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Everyone loves a good slow cooker recipe, and this Crock Pot Mac and Cheese is so simple, cheesy, and delicious!

Moms love this Crock Pot Mac and Cheese because it’s a low-effort slow cooker meal, and kids love it because it’s delicious! It’s definitely a dinner favorite.

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese cooking in slow cooker.


Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

If your family is like mine and could eat mac & cheese every night of the week, then you’ve definitely gotta try this super easy slow cooker version!

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese cooking in slow cooker.

Why you will love this

Check out the reasons below…

  • So delicious! Made with lots of cheese, butter, and sour cream, it’s very flavorful and the whole family loves the taste
  • Great for holidays. It’s especially nice to have side dishes that can be made in the slow cooker on busy days like potlucks, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
  • Easy to customize. Use your favorite cheese, or add a bread topping or even mix-ins like bacon, if desired.

It’s a simple recipe, great to throw together when you have multiple things going on at home and don’t have time to be standing in front of the stove.

Dry Macaroni noodles for crock pot mac and cheese.

Ingredients

Here is all that you will need:

  • elbow macaroni – Elbow macaroni noodles are a Mac and Cheese classic, but you can use other similarly sized noodles like shell, cavatappi, penne, farfalle, fusilli, or rotini.
  • butter – salted or unsalted butter both work for this recipe
  • grated cheddar cheese – Other shredded cheese that melt well, or add a twist of flavor, include manchego, muenster, provolone, monterey jack, fontina, gruyere, or american cheese. Even Velveeta cheese works.
  • sour cream
  • condensed cheddar cheese soup
  • salt and black pepper – For added flavor, use garlic salt with parsley flakes
  • whole milk – Or at least 2% milk
Macaroni noodles in colander.

HOW to make it

Three easy steps:

  1. PASTA. Bring water to a boil and cook macaroni for 6 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  2. SAUCE. In a medium pan, mix butter and cheese until cheese melts. Add sour cream, soup, salt, milk and pepper until combined. 
  3. SLOW COOK. Add the cheese sauce to the slow cooker (spray with nonstick cooking spray first) along with the cooked macaroni. Mix until combined and cook on low for 2 hours stirring every once in awhile.
Macaroni noodles in cheese sauce for slow cooker mac and cheese.

TIPS and TRICKS

Here are some advanced tips to take it to the next level…

Thicken the sauce. The sauce should be creamy, not soupy. To thicken your Mac and Cheese, use a few methods:

  • remove the lid of the crock pot to allow for liquid to evaporate
  • add in more cheese
  • cornstarch slurry: in a separate bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of COLD water with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. Stir it into the Mac and Cheese and the dish will thicken as it continues to cook. Repeat if needed.

Add-ins. When there are about 30 minutes left in the cooking time, add in some of these suggestions:

  • cooked bacon bits, diced cooked ham, grilled chicken, or cooked hamburger
  • parmesan cheese
  • broccoli or roasted red peppers
  • garlic powder, dry mustard, onion powder, red pepper flakes, or paprika.

Pairings

Here are some other awesome recipes to make the perfect meal..

There are so many great sides to go with this Crockpot mac and cheese. Veggies and bread are great – so are salads. Here are some of the go-to recipes we like to pair best with this cheesy dinner idea:

Crockpot Mac and Cheese cooked in a crock pot.

Making it last

Here are need-to-know tips to store it…

STORE. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.

REHEAT. The key is to reheat slowly on low heat. Adding in a bit more milk can help smooth out the texture. You can reheat in the slow cooker, covered in the oven, stovetop, or microwave.

FREEZE. This pasta dish can be frozen for 2-3 months. When you’re ready to use, thaw it in the fridge and reheat slowly over low heat.

For more macaroni and cheese recipes:

4.99 from 271 votes

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
Everyone loves a good slow cooker recipe, and this Crock Pot Mac and Cheese is so simple, cheesy, and delicious!
Servings: 8
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 2 hours
Total: 2 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
  • 4 tablespoon butter
  • 2 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 10.75 oz. can condensed cheddar cheese soup
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • pepper

Instructions 

  • Bring water to a boil and cook macaroni for 6 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  • In a medium pan, mix butter and cheese until cheese melts. Add sour cream, soup, salt, milk and pepper until combined.
  • Add this mixture to the slow cooker along with the cooked macaroni. Mix until combined and cook on low for 2 hours stirring every once in awhile.

Video

Notes

STORE. Store leftover slow cooker Mac and Cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
The key is to reheat slowly on low heat. Adding in a bit more milk can help smooth out the texture. You can reheat in the slow cooker, covered in the oven, stovetop, or microwave.
Note: Discard Crockpot Pot Mac and Cheese if left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature.
FREEZE. This pasta dish can be frozen for 2-3 months. When you’re ready to use, thaw it in the fridge and reheat slowly over low heat.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup, Calories: 405kcal, Carbohydrates: 33g, Protein: 15g, Fat: 24g, Saturated Fat: 13g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 64mg, Sodium: 658mg, Potassium: 359mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 836IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 324mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
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About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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Recipe Rating




198 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    One of the easiest mac and cheese recipe I’ve tried! It’s kids’ approved. Super delicious, simple yet satisfying!