Mac & Cheese / Makarone sa Sirom

Introducing you to the Balkan version of the cheesy childhood favourite – Mac & Cheese / Makarone sa Sirom. There is just something so comforting and harmonious about the combination of warm pasta and cheese. I just love it! This Balkan-style version of mac & cheese is made with mostly feta, lots of eggs, sour cream and milk. So instead of a melted cheesy sauce, this recipes requires lots of crumbed feta, and of course plenty of macaroni. Baked in the oven – this dish comes out so delicious! Paired with a refreshing salad or eaten on a winters night is just the perfect thing!

About this recipe

It has been a while since I have made this super comforting Mac & Cheese / Makarone sa Sirom recipe! It is not a dish I prepare often, simply because Leon loves a super cheesy version of mac and cheese, filled with bacon. However, the Serbian inspired version of mac & cheese is by far my personal favourite. For me, this dish carries a sense of nostalgia. It’s a reminder of simpler times when meals were made using basic ingredients or made with whatever is available. Although, I will note that other neighboring countries also use a ton of feta cheese in their mac and cheese dishes. So, this is not exclusively a Serbian recipe, but inspired nonetheless.

It wasn’t until we moved to New Zealand that I was exposed to a different way of making this dish – usually made with a creamy cheese sauce (sometimes a pre-packaged sauce) filled with lots of yellow cheese, milk and flour. But – I have to say, I love to prepare this delicious comforting pasta dish the Balkan way. It just feels like home! So now, I love preparing this comforting meal in my favourite baking dish, and always during the winter months. Pure comfort.

Making this recipe

Feta cheese just brings a different kind of flavour to an already delicious cheesy, pasta dish. Just like most mac & cheese recipes, this one is super easy to make and should take 20 minutes at most from prep to oven bake. Yes – this recipe is an oven bake too, which in my opinion is the best way to serve up a delicious comforting dish like this. If you want to get right into it – head down below for the full recipe, including ingredients and instructions.

But if you want a quick run down – here it is.

Begin by cooking the elbow macaroni according to package instructions (this took 10 minutes in boiled, salted water for me). In a large mixing bowl, whisk 5 eggs until mixed, then add the sour cream and combine. Lastly, add the crumbed feta, and stir everything together. Once the macaroni have cooked, transfer to a baking dish and cover with all of the egg and feta mixture. It helps to use a wooden spoon or spatula to get all of the macaroni and the sauce well incorporated. Spread a layer of yellow cheese over the top and bake for 15 minutes.

In the mean time, combine two whole eggs, milk, some salt & pepper. Remove the baking tray from the oven and cover the entire surface with this second batch of the egg mixture. Bake for a further 10-15 minutes. You may be wondering why the extra addition of eggs and milk? This is simply to add further moisture to the dish – nobody likes dry macaroni. Add sesame seeds to the top for extra taste (this is entirely optional).

Looking for more?

If you are looking for more ideas, try one of the recipes below:

Chicken Grašak / Pea Stew with Chicken

Homemade Mac & Cheese

Gibanica – Serbian Cheese Pie

Now that you know that a recipe for Mac & Cheese / Makarone sa Sirom can be made with feta cheese too – give it a go! I really hope that you enjoy it! Be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! If you have any questions, you can find me over on Instagram or tag me with your photo. You can also find me over on TikTok.