Patti LaBelle’s Easy Mac and Cheese Recipe Is the Ultimate Comfort Food

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As many of us may already know by now, Patti LaBelle is no stranger to success. From an iconic musical career to being dubbed one of " America's Most Beloved Divas " by The New York Times , the Godmother of Soul has been nestled in our hearts and homes for more than 60 years. 

For me, Patti's music was in regular rotation, pounding through the speakers in my grandmother 's home while I was a child. It wasn't until I grew a bit older that I realized I could connect with the famous LaBelle in my own personal way: through cooking. 

While plenty of people's thoughts about Patti's culinary journey are only as deep as seeing her pies and other baked goods on grocery store shelves, in 1999, the songstress released her first cookbook , which was noted to be one of the first cookbooks released by a major entertainment artist of color.

Going on to release a line of small-batch hot sauces and barbecue sauce , there's no denying Patti's status as one of the country's comfort-food queens.

So, when I stumbled across Patti LaBelle's Macaroni and Cheese recipe , I knew I had to give it a try.

After grabbing all the necessary ingredients, I set out to see if this would be a chart-topping recipe worthy of a spot on my  Thanksgiving dinner table and beyond. Here's how it went.

Related:  Patti LaBelle's Easy Candied Sweet Potatoes Capture the Essence of Soul Food

Ingredients for Patti LaBelle's Macaroni and Cheese

For Patti's recipe, you'll need to gather the following ingredients: vegetable oil, elbow noodles, butter and four cheeses: shredded muenster, mild cheddar, sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses. You'll also need half and half, Velveeta, eggs, seasoning salt and fresh ground pepper.

How To Make Patti LaBelle's Macaroni and Cheese

Start by preheating your oven to 350°. Next, lightly butter a 2½-quart baking dish before filling a large pot with water and bringing to a rapid boil. Add the macaroni and oil to the pot, cooking for 7 minutes or until the noodles are tender. Drain the noodles, transfer to a large bowl and set aside.

In a small saucepan, melt down your butter, then stir it into the macaroni. Stir the shredded cheeses with the noodles, then add in the half and half, Velveeta, eggs, seasoning salt and pepper.

Transfer the mixture to your buttered deep dish and top with more shredded cheese and dot with some butter. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and bubbly.

Related: Patti LaBelle's Short Ribs Are Tender, Fall-Off-the-Bone Perfection

What I Thought of Patti LaBelle's Macaroni and Cheese

Before I dive too deep into what I thought about Patti's mac and cheese , let me tell you how simple and easy this delicious recipe was. With only a few ingredients that can mostly be found in your cabinets and refrigerator, it's easy to find yourself enjoying this palate-pleasing mac and cheese quicker than you probably think. 

If you're making the right type of  macaroni and cheese , it can sometimes be intimidating—especially around the holidays. Thanks to the iconic Patti LaBelle, we now have a quick and easy version of this iconic side dish that's worthy of your holiday table.

In my opinion, this recipe is nearly perfect—from texture to taste—and it's quite reminiscent of my late grandmother's recipe. It gives me a great feeling taking a bite of this and I would absolutely give this a 10/10 rating. Don't believe me? Try it for yourself. You won't be disappointed.

Related: Patti LaBelle's Secrets for Making the Best-Ever Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich

This story was originally published by Parade on Nov 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the Food & Drink section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.