Slow Cooker Creamy Mac and Cheese + Video
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Crock Pot Mac and Cheese is made with four cheese’s and it’s so easy to make by adding all of the ingredients to the crock pot. It is so easy it just about cooks itself!
Slow Cooker Creamy Mac and Cheese is one of my favorites way to make Mac and Cheese. This recipe will change entirely the way you make Mac and Cheese.
No more stirring by the stove and ending up with runny Mac and Cheese, no more picking in the oven, this slow cooker version is delicious and easy to make.
Also, for the ultimate creamy Mac and Cheese this recipe uses four different types of cheese! Holy Yum!
I am completely in love with this recipe for Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese. This recipe is a time saver and also makes one of the creamiest Mac and Cheese I have ever tasted.
The best part of it? No crazy ingredients or methods, no pre-boiling the pasta, you add everything to the slow cooker and wait for it to work its magic.
This recipe was adapted from the original slow cooker mac and cheese on this site and from The Simple Kitchen Cookbook.
Helpful Tips to make Slow Cooker Creamy Mac and Cheese:
- You can use a combo of any cheese you like, or if you only have one type on hand, use just one, just make sure you use same amount of cheese specified in the recipe.
- The key to this mac and cheese is to make sure you remember to stir it a few times, otherwise the pasta may stick to the bottom or sides of the slow cooker and burn.
- You can grate your own cheese, or you can buy grated/shredded cheese to save time.
- If you want to add some protein to the dish, I like stirring in at the end grilled chicken or some cooked sausage.
- You don’t need to pre-cook the pasta for this recipe. You can also use elbow, bow tie or small shells pasta.
- For a spicier kick add some cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.
- The cheese sauce will thicken as it cools. If you plan to hold the mac and cheese in the slow cooker on warm, add extra milk as needed to keep the sauce nice and creamy. Also, if you are going to refrigerate it to eat later, add enough milk to the pasta to thin out the sauce before refrigerating. That way when you pull it out, it will scoop easily and the mac and cheese will warm up perfectly in the microwave or on the stove top. We do this every week and portion it out for easy lunches.
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Enjoy!
With love from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Check out more of our favorite mac and cheese recipes:
Slow Cooker Triple cheesy Mac and Cheese
Super Simple Mac and Cheese Italian Style
Jalapeno Popper Bacon Mac and Cheese
20 Minute Cheese Lovers Mac and Cheese with Broccoli
RECIPE VIDEO
Watch the video below to see how easy it is to make this recipe!
Extra Creamy Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 pound cellentani pasta, also known as cavatappi, uncooked
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, sliced into 1-tbsp pieces
- 4 ounces cream cheese, cut into 1-oz pieces
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 4 cups whole milk
- 1 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup fresh shredded Gruyere cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- fresh Italian parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Pour the uncooked pasta onto the bottom of your slow cooker. I love my 6-quart for this recipe. Scatter the butter and cream cheese pieces over the pasta. Sprinkle the salt, paprika and mustard over the top and pour the milk and cream into the slow cooker. Stir to combine everything and smooth the pasta into one even layer coated in sauce.
- Cover and cook on low for 1 to 2 hours, until the pasta is chewy (not quite crunchy, but very al dente). Your cook time will vary if you use a different pasta, so start with 1 hour and adjust from there.
- Stir once halfway through the cook time and be sure to smooth the pasta into one layer so it is well coated with the sauce.
- Once the pasta is ready, sprinkle on the cheddar, Gruyere and mozzarella cheeses and stir to combine. The cheese will melt into the sauce to create the most luxurious creamy cheese sauce. Cover the mac and cheese and cook for 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and it comes together.
- Stir before serving and garnish with fresh parsley.
Video
Donna’s Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
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This sounds like a wonderful and easy recipe. Will give this one a try real soon. Maybe for a side dish for my BBQ tomorrow.
If I’m making this for a large party, do you think I can fit 2x the recipe in a crockpot? In the video, it looks like there’s a lot of room left in the pot.
all the mac n cheese slow cooker recipes don't say High or Low on slow cooker heat?
Says LOW heat in recipe.
The easiest cheesiest mac and cheese EVER!
It’s easy and delicious. It was a hit at our Christmas Eve party.