Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

This Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese recipe is a timeless crowd-pleaser. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep time, you can create a comforting and satisfying dish. It’s the perfect side or main course to take to potlucks, make for holidays, or any weeknight dinner.

I love slow cooker recipes that are easy to make and timeless classics. Macaroni and Cheese is more than just a dish, it’s comfort food on a plate. Using the crockpot gives the sauce time to simmer for hours, resulting in an incredibly creamy and cheesy sauce that coats every piece of pasta perfectly.

This crock pot mac and cheese is my sister-in-law’s recipe and it’s a must-make when we are all together, like my mother-in-law’s Chicken Divan. It’s just standard to have those meals. We’ve been eating this cheesy pasta for years and it’s now a tradition to have it at Thanksgiving and Christmas in my house.

If you love pasta and cheese, give my Cajun Mac and Cheese a try or this Slow Cooker Broccoli and Sausage Mac and Cheese. Both are tried and true meals that are great for dinner and to take to potlucks.

Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

The small appliance does all the work for this recipe so you can sit back and relax while it’s cooking. Creating this slow-cooked mac and cheese requires a few ingredients that you may not have readily on hand but they are worth the trip to the store to get and to stock up on. I like to use two varieties of cheese, a sharp cheddar, and a sharp white when I make this.

Adding a can of condensed cheddar cheese soup and evaporated milk will make this even creamier and provide so much flavor. The top cheese layer is a must and shouldn’t be skipped. It’s like the final layer of goodness.

Forget everything you know about this classic dish. This crockpot version is next-level delicious! It’s pure magic for your taste buds!

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Timesaving Tips and Variations 

• I used Cabot Extra Sharp White Cheddar Cheese and a yellow sharp cheese. We like the sharpness of the cheese, but you can use regular cheddar as well.  
• Cook your pasta to “al-dente”, or undercook it for a couple of minutes. It will continue to cook as in the crock pot. Cooking the noodles all the way will make the casserole mushy.
• Use sturdy pasta like elbows or shells, and avoid delicate kinds or very small cuts.
• I like to mix the ingredients for the sauce right in the crock before I add the cooked pasta.
• Depending on your crockpot, times can vary for cooking. Mine is 6 quarts and it took about 3 hours and 15 minutes to be done. Keep an eye on it at the 3 hour mark.
• You can add some cayenne pepper if you want a spicy pasta, or add some garlic powder.
• Go light with the added salt as the cheeses and the soup both have salt so taste before adding extra,
• I normally just add ground black pepper and it’s perfect.

Get creative with your pasta dish, add ground beef or a spicy sausage to make it heartier. Broccoli is always a winner to add, too. We like to serve this with crockpot garlic bread to dip into that cheesy sauce.

Can I make this mac and cheese ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the sauce and store it in a covered container in the refrigerator. Cook, rinse, and cool the pasta before storing it in a separate container in the fridge. When ready to cook, combine everything in the slow cooker and mix. You may need to add a few extra minutes of cooking time.

If you have leftovers (that’s a big ‘if’), consider making these Mac and Cheese Bites. They make a yummy snack or appetizer for parties.

Can I bake this casserole in the oven?

Yes, combine everything together in a large oven-safe pan and bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes then top with cheese and allow to melt in the oven a few more minutes. Alternatively, if you have an air fryer, try Air fryer Mac and cheese.

What type of cheese is best for mac and cheese?

Sharp cheddars will give the best flavor, but try Monterey Jack, White American or White Cheddar. A marble blend works wonderfully, too. If want you to add spicy cheese, pepper jack is a great option. For best results, buy blocks of cheese and use a grater to shred. Prepackaged types often has an anti-caking agent that can alter the texture when melted.

This would be a great addition to your holiday dinners or to take to any type of gathering. We often make it to take to a summer BBQ or a potluck dinner.

What to Serve with Mac and Cheese

There’s really no right or wrong foods to serve with pasta with cheese sauce, but these are some of my favorites.

• Slow Cooker BBQ Beer Chicken
• Asoaragus Wrapped in Bacon
• Mini Turkey Meatloaves
• Sauteed Broccoli Rabe and Beans with Garlic
• Slow Cooker Spiral Ham

This creamy pasta is also a meal on its own. Great for meatless meals or when you need comfort food.

💡Explore my favorite Kitchen Essentials (Amazon affiliate link)

Recommended Tools for Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

The list of tools is short and I have links to a few of my favorite gadgets.

Ingredients

The ingredients for this casserole are easily found in your local grocery stores. The evaporated milk is typically found in the baking aisle and the cheddar soup is in the canned soup area.

• 1 box (16 ounces) elbow macaroni
• ½ cup melted butter
• 2 cups shredded Cabot extra sharp white cheddar
• 2 cups shredded Tillamook sharp cheddar
• 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
• 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed cheddar cheese soup, undiluted
• 1 cup milk
• 2 large eggs, beaten

Directions to Make Mac and Cheese

Cook macaroni according to package directions for al dente; drain and place macaroni back into pot it was cooked in. Mix pasta with the melted butter. Set aside.

In the crockpot, combine 1½ cups of each of the cheeses, evaporated milk, soup, milk, and eggs; mix well.

Pour macaroni in and stir to combine with the mixture. Cook, covered, on low for 3-1/2 to 4 hours – can be a little less time depending on your appliance. Mine is a 6 quart and at 3 hours it’s ready to add the rest of the shredded cheese and to cook another 15 minutes (or until is melted)

 There’s nothing quite like sinking your spoon into a bowl of creamy, cheesy macaroni. This recipe is incredibly easy to prepare, requiring minimal effort.

Save and print this family classic to make for your next holiday meal or any dinner any night of the week!

 Printable Recipe Card

 

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Enjoy!