Crock Pot Mac & Cheese

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese Recipe – comfort food at its best! Effortless to make with only a few simple ingredients. Uncooked elbow macaroni, evaporated milk, whole milk, half-and-half, butter, dry mustard, cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, Velveeta, and sharp cheddar cheese. Great as a side dish or meatless main dish.

bowl of mac and cheese with a slow cooker in the background with text overlay

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Creamy Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

This Crockpot Mac and Cheese is a new favorite at our house. It is super easy to make and is bursting with flavor! Delicious as a side dish or meatless main dish. Simply throw uncooked elbow macaroni, evaporated milk, whole milk, half-and-half, butter, dry mustard, cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, Velveeta, and sharp cheddar cheese in the slow cooker for a meal the whole family will enjoy.

scooping macaroni and cheese from slow cooker

How to Make Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

This dish is effortless to make with only a few simple ingredients. Place a box of elbow macaroni noodles in the bottom of a 6-qt slow cooker. Top pasta with Velveeta cheese. Add evaporated milk, heavy cream, whole milk, dry mustard, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried parsley to the pasta mixture. Stir to combine. Add butter and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 90 minutes. Top the pasta with sharp cheddar cheese. Cover the crockpot and cook until the cheese has melted. Serve immediately.

Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions

  • Do not boil the pasta before adding it to the slow cooker. You are going to use the pasta dry – uncooked.
    • I suggest using Barilla elbow macaroni pasta.
    • Barilla is a thicker pasta and holds up well in this recipe.
  • Velveeta works great in this recipe because it melts easily and is smooth. If you aren’t a fan of Velveeta you can substitute American cheese from the deli department.
  • What can I add to the macaroni and cheese? Broccoli, ham, or bacon are all delicious.
  • Here is our recipe for Homemade Cajun/Creole Seasoninghttps://www.plainchicken.com/creolecajun-seasoning-secret-recipe/
  • Can I mix all of the ingredients ahead of time and refrigerate the crockpot before cooking? Yes, with the exception of the pasta. Wait until you take it out of the fridge and are turning the slow cooker on before you add the macaroni.
  • Please keep in mind that all slow cookers cook differently. An older slow cooker may cook hotter (even on low) than a newer crock pot. 
    • Check the pasta at one hour. Stir and test the noodles for doneness. Don’t overcook the pasta as it will get mushy. 
  • If the mac and cheese sauce is too thick, thin it out with some milk or water.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
    • Reheat in the microwave.
bowl of mac and cheese

What to Serve with Southern Macaroni and Cheese

This cheesy pasta has quickly become a family favorite. It goes with almost everything! Mama’s Meatloaf, fried chicken, grilled chicken, pork chops, bbq pork, and more! We especially love this during the holidays with ham and turkey. Add this to your menu. It is sure to become a favorite at your house too!

Looking for more recipes to serve with this pasta? Here are some popular recipes from the website:

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scooping macaroni and cheese from slow cooker with text overlay

Crockpot Mac and Cheese

Yield: 8 people
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Crock Pot Mac and Cheese Recipe – comfort food at its best! Effortless to make with only a few simple ingredients. Uncooked elbow macaroni, evaporated milk, whole milk, half-and-half, butter, dry mustard, cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, Velveeta, and sharp cheddar cheese. Great as a side dish or meatless main dish.

Ingredients:

Instructions:

  • Add all ingredients except cheddar cheese to the crockpot. Stir to combine.
  • Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH heat for 1 hour.
  • Remove the lid and stir. Check the pasta for doneness. If the pasta isn't tender, cover the slow cooker and check it every 15 minutes.
  • Top the pasta with shredded cheddar cheese. Cover the slow cooker and cook for 5 to 10 minutes, until the cheese has melted. Serve immediately.

Notes:

  • Do not boil the pasta before adding it to the slow cooker. You are going to use the pasta dry – uncooked.
    • I suggest using Barilla elbow macaroni pasta.
    • Barilla is a thicker pasta and holds up well in this recipe.
  • Velveeta works great in this recipe because it melts easily and is smooth. If you aren’t a fan of Velveeta you can substitute American cheese from the deli department.
  • What can I add to the macaroni and cheese? Broccoli, ham, or bacon are all delicious.
  • Here is our recipe for Homemade Cajun/Creole Seasoning: https://www.plainchicken.com/creolecajun-seasoning-secret-recipe/
  • Can I mix all of the ingredients ahead of time and refrigerate the crockpot before cooking? Yes, with the exception of the pasta. Wait until you take it out of the fridge and are turning the slow cooker on before you add the macaroni.
  • Please keep in mind that all slow cookers cook differently. An older slow cooker may cook hotter (even on low) than a newer crock pot. 
    • Check the pasta at one hour. Stir and test the noodles for doneness. Don’t overcook the pasta as it will get mushy. 
  • If the mac and cheese sauce is too thick, thin it out with some milk or water.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
    • Reheat in the microwave.

Steph

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macaroni and cheese in a slow cooker with text overlay

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Comments

  1. Wow, wow, wow. Awesome Mac and cheese. Makes a ton. Leftovers freeze and reheat well. Thanks Plain Chicken.

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