Black History Month began on a high note, with Doechii, Kendrick Lamar, and Beyoncé among the Black artists who took home Grammys this year. Historically, expression through mediums like music is and has been a powerful device the Black community uses to connect themselves and their audience, creating an invisible tether.
Much like music, food also has its own deep connection to the Black community. One meal in particular which holds as much historical significance as it does debate in my family during holidays is mac and cheese.
The idea of mac and cheese dates back to about 1769 in Italy, but one man is credited with bringing it to the United States — James Hemings. To give some context, Hemings was a Paris chef born into slavery in 1765 and trained at French catering companies at 19. Not too long after, he ran the kitchens of the royal household of Prince at Conde and Thomas Jefferson until he was able to negotiate his freedom when he turned 30 years old. From there, Hemings spent the last six years of his life traveling and exploring his career as a chef.
Though Hemings did not invent the dish, he spent 5 years testing out various combinations of cheese and noodles in Italy and France to bring back to the States. Hemings mastered French cuisine, and during his time abroad, learned and developed other foods like ice cream and French fries, which he brought back from France to Monticello because of Jefferson’s love for them.
Over the years, Black kitchens have perfected their mac and cheese dishes to their likings and passed them down through their families, recipes often written on delicate scraps of paper sure to tear. In a way to honor Hemings, celebrate Black History Month and perhaps start your own secret family recipe, here are six mac and cheese recipes (from least to most complex in flavor) that are sure to become staples in your kitchen.
1. Instant Mac & Cheese
As a college student who dreads cooking after a long day of classes, anything with the word ‘instant’ in front of it is an automatic win in my book. Velveeta and Kraft cups are staples in my pantry, but it often gets boring. Try upgrading your boxed mac and cheese by replacing the water with milk, adding some garlic powder or just stirring in some of your favorite shredded cheese like @dzuglewis. This is a recipe you’d just have to try.
2. Baked Mac & Cheese (Simple Version)
If you’re feeling really chef-like after a long day, sprinkle more shredded cheese onto the previous recipe and toss it into the oven. Having that crispy topped, cheesy goodness could make you question stovetop mac and cheese for future meals to come. It could also be the perfect meal prep just like Zoey does here.
3. Southern Baked Mac & Cheese
Since elementary school, I have been an avid follower of Chef Danni Rose, or as I knew her ‘Stovetop Kisses.’ Her humor mixed with some good southern cooking that reminds me of my mom’s meals is why she is a prime candidate for who you should trust with your mac and cheese needs. Rose boils her elbow macaroni in chicken stock, dashes a range of seasonings onto her noodles and uses cheeses like mozzarella and cheddar. And staying true to being similar to my mom, she puts an egg in her mac and cheese to make it ‘sit up’ and overall creamier. Even though her video is from six years ago, this recipe continues to be a step up from just baking it from the box.
4. Tini’s Mac & Cheese
After Chef Tineke Younger competed and finished eighth on Fox’s Next Level Chef, she took her recipes to TikTok with one being her viral mac and cheese. Similar to the previous recipe, it is baked. However, Tini adds another element: dijon mustard and cavatappi noodles.
5. Rihanna’s Mac & Cheese
As we explore different flavors, we should not forget the most unique one which is in Rihanna’s recipe book. In her mac and cheese recipe, there is no cheese sauce. As a replacement, it is sliced bell peppers, ketchup, yellow mustard, scotch bonnet pepper sauce and colby jack cheese. Those might sound like great hot dog toppings but they make up quite the combination of elbow noodles..
6. Tabitha Brown’s Vegan Mac & Cheese
For my dairy sensitive people, I did not forget about you. Tabitha Brown saves the day with her flavorful and creative dairy-free mac. Trade shredded cheese for butternut squash and you are on the road to success.
With these added recipes, Hemings’ passion for cooking and innovation can continue to inspire recipes with unconventional ingredients that grace tables across the world.