Mac And Cheese Is Twice As Comforting When You Sprinkle This Southern Staple On Top

Mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food that can take many different forms. Whether made from scratch, prepared using your favorite boxed mix, or baked into a casserole, for a truly satisfying meal, a simple Southern staple will make it even more delicious. Just sprinkle some cornbread on top. This mac and cheese topping is as easy as it is tasty, providing a sweet, buttery flavor and crumbly contrast to the cheesy gooey dish. It's also one of the best ways to use up leftover cornbread. All you have to do is swap dried pieces of cornbread in place of a breadcrumb or cracker topping in a simple mac and cheese (with crunchy topping) recipe. Alternatively, try grilling or toasting chunks of your cornbread for a more robust addition.

If you love Southern cuisine, this matchup of mac and cheese and cornbread is an excellent place to start. You can also use your favorite brand of store-bought cornbread mix and scoop the batter over your pasta prior to baking, allowing it to become a top crust for your casserole. There are so many possibilities as far as the type of cornbread you use, mac and cheese recipes with which to pair it, and other complementary ingredients to include.

Given that there are about as many ways to make mac and cheese as there are to make cornbread, you can really get creative with your combinations. For example, turn up the heat using jalapeño cornbread as your mac and cheese topping. This works with a store-bought version or your own homemade recipe. For a different style of cornbread topping, use leftovers from a green chile and tomatillo cornbread recipe. Combine this with crispy onion strings or garlic chips for extra crunch and flavor.

Along with the enhancements to taste and texture from your cornbread topping, try other Southern-style additions. Give a protein-boost to your casserole by adding smoked brisket or pulled pork on top of your baked dish to combine with the cornbread crust. You can also cut up pieces of andouille sausage to combine into your mac and cheese.

There's even the option to mix shredded cheese in with your cornbread crumb topping to make the mac and cheese twice as comforting. Serve this alongside mashed potatoes with gravy and creamed corn for a total comfort food feast. A generous portion of red beans and rice also makes an ideal starchy side. Prepare a luscious fruit cobbler for dessert to give your meal the perfect Southern-inspired finishing touch.