Slow Cooker Broccoli and Sausage Mac and Cheese

Slow Cooker Broccoli and Sausage Mac and Cheese will become a family favorite quickly. This easy to make casserole is a flavorful one-pot meal using your favorite smoked sausage with fire-roasted tomatoes.

This post was originally created in April 2020 and updated in June 2024 with more information for the reader.

This Slow Cooker Broccoli and Sausage Mac and Cheese is such a comforting and delicious meal. It’s a hearty meal for any night of the week. It’s a simple casserole and the best part is you probably have most of the ingredients on hand.  

We love this slow cooker mac and cheese recipe but adding smoked sausage and broccoli to the classic pasta dish just makes it even better. It’s creamy, cheesy, and packed with flavor – everything you want in a comfort food dish. If you’re looking for a little spice in your pasta dishes, try this Cajun Mac and Cheese recipe.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Broccoli Sausage Mac and Cheese

This isn’t your ordinary slow cooker mac and cheese recipe. It’s elevated with the smoked sausage and broccoli. I always use fire-roasted tomatoes but you use what you have.  Regular diced tomatoes work well as do ones that have seasonings in them like oregano or mild chili peppers.  Using fresh broccoli is best for this recipe, but if you only have frozen, add it in in the last 30 minutes so that it will heat through and not overcook.

As for the evaporated milk, I have not used anything to replace that but I imagine a little heavy cream or half and half would work in place of that.  I use 1% milk, and you can use what you have on hand.  Cheese – there isn’t any cheese that wouldn’t be good in this – again, use what you like or have.  I used a sharp cheddar.

Timesaving Tips and Variations

• Be sure to cook the pasta to “al dente” – you want it a little underdone so it won’t be overcooked in the slow cooker.
• Cook the pasta the night before and store it in the refrigerator to save time.
• Chop your fresh broccoli florets the night before, too. Store in an airtight container or ziplock bag in the refrigerator.
• If you want to use frozen broccoli, do not add it until the last 30 minutes of cooking so that it will not be mushy. No need to thaw it out.
• Substitute the sausage for turkey sausage, chicken sausage, or kielbasa.
• You can use a spicy ground sausage. Cook it before adding it to the slow cooker.
• Replace the broccoli with fresh green beans.
• Add a diced onion or some mushrooms to the slow cooker.
• For extra nutrition, add a few handfuls of spinach a few minutes of cooking time.
• Use your favorite blend of shredded cheeses.

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🥣Equipment

6-quart slow cooker

📃Ingredients

• 1 box (1 pound) elbow noodles
• 1 package smoked sausage, sliced into one-inch pieces
• 1 cup fresh broccoli, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 can (15 ounces) diced fire-roasted tomatoes
• 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 can (13 ounces) evaporated milk
• 1 cup milk

Directions

I lightly sprayed my slow cooker with non-stick spray for easy clean-up. You can also use these great slow cooker liners. Cook the pasta al dente, or a couple of minutes less than the box suggests.  This way the pasta won’t turn mushy while cooking in the slow cooker. Add the sausage, elbow macaroni, tomatoes (undrained), and broccoli to the slow cooker.

  Next, add the milk and evaporated milk and give it all a good stir.

Finally, add the shredded cheese and mix one more time. Cover and cook for 2 hours.

More Slow Cooker Recipes

• Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
• Easy Slow Cooker Italian Chicken
• Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
• Crock Pot Sweet and Sour Meatballs

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