This mac and cheese is the last macaroni and cheese recipe you’ll ever look for. Rich, creamy, and with just the right amount of kick, this mac and cheese is quick and easy, and is loaded with cheddar and pepper jack cheese, sour cream, and, my favorite, Slap Ya Mama Cajun seasoning. It’s the ultimate mac and cheese recipe.

Macaroni and cheese is the perfect comfort food recipe and is one of those side dishes that no one ever seems to say no to. Think about it. When is the last time you were at any kind of event that involved food where macaroni and cheese wasn’t present? Macaroni and cheese is on the menu of almost every restaurant in North America and on the table of almost every home at some point. It’s so good and just so classic.
Homemade Macaroni and Cheese
My family and I are huge macaroni and cheese fans, but I’m not content to just make whatever comes in a box. Oh, no. I need it homemade. There’s just nothing better than homemade mac and cheese. I want my macaroni and cheese to be rich, creamy, and decadent, and that’s what you get with this recipe.
This mac and cheese is loaded with rich creamy goodness that you just can’t say no to. Starting with a creamy base, this ultimate mac and cheese combines cheddar and pepper jack cheese, sour cream, and Slap Ya Mama seasoning to create an extra rich mac and cheese that has a little something extra thanks to a spicy, Cajun-seasoned kick. I make this recipe with corkscrew noodles so that more rich, creamy goodness is enjoyed in every bite. MmmmMMM!
Mac and cheese is one of my favorite dishes to prepare for everything from weeknight dinners to potlucks and holiday get-togethers. It pairs so well with everything from burgers and dogs to roasted turkey or oven-baked ham. Really, there’s nothing that this side dish doesn’t compliment, making it one of the most versatile recipes you’ll add to your rotation.
Of course, the flavor and versatility of this recipe are both great, but the other thing you’ll love about this recipe is how easy it is. It only takes a few minutes of stove top cooking to create this dish, and even that is simple. It’s all simply a matter of boiling noodles and cooking up the cheese mixture, which doesn’t take much time at all. It’s super simple!
Tips
This is a very easy recipe. You’ll be boiling noodles and cooking up butter, milk, and heavy cream and then adding ingredients to that to make the cheese sauce. The entire process takes about a half hour. You don’t even have to bake it off in the oven! With a recipe this easy, the tips section is very short. In fact, I only have three tips to share.
Don’t Rush
After you’ve combined your ingredients for the creamy base of this recipe, you’ll need to simmer it for two to three minutes. Don’t skip this part and don’t try to make it go faster by boiling it. Simmering is key to let everything combine well.
Serve Immediately
One thing, homemade mac and cheese is best served as soon as it’s finished. It so rich and creamy when it’s piping hot. As it sits, the noodles will soak up the sauce, and it will lose some of its creaminess. Make this last so you can serve it up fast.
Add Liquid to Reheat
When reheating this mac and cheese in the pan or microwave, add a bit of milk or water – I prefer milk – to get the mac and cheese creamy again.
Variations
This is a little bit spicy, but you can tone it down to make it more palatable to children or those who don’t like heat. The easiest way is to simply leave out the Slap Ya Mama seasoning and also substitute the pepper jack cheese for another variety or simply leave it out altogether and just add more cheddar cheese.
On the other hand, if you love heat, you can kick this mac and cheese up a few more notches. Prepare it as listed, but add in some sliced jalapeno to really give it a kick and a nice blast of flavor and heat when you bite into the jalapeno.
Serving Mac and Cheese
This mac and cheese literally goes with everything. It’s perfect for weeknight dinners, potlucks, backyard barbecues, or holiday tables. Serve it alongside burgers, dogs, chops, steaks, turkey, ham, and more. Pretty much anything protein you cook will be perfectly at home next to a big scoop of this mac and cheese.
How to Store Leftover Macaroni and Cheese
Leftover mac and cheese will stay good for up to four days in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Remember, the longer it goes uneaten, the dryer it will become, so be sure to add a little milk or water when reheating it to add moisture back in.
Add This Macaroni and Cheese to Your Rotation
This mac and cheese is a delicious side dish , and I think both you and your family will agree. Give it a try, and watch everyone devour it so fast! It only takes a few minutes to make, and it goes perfectly with almost anything. There’s no reason that it shouldn’t make an appearance on your dinner plate, and once you try it, you’ll find yourself making it more often than you might think!
Ingredients to Make Macaroni and Cheese
- Corkscrew noodles
- Butter
- Flour
- Garlic salt
- Pepper
- Paprika
- Slap Ya Mama®
- Milk
- Heavy whipping cream
- Sour cream
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Pepper jack cheese
How to Make Macaroni and Cheese
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1 – Prep
Boil noodles according to package. Rinse and set aside.
Step 2 – Making the Macaroni
Melt butter in a large pot. Add milk and heavy cream and bring to a boil. Stir in seasonings and flour and let simmer for 2-3 minutes. Add sour cream and mix well. Add in shredded cheese and stir continuously until the cheese has melted. Stir in cooked noodles, making sure to coat them evenly with the sauce. Remove from heat and serve immediately.
Try This Delicious Macaroni and Cheese Today
And here are a few more delicious side dish recipes that can be found on the blog:
And here is a delicious mac and cheese recipe from Great Grub, Delicious Treats that you might like as well.
Ingredients
- 16 ounce cork screw noodles
- 3 tablespoon butter
- ½ cup whole milk
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 2 teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoon Slap Ya Mama®
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 1½ cup pepper jack cheese, grated
Instructions
- Boil noodles according to package directions. Strain and set aside.
- In a large pan or skillet, melt butter.
- Add in milk and heavy cream, stir well and bring to a boil.
- Stir in seasonings and flour and let simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Add in sour cream and stir well to combine.
- Next, add in shredded cheese and stir continuously until the cheese has melted.
- Stir in cooked noodles, making sure to coat them evenly with the sauce.
- Remove from heat and serve immediately.
Here are a few pics that are the perfect size for pinning to Pinterest.