Which baked pasta dish made with cheese is a familiar soul food side dish?

Macaroni and cheese is a familiar soul food side dish made from cooked macaroni combined with cheese, often baked until browned.

The dish has European roots, but African American cooks made it part of Southern celebratory cooking. In the United States, wealthy households served early versions in the eighteenth century, and the recipe later became more widely accessible as pasta and processed cheese became cheaper.

Soul food versions commonly use elbow macaroni and a rich cheese sauce made with cheddar or several cheeses. Some recipes include eggs, evaporated milk, or a crumb topping. These variations mean there is no single universally correct recipe, although the name consistently refers to macaroni combined with cheese.

Macaroni and cheese is often served beside fried chicken, barbecue, greens, or beans. It is generally treated as a side dish in soul food meals, even though the same food can also be served as a main course in other American cooking.