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–+ servings
creamy mac and cheese after cooking on a spoon

Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese with Heavy Cream

Jenni Cole
An easy creamy baked mac and cheese recipe that comes together fast, plus it's literally the BEST heavy cream mac and cheese recipe out there! You'll love this easy oven-baked version for your next BBQ or get-together.
4.54 from 91 votes
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 10
Calories 723 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups elbow macaroni
  • 4 cups of heavy whipping cream
  • 4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided
  • 2 cups shredded gruyere cheese or mozzarella cheese
  • ½ + teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Panko breadcrumbs optional

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Add the water to a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Stir in the dried elbow pasta and cook it for the minimum time in the package directions. If it says 6-8 minutes, cook it for 6 minutes so they're al-dente (the noodles will finish cooking in the oven).
  • Drain the pasta and add it to a baking dish.
  • Make the cream sauce. Place a medium saucepan on the stove over medium heat and pour in the heavy cream. Add in 2 cups of sharp cheddar cheese, the gruyere cheese, the smoked paprika, and ½ a teaspoon of salt. Let the cheese melt and then bring the mixture to a simmer. Keep stirring until the cheese sauce is smooth.
  • Pour the creamy cheese sauce over the cooked pasta and combine.
  • Sprinkle the remaining 2 cups of sharp cheddar cheese evenly on top of the pasta mixture and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until the top of the baked mac n cheese is golden brown and bubbly. Serve the dish hot and enjoy!

Notes

  • The recipe can be doubled and cooked in a larger baking pan.
  • We don't recommend using pre-shredded cheese, it's coated with potato starch and doesn't melt as well, nor will you get those lovely cheese pulls if you use bagged shreds.
  • If you like your mac and cheese very brown and crispy, turn off the oven and turn the broiler on. Broil the mac and cheese until it gets to your preferred level of brownness.
  • Increase the smoked paprika for an even smokier taste, many readers have loved it that way!
  • You can add precooked protein to make this a one pan dinner.

    • Nutrition

    Calories: 723kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 25gFat: 59gSaturated Fat: 36gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 182mgSodium: 512mgPotassium: 216mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 2127IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 656mgIron: 1mg
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