works well in this case too and adds an extra touch of richness to the mac and cheese.

How many calories in a cup of mac and cheese? ›

1 Cup Macaroni And Cheese
  • Calories 376.
  • Total Fat 16g 21%
  • Saturated Fat 3.6g 18%
  • Trans Fat 2.5g.
  • Polyunsaturated Fat 3.7g.
  • Monounsaturated Fat 7.3g.
  • Cholesterol 5.9mg 2%
  • Sodium 669mg 29%

How much mac and cheese is 500 calories? ›

The favorite choice for the term "Macaroni and Cheese" is 1 cup of Macaroni or Noodles with Cheese which has about 500 calories.

Is homemade mac and cheese healthier than boxed? ›

“Making your own mac and cheese allows you to control what ingredients go into it or not,” says Andrews. In the end, she says, this leaves you with a more nutrient-dense and balanced meal.

How many calories are in 2 cups of baked mac and cheese? ›

There are 987 calories in 2 cups of Macaroni or Noodles with Cheese. * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.

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