Y’all this is the most decadent Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese recipe that’s filled with incredible flavors but made simply in a crock pot. It’s an absolute game changer for busy weeknights and holidays when you are juggling a ton of work and just need an easy recipe to whip up. It has all the creamy, savory, and cheesy flavors you expect in your classic mac and cheese but let me tell you, that crispy topping? It’s everything.
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I’ve got a great recipe for y’all today: Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese. Growing up, my mama always made baked mac and cheese the Southern way. It took quite a bit of time but it always turns out incredible. I remember watching the oozing cheese bubbling ready for me to dive in. This recipe is certainly not that but I love it just as much. I didn’t initially plan on using a crock pot or slow cooker for this recipe but as life turns out it became my only option since my oven decided to stop working (crazy right?).
I love how great this slow cooker macaroni and cheese turned out. I have never worked so little in my life for something to be so good. When you just ain’t got time for that, this is an easy side dish recipe that the whole family loves.
The Heart & Soul Of This Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
Cuisine Inspiration: Southern American
Primary Cooking Method: Slow Cooker
Dietary Info: Vegetarian
Key Flavor: This mac and cheese is creamy in texture with a cheesy and savory flavor.
Skill Level: An easy recipe that’s perfect for my beginner boos that don’t cook much.
Sweet Spots
- No Short Cuts or Canned Soups. This slow cooker macaroni and cheese is the real deal. It is made with freshly grated cheese, milk, and simple seasonings.
- Creamy Texture. The trick is using American cheese! I know that’s a trip but it’s much meltier and creamy than other cheeses so it ensures you end up with the creamiest results.
- Hands-Off Cooking. The beauty of the slow cooker is you can just throw in your ingredients and let it work its magic with barely any effort.
- An Easy Solution to No Oven Space. This slow cooker recipe is perfect for holidays when you’ve got no space left in the oven to cook baked macaroni and cheese.
- Comfort Food Classic. Mac and cheese is one of those dishes that’s loved by kids and adults so it’s an ideal side dish for all types of meals.
Ingredients to Make Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
Y’all, here’s a quick peek at the key ingredients you’ll need to whip up this recipe. Make sure to peep the full recipe card below for the complete rundown and all the precise amounts you’ll need!
- Cheese: This recipe has a variety of cheeses for their different flavor profiles and melting textures. Cheddar has a deliciously buttery sharp flavor that lends itself well to pasta noodles. The sharpness of cheddar comes from how long the cheese is aged. The longer it is aged, the sharper it will taste. You can choose which you prefer. Gruyere is a hard Swiss cheese that has a mix of salty and sweet nutty flavors that help to balance the sharpness of the cheddar. Last, we’re using good ole American cheese (just trust me on this boos).
- Elbow macaroni: The classic pasta shape for mac and cheese but you can easily make it with any small pasta shape you prefer.
- Milk: We will be using a combination of whole and evaporated milk to create a creamy cheese sauce for the macaroni and cheese.
- Worcestershire sauce: Adds savory flavor to the cheese sauce.
- Dry mustard: Adds a bit of nutty, earthy flavor.
- Butter: For toasting the panko bread crumbs. I recommend using unsalted butter to avoid adding additional saltiness to the dish.
- Panko crumbs: These Japanese-style breadcrumbs add crunchiness to the mac and cheese giving it that baked mac and cheese feeling.
How to Make Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
This section should go by pretty quickly because when I say this recipe is easy, I ain’t kidding! This slow cooker mac and cheese recipe, like most slow cooker recipes, comes together in a flash boos.
Step 1: Cooking the Macaroni and Cheese
- Spray your crockpot or slow cooker with non-stick spray. This step makes clean-up a breeze.
- Place the macaroni, cheeses, and milks in your slow cooker after spraying it.
- Stir everything together.
- Cover with the lid and turn on the slow cooker to cook.
- Add the Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt, and pepper when it’s close to the end of the cooking time.
- Stir together and continue cooking until it’s done.
Step 2: Making the Crispy Topping
- Melt the butter and add the panko crumbs to toast them.
- Sprinkle the toasted breadcrumbs over the top of the dish before serving.
Tips for Making the Best Slow Cooker Macaroni and Cheese
- Use Blocks of Cheese. While pre-shredded cheese feels easy they are loaded with chemicals. Freshly grated block cheese will taste more flavorful. You can easily shred them yourself by hand or using your food processor with the grating blade.
- Don’t Skip the Breadcrumbs. Yes, it’s completely optional but it adds a nice contrast to the creamy cheesy pasta.
- Make Sure You Spray Your Crock Pot. This dish is pretty cheesy and messy but spraying the slow cooker liner will make the clean up after much easier.
- Check the Pasta During Cooking. Not all slow cooker brands cook the same so be sure to check it at various points in time just in case your pasta cooks faster. You don’t want to overcook the pasta.
- Doubling the Recipe. It’s easy to make this dish in larger quantities but make sure you use a larger (6 quart) slow cooker. Try to avoid filling over two-thirds full. When making double batches you may need to extend the cooking time.
Popular Substitutions & Additions
- Use Different Cheeses. Yes, you can swap the cheese if you prefer different flavors. Play around with a combo you enjoy. Just don’t eliminate the American cheese.
- Spicy Mac and Cheese. I love a little spice. If you want to add a bit of heat, you can throw in some hot or buffalo sauce or swap the gruyere cheese for pepper jack.
- Add Veggies. This is a fab trick for getting my picky eaters to eat a few veggies. Just add in some blanched vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, or thawed frozen peas in the last hour to keep them tender and not mushy.
- No Panko Crumbs. If you don’t have them, crush some crackers and sprinkle over the top instead.
What to Serve with Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
- Make it Southern: Pair it with these favorites: Fried Pork Chops, Smothered Pork Chops, Buttermilk Fried Chicken, or Classic Pot Roast.
- Sides: Enjoy it with fluffy Buttermilk Biscuits, Turnip Greens, Collard Greens, Fried Okra, and Fried Green Tomatoes.
- Holidays: Enjoy them with your favorite turkey including Fried Turkey, Turkey Chops, Turkey Gravy, and these Turkey Legs.
If you like traditional baked macaroni and cheese, try my Velvetta Mac and Cheese or this Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese.
How to Store & Reheat Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
Allow the mac and cheese to cool to room temp. This will keep it from sweating in your storage and making it soggy. Once it’s cooled, transfer the mac and cheese to an airtight container.
I personally like to store the breadcrumb topping separately from the cheesy pasta. If you know from jump that you will probably have leftovers, I suggest adding that topping just to the amount you will be serving. Store the rest so it stays crunchy.
Reheat leftovers in the oven at 350°F (175°C). Place the mac and cheese in an oven-safe dish. If you’ve stored the breadcrumb topping separately, sprinkle it on top now. Cover with aluminum foil to prevent the top from burning and to help retain moisture. Cook for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through and the breadcrumb topping is crispy again.
If the breadcrumb topping isn’t crispy, you can remove the foil and broil for an additional 1-2 minutes. Watch closely so you don’t let it burn up!
How long will crock pot mac and cheese last in the fridge?
When stored properly it will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Can I freeze slow cooker mac and cheese?
No, I don’t recommend freezing this boos. Dairy often breaks when it’s frozen so when you thaw it out again the cheese sauce can be a bit grainy instead of creamy. Also, the pasta will often thaw out with a much softer texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, I don’t recommend it as it has only been tested in the slow cooker and uses a different combination of ingredients. If you prefer a baked casserole I suggest trying my baked macaroni and cheese recipe.
Be sure to give it a stir every now and then. Since the slow cooker heats from the bottom, stirring it around will help the dish cook more evenly. Also, you might need to cook slightly longer if the pasta isn’t quite done. Also, if you try using a different type of pasta other than macaroni you might need to cook it longer for the pasta to cook all the way.
No problem! If it seems a bit too thick you can add in a bit more milk to the macaroni and cheese before you add the breadcrumbs and then heat for a few more minutes.
Crock pot mac and cheese is that year-round side dish that’s perfect for any occasion, especially those bustling holidays. It’s a lifesaver when you’re looking for something scrumptious without hogging the stove or if your oven’s already packed with other goodies. I pull this recipe out quite a bit, and I know you will love it.
Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes
Check out some of the best slow cooker recipes Grandbaby Cakes has to offer below.
- Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
- Slow Cooker Chicken Chili
- Honey Glazed Ham
- Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
- Slow Cooker Italian Beef
- Slow Cooker Rosemary Chicken
Slow Cooker Macaroni and Cheese
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups dry elbow macaroni
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 cup Gruyere cheese shredded
- 8 ounces American cheese thinly sliced and roughly chopped
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 12 ounces evaporated milk
- 1 ½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- ¾ teaspoon dry mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ⅔ cup panko crumbs
Instructions
- Prepare inside of your slow cooker with a non stick spray coating all parts.
- Next add macaroni, all cheeses, and both milks to the slow cooker and stir together to combine. Once thoroughly mixed, turn on slow cooker and cook for 3 hours on high or 4 hours on low.
- When 25 minutes are left for cooking the macaroni, stir in the worcestershire sauce, dry mustard and salt and pepper and allow to completely cook.
- Finally add butter to a medium skillet on medium heat and allow to melt. Next add panko crumbs and cook to golden brown color. Sprinkle toasted crumbs over macaroni and cheese and serve.
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I love this recipe! The combination of cheeses and spices is perfect. And it’s so easy!
Yay! So happy to hear that Willow!
This was the best comfort food recipe for my family today!! I loved that I could set and forget it in the slow cooker, and it turned out perfectly cooked, super cheesy and totally decadent. Yum!
Great idea! Never made mac and cheese in the slow cooker before, I love being able to start something earlier in the day and not worry about cooking later. And the gruyere makes is fancier than my usual mac and cheese!
Love this easy slow cooker version of mac and cheese. It’s perfect for busy weeknights too!
Oooh, I love how easily the Mac and cheese comes together in the slow cooker. Such a wonderful and decadent meal.
It’s always good to learn different methods of cooking classic dishes. I’ve had my fair share of oven mishaps. Thanks!
Could you give me an example of a good American cheese, when I think of American cheese, I think Kraft single slices, is that what you use?
Yep that’s the kind you would use here.
I’ve been fighting off mac and cheese cravings these past couple days, but this post is making me NEED it! Totally going to get your recipe!
Yes!!! This will satisfy the craving for sure.