Easy Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

Extra Creamy Mac and Cheese made in your crock pot. It’s pure comfort food. We are all about comfort food, and Mac and Cheese always makes our list of favorites. We’ve shared our MOST favorite recipe for Baked Mac and Cheese with toasted Panko breadcrumbs on top, but sometimes you have competition for oven space and it’s nice to know you can feed a crowd with this easy slow cooker version. This recipe is great for hosting a lot of people. The kids always love some Mac and Cheese.

Simple ingredients for crock pot mac and cheese:

1 pound elbow macaroni (16oz.)
3 cups milk
1/2 cup cream
2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup grated Monterrey Jack cheese
4 ounces cream cheese
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. ground mustard (optional)
1/4 tsp. garlic powder (optional)
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)

What kind of cheese for crockpot mac and cheese?

We used cheddar and Monterrey Jack cheese. You really can use any kind of grated cheese you like for flavor. Cheddar cheese is most common in mac and cheese, but these other types of cheese are also great in mac and cheese: sharp cheddar, mozzarella, fontina, pepper jack, Monterey jack, Colby Jack, gruyere, American cheese (from the deli, not the processed slices).
One thing to note is that you need to choose cheese that you grate yourself. Pre-grated bags of cheese will not melt the same in this recipe.

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese: Cream Cheese vs. Velveeta Cheese:

If you’d like to swap the cream cheese in this recipe for Velveeta Cheese, feel free! Just remember to use the same amount when you swap. It really is your taste preference.

How to make Mac and Cheese in your Crock Pot

Add all ingredients to the crock pot and gently stir to combine.
Set crock pot to low and cook for 1 hour. Stir at one hour and check pasta for doneness.
Reduce temperate to low and continue cooking for another 1 hour plus more if needed.
This recipe feeds about 8-10 people depending on portion size.

Cooking time will vary from crock pot to crock pot. Continue to check for doneness of the pasta after 1 hour and cook a little longer if needed. About 2 hours worked for our crock pot. If your noodles are cooked in less time, turn the temperature to warm.

Variations for Crock Pot Mac and Cheese:

Pasta Styles: Elbow macaroni noodles are the classic pasta for mac and cheese, but you can use any one of these styles, but just know that different styles of pasta will have different cooking times:
-shells (medium sized)
-rotini
-penne
Cooking Liquids:
There are other liquids that work well to make mac and cheese, like chicken broth, heavy cream and evaporated milk. You can swap out to your preference.
Seasonings:
Add additional seasonings to keep it from being boring and bland. Salt and Pepper are a must. Feel free to increase to taste for the S&P. Also: 1/4 teaspoon Smoked Paprika, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder , onion powder or 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (if you like a little heat).

Helpful tips and tricks:

Rinse your dry uncooked pasta to remove factory pasta dust.
Grate your own cheese. Do not use the pre-grated bags of cheese, this will result in a gritty mac and cheese.
If you need to thin out the sauce add additional milk (1/2 cup at a time) and stir to combine.
Before adding the ingredients to your crock pot, spray the inside with non stick cooking spray to keep anything from sticking to the bottom
Once the pasta is cooked to the al dente stage (slightly undercooked, move the setting on the slow cooker to warm. The pasta will continue to cook. Don’t let this mac and cheese cook too long or too fast or it will get mushy.
Sometimes older crock pots can cook too hot even on the low setting.
You can swap out the cream cheese for Velvet cheese or grated American cheese (not the package of slices)
Leave the lid on for one hour on low. Avoid increasing the temperature to high. Stir after one hour then check after 30 more minutes. Check and stir every 15 minutes.
We found that on average it’s done cooking at about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Gluten free macaroni noodles do not hold up in this recipe.
The actual cooking time will vary from crock pot to crock pot. It can take UP TO 3 hours depending on the crock pot.

Do you need to boil the pasta before adding it to the slow cooker?

Nope. So many love this recipe because there is minimal prep time. It’s basically a one pot meal.

Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

We love this easy slow cooker mac and cheese recipe, perfect for feeding a crowd.

Author Kami | NoBiggie.net

Ingredients

1 pound macaroni pasta uncooked
4 tablespoons salted butter sliced into slabs
4 ounces cream cheese
3 cups whole milk
1/2 cup heavy cream (or more whole milk)
2 cups freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup freshly grated Monterey Jack cheese
1 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder optional
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional

Instructions

Place the uncooked pasta into the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the butter, cream cheese, milk and cream. Add the grated cheese and stir to combine.
Cover and cook on low for 1 1/2 – 2 hours, or until the pasta is tender and the cheese is melted. During the cook time check on it and stir occasionally to keep pasta from sticking together.
Stir before serving. Season with salt, pepper, dried mustard, garlic powder and cayenne to taste. If you’re not serving immediately, turn the slow cooker to the warm setting until ready to serve. If needed add more milk to help thin out the sauce.

Recipe Notes

Tips and Tricks for Success:

Rinse your dry uncooked pasta to remove factory pasta dust.
Grate your own cheese. Do not use the pre-grated bags of cheese, this will result in a gritty mac and cheese.
If you need to thin out the sauce add additional milk (1/2 cup at a time) and stir to combine.
Before adding the ingredients to your crock pot, spray the inside with non stick cooking spray to keep anything from sticking to the bottom
Once the pasta is cooked to the al dente stage (slightly undercooked, move the setting on the slow cooker to warm. The pasta will continue to cook. Don’t let this mac and cheese cook too long or too fast or it will get mushy.
Sometimes older crock pots can cook too hot even on the low setting.
You can swap out the cream cheese for Velvet cheese or grated American cheese (not the package of slices)
Leave the lid on for one hour on low. Avoid increasing the temperature to high. Stir after one hour then check after 30 more minutes. Check and stir every 15 minutes.
We found that on average it's done cooking at about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Gluten free macaroni noodles do not hold up in this recipe.
The actual cooking time will vary from crock pot to crock pot. It can take UP TO 3 hours depending on the crock pot.

Making This Recipe? Tag us on Instagram: @NoBiggie using the hashtag #NoBiggieRecipes, so we can see what you are making in the kitchen!

Mac and Cheese Extras to serve on the side:

bite sized pieces of ham
cooked crumbled bacon
toasted Panko bread crumbs
grated parmesan cheese
crispy onions
steamed broccoli

Dry Macaroni Pasta Measurements:

When it comes to measuring dried elbow macaroni,
2 cups = 16 oz. = 1 lb. …it is all the same.