Growing up, my mama always made baked mac and cheese the Southern way but it just took so long to get to eating it. This Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese is gonna be a game changer when you just ain’t got the time. I love the creamy texture that develops, and adding a crispy breadcrumb topping adds bomb texture too.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.
How to Make Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
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.
Want to Save This Recipe, Boo?
I'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!
Slow Cooker Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
Want to Save This Recipe, Boo?
I’ll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!
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.
Notes
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? About 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.Nutrition
Recipe Tips
- 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.
- 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.
Recipe Help
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.
pinterest 
facebook 
twitter 
email
oh my gosh this is the food that dreams are made of
So delicious Caralyn!
Slow cooker mac and cheese. Life made easy! Love this!
Now that I have gone back full time, I need me one of these as a working mother! Here is justfication for an essential tool in the home cook’s arsenal!
I saw that fork with the macaroni and cheese on the end and I started drooling!
Yep I did too girl and then I went in the kitchen and fixed another bowl!
My wife is a cheese animal. I’ve never seen anyone consume as much cheese as she can… so I think I should probably be a good husband and make this for her, right?! Right…
Yep if your wife is a cheese animal, mac and cheese is needed!
GIMMMEEEEEE! I love mac and cheese, and this looks like an amazing version.
Hooray thanks so much my dear!
Comfort food at its finest!
Thanks so much girl!
I haven’t thought of cooking mac n cheese in the slow cooker! Thanks for the inspiration!
It really has an awesome taste!
This looks perfect! There’s nothing like mac and cheese. Heading over to check out your recipe!
Thanks so much Allison!
I’ve recently got a new slow cooker and haven’t been that impressed with what I’ve made so far. I think I need to branch out and try something a little different, like this wonderful macaroni cheese. Thanks so much for the idea, Jocelyn!
Indeed! I love trying new things with mine.