This Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese is a super creamy and easy to make pasta dish, with no boiling required!
It's the perfect pasta recipe for weeknight dinners and game day parties because it's always a hit!
Who doesn't love a nice ... big ... comforting bowl of macaroni and cheese?
The best macaroni and cheese has tender elbow pasta drenched in a silky, creamy cheese sauce that makes your mouth feel like it just died and went to heaven!
And that's just what you're going to get when you make this slow cooker mac and cheese recipe!
Ingredients
- elbow pasta - Use any shape pasta you prefer.
- cheddar cheese - Do not use pre-shredded cheese as it contains extra ingredients and will produce a more grainy texture.
- American deli cheese - This is a type of cheese you will have to get from the grocer's deli section. It is NOT the pre-sliced, American cheese food product in the cheese aisle.
- half and half - Can be replaced with 1.5 cups milk and 1.5 cups heavy cream.
- butter - Either unsalted or salted butter is fine to use.
- dijon mustard - Regular yellow mustard can be used instead of dijon mustard. 1 teaspoon of mustard powder can be used in place of prepared mustard.
- seasonings - salt, pepper, onion powder and paprika
How to make slow cooker mac and cheese
STEP 1: Place the all of the ingredients into your slow cooker and stir to combine.
Place the cover on and turn the slow cooker onto the LOW setting for 2 hours. Stir every 30 minutes during the 2 hour cooking time to make sure the pasta isn't sticking together and to distribute the ingredients evenly.
Make sure to serve the mac and cheese while it is still nice and hot!
Uh, excuse me Mac and Cheese...... it's time to get in my belly!
Tips for success
- Stir a couple times throughout the 2 hour cooking time. Pasta tends to stick together once it becomes hydrated. Stirring will help to evenly distribute the ingredients and help the pasta from clumping together.
- If the sauce seems too thick, stir in a little bit of milk until you get the consistency you want. Do this towards the end of the cooking time.
- Serve right away. Melted cheese dishes are meant to be served while still hot. Just like any other mac and cheese, this dish should be served immediately. If left to sit, the cheeses will solidify and you'll have to reheat.
How to store and reheat
- Store the leftover mac and cheese in the fridge, covered, in an air-tight container for up to 3 days.
- It's best to reheat pasta and cheese dishes in the oven. Place the mac and cheese in a baking dish and reheat in a 350 degree oven until heated through. About 25 minutes.
- Mac and cheese can be reheated in a microwave but it will not have the same creamy consistency.
Other recipes you may like:
This is a revised recipe. If you'd like a copy of the original recipe, click on this link >> Original Recipe
Did you make this Crockpot Mac and Cheese recipe? Let me know how it turned out by ★★★★★ RATING this recipe and leave a comment below!!
Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. elbow macaroni uncooked
- 8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese grated
- 4 oz. American deli cheese
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 3 cups half and half
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Place the ingredients into the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes.
- Check at 1.5 hours for doneness and cook longer if necessary. Serve hot.
Notes
- Stir every 30 minutes to prevent pasta from sticking together and to help it cook more evenly.
- If the sauce is too thick, add a couple of tablespoons of milk to help loosen it.
- Serve immediately after cooking.
- Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To reheat mac and cheese, it's best to put it in a baking dish and bake at 350 until heated through.
Nichole says
Can you use heavy cream instead of half and half
Amy Duska says
Yes, but I would cut the heavy cream with half water.
Sue McGee says
What exactly is "American deli cheese"??
Amy Duska says
It's american cheese that is sold in at the deli counter at the grocery store.
Patt says
I have tried MANY mac & cheese recipes. This has to be one of the best! I did have to add extra milk. My husband & high school seniors group loved it. Super easy.
Amy Duska says
So glad you liked it!! Thanks for the 5 star review! 🙂
Michelle says
There is no way you need to use a liner. Think of where is goes afterwards!
Amy Duska says
Hi Michelle, I actually agree with you and I have plans to update this recipe without the use of a slow cooker liner in the near future. Thank you!
Doris says
Would it be alright to add bacon to this??
Amy Duska says
I would cook the bacon first and then add it right before serving so it's still a little crunchy.
Lisa Allen says
This sounds delicious! How many servings does the recipe make?
Amy says
6-8 servings
Melissa says
Do you cook pasta before placing in slow cooker?
Amy says
No, just throw it in uncooked. I've just updated the recipe card to clarify that! 🙂
Kelly says
Could you add in additional ingredients like lump crab or broccoli?
Amy says
Yes, I think either of those would be delicious!
Connor says
Have you tried doubling the recipe? If so, what were your results and did it require more time?
Amy says
I have not doubled the recipe but I think it would take about the same amount of time. Maybe a little longer. I would check it and allow for about 30 more minutes or so.
nicole says
how many people does this feed?
Amy says
Depending on whether it's a main meal or a side dish ... for a main meal probably 4-6 depending on appetite and for a side dish about 8 people.
Sam says
My concern is the stirring part - I know you aren’t supposed to take the top off the slow cooker because it adds cook time...I’m also using velveeta instead of cheddar, because I have that on hand. I’ll let you know how it comes out!
Ciera Mitchell says
Instead of skim milk can I use regular milk?
Amy says
Yes you can. No problem!
Heather says
This was the best slow cooker mac and cheese ever! Thanks for the recipe!
Amy says
You're so welcome! Glad you liked it 🙂
Kelly says
I put this on right when I got home from work and it was ready by dinner time. Everyone loved how creamy it was! I had to stir it twice during the cooking time to make sure the pasta wasn't stuck together but that wasn't a big deal.
Amy says
So creamy and delicious 🙂