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This is hands down the creamiest, cheesiest, easiest, very best slow cooker macaroni and cheese recipe ever. Give it a try!
Slow Cooker Macaroni & Cheese
When testing began for our Slow Cooker Volume 2 Menu Plan I knew I wanted to include a yummy macaroni and cheese. We tested, tweaked and tasted until we came up with what is the BEST tasting slow cooker macaroni and cheese on the planet!
This recipe is straight from Jesus good. 🙂 So good you could even include it in ANY holiday meal if you'd like!
MENU TIP: This recipe is from our Slow Cooker Volume 2 Menu Plan!
Tips for homemade crockpot macaroni and cheese:
Whole milk and real butter are a must for this recipe. If you're eating mac ‘n cheese you need to go all out!
You can totally use pre-shredded packaged cheeses but if you're able to shred your own it just melts up better. I didn't notice a huge difference with the pre-shredded cheese so I'll choose that if I can save some time. The flavor is still amazing!
DO NOT OVERCOOK…..I REPEAT……DO NOT OVERCOOK!
There's nothing worse than dried out macaroni and cheese so keep an eye on your crock towards the end of cooking time.
What cheeses are best for Macaroni and Cheese?
This recipe calls for sharp cheddar and a triple cheddar cheese blend, but the sky is the limit with cheeses for slow cooker mac and cheese.
I've seen recipes using smoked gouda, cream cheese, gruyere, Parmesan, brie and even goat cheese. All of these cheeses melt really well and will make a killer adult macaroni and cheese.
If you have picky kiddos that prefer the stuff out of the box, White American and yellow American cheeses also melt great.
Can I put uncooked pasta in the slow cooker?
Yes, yes, yes!!! Just be sure you have enough liquid in the crock pot since the uncooked macaroni noodles will absorb quite a bit. This slow cooker recipe has 3 1/2 cups of liquid (the whole milk and evaporated milk) to 8 ounces of pasta. This is one of the beauties of this slow cooker macaroni and cheese. 🙂
Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese Ingredients:
- elbow or large macaroni noodles
- evaporated milk
- whole milk
- butter
- salt
- pepper
- eggs
- triple cheddar cheese blend
- sharp cheddar cheese
- paprika
How to make slow cooker macaroni and cheese:
Start by spraying the crock with a generous amount of cooking spray. Next, add uncooked elbow macaroni noodles to the prepared crock. Yep it works and makes it sooooo simple and the noodles turn out perfect! Use either regular elbow or the large macaroni noodles.
Go ahead and add in the evaporated milk, whole milk, melted butter, salt, pepper and eggs.
Next, stir in all the cheeses except 1/2 cup of the shredded sharp cheddar cheese.
Sprinkle the remaining cheese and a dash of paprika over top.
Cover and cook on low 3 hours and 15 minutes. DO NOT overcook.
If your slow cooker tends to cook a wee bit hot you might want to check this Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese at the 3 hour mark.
It's so easy to make this in the crockpot that I may never go back to cooking it any other way. I think this creamy mac and cheese recipe will soon be another holiday must have at our house! If you're feeding a BIG crowd, you could easily double this recipe as well (just make sure your slow cooker is big enough!)
Slow Cooker Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 oz uncooked elbow or large macaroni noodles
- 12 oz can evaporated milk
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2-4 Tbsps butter, melted
- 1 tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp pepper
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 2 cups shredded triple cheddar cheese blend
- 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- dash of paprika
Instructions
- Coat a 3-to 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Add uncooked macaroni, evaporated milk, whole milk, melted butter, salt, pepper and eggs.
- Stir in all cheese except ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese.
- Sprinkle remaining ½ cup sharp cheddar cheese and a dash of paprika over top.
- Cover and cook on low 3 hours 15 minutes. DO NOT overcook.
Nutrition
Looking for more yummy meals? This recipe is from week two of our slow cooker volume 2 menu plans. It includes 72 recipes (with 12 desserts)! When you purchase, you also get access to our private Facebook group.
If you need a little more menu inspiration, here are some more family friendly recipes.
Wanting to try this in my new casserole crock pot for church lunch tomorrow. Would the cook time be the same? Is it too shallow for all the liquid? Thoughts?
I tried this, doubled it but it turned out like soup. I put it in an insta pot that can also be a crock pot. It was deep & round. Could that be why?
Hmm Lori ~ I’m unsure why it would have been so soupy. Maybe all of the milk? I’m so sorry it didn’t turn out!
If you doubled the recipe, you probably needed to double the cook time, or if not doubled, just longer. Its hard to try a new recipe for the first time when you are bringing it to a potluck.
Can you try with cauliflower instead of pasta?
You could definitely try it with cauliflower ~ If you decide to give it a try, let us know how it is!
Could I bake this? Just started it in the crock pot and doubled it but thinking everyone will be hungry sooner than later. Thanks.
I never have myself but I’m definitely sure you could!
I want to double this Mac & Cheese recipe but how long should I cook it? I want it done by supper but I don’t want mushy mac! TIA
I recommend cooking it for the same amount of time instructed if doubling.
Making this right now as a practice for Christmas.
Might double the recipe and set up a Mac and cheese bar!
Love that Maureen ~ hope you enjoy! 🙂
Did you double this Mac & Cheese? How long did you cook it for?? Want to start it early enough but don’t want mushy mac! TIA
This recipe is not doubled but it can be! It cooks for 3 hours and 15 minutes.
That sounds amazing. What would you add to This Mac and cheese bar?
Bacon? What else? I want to do this!! Thx for sharing!
Has anyone tried this with gluten free macaroni? I wonder if it would hold up or if it would turn to a gloopy mush that would be a waste of that expensive cheese.
I was wondering the same thing. Did you have a chance to try it with GF pasta?
We did it with gluten free macaroni for my mom and it turned out great!
So glad to hear that Meagan! 🙂
I think I will try this tomorrow! What is the best way to reheat it the following day?
This was fantastic. What are your thoughts on doubling the recipe?
I absolutely think you could double it, and wish I had when we made it! So glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
This sounds delicious. Two of my teenage daughters are vegetarians, and they would live on mac & cheese if I let them. I’m always looking or something healthier than the boxed kinds. They are also both athletes, so I’m also looking for ways to get more protein into them. I’ll probably sub cream of celery or the cheese soup for the cream of chicken. They have a soccer game Saturday afternoon, and we’ll get home right at dinnertime. It will be great to have this ready in the crockpot when we walk in the door and they are starving! Thanks for sharing.
You’re going to think I’m nuts, but I went jogging with a friend after having this for dinner (I needed to burn those calories off!), and I totally felt like I could run forever. I usually run early in the morning without breakfast, so I was amazed at the difference having some carbs in me made! (Not thinking that’s a good excuse to eat it all the time, but I really was so surprised by the difference.) Hope you all enjoy it! 🙂
That’s terrific! I’ll try to remember to let you know how it goes over. 🙂