Buttermilk Mac And Cheese – An Old Fashioned Recipe With Pictures

Buttermilk Mac and Cheese is one of the traditional dishes to eat when visiting relatives during the holidays. This simple dish is also a great everyday recipe to make and enjoy as a side dish. Click through for steps on how to make Buttermilk Mac and Cheese.

Buttermilk Mac and Cheese is the best ever, oven-baked macaroni and cheese. The addition of eggs to this old-fashioned macaroni and cheese lends to a fluffy version that your family and friends will beg you to make over and over again. Be prepared to make this for all future holiday pitch-ins and gatherings.

Recipe for Mac and Cheese Soufflé

What ingredients do I need for vintage mac and cheese?

• Elbow Macaroni, cooked and drained
• Eggs, beaten
• Buttermilk (secret ingredient)
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded
• Salt
• Butter, melted

Buttermilk Mac and Cheese Recipe

During the national social distancing project, I’ve been doing what many of you are probably doing – cleaning. Closets, shelves, drawer, underneath furniture. You name it, I’ve probably cleaned it. While organizing a closet, I found several notebooks that belonged to my Granny.

Now Granny was way before her time. While she didn’t have a computer, iPad, smart phone or a Pinterest account, she did read newspapers and magazines. When she found a recipe that peaked her interest, she cut it out and glued it into a notebook. It was her version of Pinterest or a smartphone recipe app.

I’ve really enjoyed flipping through these notebooks to see what recipes she was attracted to. I found this amazing baked macaroni and cheese recipe in one of her notebooks and it was torn from a magazine right beside Country Fried Steak, another treasure.

Fluffy Mac and Cheese

This fluffy mac and cheesy makes a huge pan, making it great to share. It’s already going on the menu for the next holiday, and I know it’s going to be requested over and over and over. It is truly soul food. I shared some with my parents, and my mom was in awe about how fluffy this version is. To quote her “winner winner, chicken dinner.”

I love my Mom’s classic mac and cheese; hers is also a baked recipe but it has a thicker, denser texture.

This version of mac and cheese soufflé has the addition of 6 beaten eggs which forms almost a light, custard texture and makes this version hard to resist. If you aren’t feeding a crowd or want a quick stove top mac and cheese dish, try our Skillet Macaroni and Cheese.

How to Make Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Step By Step Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13 x 9 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Cook elbow macaroni in a large pot and drain according to package directions. (Typically, boil in salted water over medium heat.)
3. In a large bowl, whisk eggs; add shredded cheese, buttermilk and salt. (If desired, season with pepper or paprika.)
4. To the mixture, stir in melted butter and cooked macaroni.
5. Pour southern baked macaroni into prepared dish and bake in 350 f oven for 45 to 50 minutes or until bubbly and lightly browned.

For the full recipe steps and ingredient amounts for the best ever baked macaroni and cheese, scroll to the bottom of this post.

How to Make Mac and Cheese Golden Brown?

You have to choose the correct mac n’ cheese recipe if you want a golden brown crust on top.

I recommend making an old-fashioned baked mac and cheese that’s more like a soufflé. The ingredient list has more eggs and buttermilk than actual macaroni. The result is a fluffy mac and cheese with a beautiful golden brown crust.

Recipe FAQs

• It seems crazy, but this mac and cheese soufflé has only 1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni. It’s not a typo!
• Cook pasta before adding to this mac and cheese casserole. I typically cook it to a little less than al dente since it can finish cooking in the oven.
• Buttermilk might be an ingredient you don’t always keep on hand, so feel free to make your own. I do this all the time. Fill up your measuring cup with regular milk just below the 2 1/2 cup mark; add lemon juice or vinegar (approximately 1 Tablespoon). Let sit for around 5 minutes to thicken.
• If you are concerned about your baked macaroni and cheese getting cooked through with all those eggs, use a digital thermometer to check the temperature. The internal temperature should at least be 160 degrees F.
• Check out our Amazon storefront to see our favorite kitchen gadgets (digital thermometer) and kitchen essentials (glass baking dish)!
• Try a new version by using Gouda or Fontina instead.
• This baked macaroni and cheese has something for all tastes, including a crispy outside for folks who like corner pieces and a creamy inside for those who don’t!
• I can totally appreciate a skillet mac and cheese too. If that’s your cup of tea, check out this version. Or if you want a crock pot version, try this Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese.
• Serve this along side our 3 Ingredient Crock Pot Ham, Crunchy Pea Salad, Slow Cooker Calico Beans and Grandma’s Fanciful Fudge Cake for the perfect family dinner.

Our Favorite Cheesy Recipes

Mom’s Cheesy Ham and Potatoes

Cheesy Potatoes with Bacon

Old-Fashioned Cheesy Cabbage Casserole

4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Cheesy Potatoes

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Cheesy Broccoli and Rice Casserole

Greek Noodles (Macaroni and Cheese Recipe)

Can you use buttermilk instead of heavy cream in mac and cheese?

I always use buttermilk as a secret ingredient in my famous mac ‘n cheese. My recipe also calls for 6 eggs to help thicken it and to give it a light and airy texture.

What can I add to mac and cheese for more flavor?

The easiest variation for more flavor is to change up the type of cheese or use a blend of cheeses. Try Gouda, Gruyere, Monterrey Jack, Parmesan or any other type. You could also add in some garlic powder, onion powder or paprika for more flavor.