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Whether it’s the holiday season or not, I love a potluck. It might be for church, a kid activity, or just a bunch of friends getting together. One of my go-to potluck recipes is macaroni and cheese. Other people usually bring the same thing, but I’ll tell you something–there is never any macaroni and cheese left over, so I think it’s OK if a bunch of us bring it. I sometimes make my instant pot macaroni and cheese, but I also love making the dish I’m sharing today: my creamy baked macaroni and cheese recipe.
Creamy Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe (Perfect for Potlucks!)
This macaroni and cheese only has THREE ingredients: cheese, pasta, and heavy cream (the trifecta of delicious).
For pasta, you can use anything you want! This was on BOGO at Publix so I got these large shells, which are extra yummy because they hold extra cheese on the inside.
You can also use any cheese you want–this was also on BOGO at Publix so I got a mix of white cheddar and extra sharp cheddar. (Note that I doubled the recipe; you don’t need four blocks of cheese!)
Boil the pasta according to the package, but err on the side of al dente because it will cook more in the oven.
While the pasta is boiling, shred your cheese.
Drain the pasta.
Return the pasta to the pot and add half the cheese (2 cups).
Then add a cup of heavy cream and stir until it’s all melted. Season with salt and pepper according to taste.
Pour the mixture in a greased 9×13 pan.
Top with the remaining cheese (2 cups).
Bake for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Then you can turn the broiler on for a few minutes if you want to get it more brown on top!
Ingredients
- 1 box (16 oz) any shape pasta
- 4 cups shredded cheese (any kind!)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- salt and pepper
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350.
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions, erring on the side of "al dente."
- Drain the pasta and return it to the pot, turning off the heat but putting the pot back on the burner.
- Add 2 cups of cheese and 1 cup of heavy cream and stir until it's creamy and the cheese has melted.
- Pour the mixture into a greased 9x13 pan and top with the remaining 2 cups of cheese.
- Bake for about 20 minutes and then turn the broiler on for a few minutes to make the top browner (if so desired).
