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Sweetie Pie’s Mac and Cheese is a creamy, cheesy, delicious macaroni and cheese from a famous St. Louis soul food eatery! It is hard to turn down a baked and mac cheese recipe like this one. Try it and you’ll see what I mean.
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Creamy Macaroni and Cheese
Here’s a creamy, cheesy, delicious mac and cheese from a famous St. Louis soul food eatery. People who have eaten this mac and cheese at Sweetie Pie’s say it’s the best they’ve ever had.
Not everyone can get to Sweetie Pie’s restaurant, but now you can make their mac and cheese at home!
About Sweetie Pie’s
The owner of Sweetie Pie’s is Robbie Montgomery (known to everyone as Miss Robbie). As the oldest of nine children, she learned to prepare dozens of her mother’s classic soul food dishes. One of the dishes they are most down for is their baked mac n cheese.
Robbie led a very wonderful life as a talented vocalist and was a backup singer (an Ikette) for Ike and Tina Turner. While on the road, she often prepared meals for the band on hot plates in hotel rooms. She subsequently toured with other famous musicians.
When she eventually returned to St. Louis, the drive to open a restaurant was overpowering, and Sweetie Pie’s was born. Sweetie Pie’s has become a St. Louis landmark and a must-visit for anyone looking for delicious comfort food and great service. You can read more aboutMiss Robbie’s inspiring life.
The History of Baked Mac n Cheese
Mac and cheese is so familiar, you’ve probably never even thought it has a history. As far as the United States is concerned, Thomas Jefferson met up with macaroni in Paris. In 1793, he asked the American ambassador to Paris to buy a machine for making it.
However, the device apparently didn’t work out or Jefferson just found it easier to import both macaroni and Parmesan cheese for making dishes at Monticello.
In 1802, Jefferson served “a pie called macaroni” for a state dinner. Since that time, baked mac and cheese has remained a popular dish. You can read a lot more about thehistory of mac and cheese.
Not Exactly the Original Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe But Just as Good
Once you’ve had real homemade mac and cheese, the orangy-looking box mix will never be the same! Homemade mac and cheese is always the best.
This copycat recipe is not Sweetie Pie’s original, but it’s pretty close. Your family will love it and it’s perfect to take to a potluck. Everyone will keep asking you how to make it.
Soul Food Mac and Cheese Recipe Ingredients
Here’s a list of what you need:
- Elbow macaroni pasta
- Whole milk
- Evaporated milk
- Eggs
- Butter
- American cheese
- Colby cheese
- Monterey Jack cheese
- Sharp Cheddar cheese
- Velveeta cheese
- Sour cream
- Salt
- White pepper
- Sugar
How to Make Sweetie Pie’s Macaroni and Cheese
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
- Cook elbow macaroni until tender in a large pot of water according to package al dente directions. Drain and transfer the pasta to the casserole dish.
- In a large bowl, pour in whole milk, evaporated milk, and whisk in eggs with a fork until thoroughly combined.
- Add the butter, Colby, Monterey Jack, Sharp Cheddar, Sour Cream, and Velveeta cheeses to the macaroni.
- Pour the milk and egg mixture over the macaroni.
- Season with salt, pepper, and sugar, and stir to combine.
- Sprinkle shredded American cheese over the top of the pasta.
- Bake at 350°F for 30 to 45 minutes or until the top is light golden brown.
Storing and Reheating Baked Mac n Cheese
Store any leftover mac and cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.
You may freeze leftover portions in an airtight container or a freezer bag for up to three months.
How to reheat Southern baked mac and cheese with evaporated milk
Small single-sized portions can be reheated in the microwave. If you have a larger portion to reheat, I recommended placing the portion of pasta in a covered dish and reheating at 350°F between 10 and 15 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Can I substitute regular milk for evaporated milk? What is the difference between evaporated milk and regular milk?
This recipe uses both regular milk and evaporated milk. Evaporated milk is canned milk that the water level has been reduced. The flavor difference is a richer flavor. The texture difference is that your final sauce is creamier than it would be with regular milk. I suggest using both types of milk, using just evaporated milk may make the sauce too rich for many of your guests.
Can I use pre-shredded cheese for this recipe or should the cheese be freshly grated?
For when it is important for the cheese to melt I prefer to use freshly grated cheese. Pre shredded cheese has an anti-caking agent in it, and it won’t melt as well as cheese as you shred.
Is mac and cheese baked covered or uncovered?
In this recipe the pasta dish is not covered, we want that browned topping, and if you cover the dish, the cheese won’t brown.
How do you keep mac and cheese creamy?
This recipe uses evaporated milk to keep the mac and cheese sauce creamy. We don’t thicken this sauce with flour, so that helps to keep this creamy.
Can baked mac and cheese be made ahead of time?
I recommend preparing the dish as if you were going to bake it, you could then wrap it in plastic wrap and then bake for up to 24 hours later for best results.
Looking for more mac and cheese recipes? Try these!
- Longhorn Mac and Cheese – This is a 4 cheese blend macaroni and cheese that also features just a touch of bacon.
- Stouffer’s Mac and Cheese – this will remind you of the one you used to bake in the oven, it is cheesy goodness at its best.
- Boston Market Macaroni and Cheese – this velvety smooth cheese is so hard to beat.
- Homemade Macaroni and Cheese – One of my favorite recipes that I adore.
- Martha Stewart Macaroni and Cheese – this one features multiple types of cheese and is just plain decadent.
Favorite Cheesy Side Dishes
- Brussel Sprouts au Gratin
- Cauliflower with Cheese Sauce
- Cheesy Asparagus Casserole
- Cheesy Creamed Corn
- Cheesy Crockpot Potatoes
- Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes
- Cheesy Potato Casserole
- Keto Broccoli and Cheese
Be sure to check out more of my easy side dish recipes and the best restaurant copycat recipes here on CopyKat.com!
Sweetie Pie’s Macaroni and Cheese
You can recreate Sweetie Pies Macaroni and Cheese at home.
4.91 from 22 votes
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Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: baked, Macaroni and Cheese
Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 717kcal
Author: Stephanie Manley
Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow macaroni prepared according to package directions
- 8 ounces butter cut into small pieces
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1/2 pound Colby cheese shredded
- 1/2 pound Monterey Jack cheese shredded
- 1/2 pound sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 pound Velveeta cheese cut into small chunks
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 24 ounces evaporated milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1 tablespoon white pepper
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 cup shredded American cheese
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Place the prepared macaroni, butter, and sour cream into a 9×13-inch casserole dish along with the Colby, Monterey Jack, cheddar, and Velveeta cheeses. Mix well.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, and evaporated milk until thoroughly combined.
Pour the egg mixture over the pasta and season with salt, white pepper, and sugar. Toss to combine.
See AlsoBest Chinese Dinner RecipesSprinkle the American cheese over the macaroni.
Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, until lightly golden brown.
Video
Equipment
Nutrition
Calories: 717kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 28g | Cholesterol: 182mg | Sodium: 1481mg | Potassium: 414mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1640IU | Vitamin C: 1.2mg | Calcium: 924mg | Iron: 1.4mg
About Stephanie Manley
I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.
Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Adrian Greene
Can you use heavy whipping cream instead of whole milk or can milk?
Reply
Stephanie Manley
You could, it will b e richer tasting, and the cheese sauce will be thicker.
Reply
Paula
You’re right. This isn’t the exact recipe, but you’re pretty darned close! I watched Miss Robbie make this on Triple D and kept the video. She mixes the macaroni and all the cheeses together, then adds the milk and egg mixture. Stir that real good then add a big dollop of sour cream. She then tops it with shredded mild cheddar and bakes until it’s golden bubbly. BEST. MAC. AND. CHEESE. EVER!Reply
misch brannock
You had me at Velveeta , hooked
Reply
Leslie
Followed the recipe as written. I put in the pats of butter, at the end to bake. It was way too much butter for my tastes, but all in all it was edible.Reply
Linda
3 Or 4 qt dish? How deep should the 9×13? Is this recipe for 3 cups of elbows?Reply
Stephanie
I would use a 9 x 13-inch pan.
Reply
Pam
This is the best recipe and easy to follow. My family loves it especially my husband.Reply
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