Macaroni and cheese Texas cafeteria style DSC 3164

Macaroni and cheese, Texas cafeteria style

A few years ago, a shop in New York that specializes in vintage restaurant plates had on display white mugs marked with the Luby’s logo. Since Luby’s is a Texas institution, I was surprised and delighted to see the mugs so far from home. And every time I visited the shop, I’d acknowledge the mugs with a smile.

Now, for those unfamiliar with Luby’s, it is a cafeteria-style restaurant. This means that when you enter, you grab a tray and slide it down a line, pointing out to workers on the other side of a glass partition all the items you wish to eat.

Typically, you start with a wide array of salads, which often include leafy greens along with carrot and raisin and pea salads, too. Next up are the entrees, where popular options can be chicken-fried steak, enchiladas, and fried chicken. The side dish section will have standards such as mashed potatoes, green beans, and macaroni and cheese. Then, as you continue to push your tray along the line, you’ll see snacks, breads, beverages, and desserts.

After you pay the cashier, you take your tray into the dining room, where the lights are typically bright, the chairs are padded with wheels on them, and workers walk around with carts offering refills of tea and coffee. It’s not an upscale experience, but it is a familiar and relaxing one, especially for older folks and families.

The cafeteria was never considered cool, but for those who grew up eating at them they were always pure comfort. Indeed, my family dined at cafeterias throughout my childhood, and every Wednesday you’d find us at Luby’s, where I’d get a LuAnn platter stacked with liver and onions along with a bowl of creamy macaroni and cheese.

All my life I’ve been fond of the cafeteria experience, which is why seeing those Luby’s mugs in New York made me so glad. But I will confess I failed to buy a mug, and one day when I visited the store, I sadly noticed that they were gone. I had missed my opportunity. And like those mugs, cafeterias could also become a missed opportunity, as once-beloved spots across Texas are now closing.

Now, about that macaroni and cheese. Like most cafeteria fare it’s not a fancy rendition of the dish. In fact, all the recipes I saw from various cafeterias all called for a similar combination of just pasta, milk, and American cheese. There are no bread crumbs, aromatics, spices, or fancy cheeses, but that’s to be expected. Cafeteria food doesn’t work that way.

Macaroni and cheese, Texas cafeteria style | Homesick Texan

Here is my take on the style, which may not be complicated or sophisticated, but it’s still creamy and good. Indeed, it’s a friendly dish that always feels welcome, much like a meal enjoyed at the neighborhood cafeteria.

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5 from 10 votes

Macaroni and cheese, Texas cafeteria style

Course Side Dish
Cuisine Southern, Texan
Cook Time 45 minutes
Servings 8
Author Lisa Fain

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces dried elbow pasta
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon corn starch
  • 1 pound American cheese, chopped or shredded
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • Black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 2-quart casserole dish or large cast-iron skillet.
  • Bring a pot of water to a boil on high, add about a tablespoon of salt, then add the pasta. While occasionally stirring, cook per the package instructions until the pasta is tender. Remove the pot from the stove and drain the pasta.
  • Stir together the milk and corn starch. Return the pot the stove and pour in the milk and corn starch mixture. Turn the heat to medium low and while stirring, cook until the milk begins to thicken, about 2 minutes.
  • Turn the heat down to low and start adding the cheese to the pot, a handful at a time. Stir until the cheese melts then add the next handful. Once all the cheese has been added and melted, add the butter to the pot, along with the drained pasta. Taste and add salt if needed along with a few shakes of black pepper.
  • Stir until the pasta is well coated. The sauce will be thick, though if it feels too thick you may thin it with more milk.
  • Spoon the macaroni into the casserole. Cover then cook for 20 minutes or until the pasta is bubbling. Serve warm.

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39 Comments

  1. What do you think about adding some diced tomatoes (fresh or canned? I remember my aunt (who lived with us) adding tomatoes when she made macaroni and cheese (I think canned). This recipe sounds SO good, and best of all, so easy – no flour/milk roux, etc.

    1. Lisa Fain says:

      SeaGail–I think that would be a great addition!

  2. Shirley Thompson says:

    Lisa, thanks for posting this recipe. And for the trip down memory lane. My Mother never learned to drive, & after my Dad died I would take Saturdays or Sundays (my days off work) to take my Mother shopping, to the library, wherever she wanted to go. A trip to Luby’s (in Phoenix) was almost always included. So many fond memories. Now I need to go make this Macaroni & Cheese.

    1. Lisa Fain says:

      Shirley–You’re welcome, and thank you for sharing your story. It’s such a delight to hear people’s fond memories of going to the cafeteria! Enjoy the macaroni and cheese!

  3. Susan Sunde says:

    In step number 3, you say “stir the milk and corn starch together”. In the next sentence, you say “return the pot to the stove and pour in the milk.” Did you mean a little bit should be stirred into the corn starch and then pour in the remaining milk? I don’t mean to be critical, but I was planning to use your recipe and these things confuse me. Love your recipes, Lisa, and your blog.

    1. Lisa Fain says:

      Susan–My apologies for any confusion! You’re supposed to pour in the milk that’s been been mixed with the cornstarch. I’ll clarify this in the recipe.

  4. Sherry Hensley says:

    5 stars
    Love this! I’m from Austin and also used to go there every Wednesday with my Granny, always got the Mac & Cheese, it was delish! Thanks for the sweet memory and great recipe!

    1. Lisa Fain says:

      Sherry–Thank you for sharing your memories! Hope you enjoy the macaroni and cheese!