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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 & Kids Approve!
If your family is like ours and could eat Homemade Mac and Cheese every night of the week, then you have to try this super easy slow cooker version!
Moms love this crock pot mac and cheese because it’s low-effort, and kids love it because it’s delicious! It’s great for busy nights, busy holidays and
It’s definitely a main dish favorite that everyone will love!
WHY WE LOVE IT:
- 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.
- Quick prep. It preps in minutes and can be made the morning of for busy weeknights!
Ingredients
PREP TIME: 15 minutes
COOK TIME: 2 hours
- 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni – Elbow macaroni noodles are a mac and cheese classic, but you can use other similarly sized noodles like shells, cavatappi, penne, farfalle, fusilli, or rotini.
- 4 tablespoons butter – salted or unsalted butter both work for this recipe
- 2½ cups grated cheddar cheese – use any cheese that melts well, or add a flavor twist with manchego, muenster, provolone, Monterey jack, fontina, gruyere, or American cheese. Even Velveeta cheese works.
- ½ cup sour cream – or plain Greek yogurt
- 1 (10.75-ounce) can condensed cheddar cheese soup – or cream of chicken soup
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup whole milk – whole milk makes the creamiest sauce but a lower fat milk can be used.
- black pepper, to taste – for added flavor, use garlic salt with parsley flakes
How to Make Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
- PASTA. Bring water to a boil and cook 2 cups of macaroni for only 6 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- SAUCE. In a medium pan, mix 4 tablespoons butter and 2½ cups shredded cheese until cheese melts. Add ½ cup sour cream, 1 can condensed cheddar cheese soup, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 cup whole milk, and season with black pepper. Stir until combined.
- SLOW COOK. Spray the crock pot with nonstick cooking spray. Add the cheese sauce to the slow cooker and the cooked macaroni. Mix until combined and cook on low for 2 hours stirring every once in a while.
Use at least a 6-quart crockpot for this recipe. To double this recipe, which we do all the time, we have been able to have everything fit in out 8-quart slow cooker.
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Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
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
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
> Remove the lid of the crock pot to allow for some 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.
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
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.
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.
I’ve made this recipe over a Dozen times now and its always gotten rave reviews! So smooth and creamy! Great for a potluck or as a side dish! Pair it with anytHing!!!
Agreed…goes with anything!! Thank you for making this recipe 🙂
I’m looking to make this for my daughter party and wondering about doubling it. How well does it do?
Great!! They would love it!
Hi! I haven’t made this yet, but I have a question – have you ever cooked the pasta itself, in the crock pot? I kinda feel if I’m going to boil my noodles, I may as well do as I normally do, and after boiling the noodles, al dente, to just bake it. I will, however, try it, as it looks super creamy and YuM! Thanks so much for sharing your recipes! Happy ? Thanksgiving, doll! ?♀
I have not cooked them in the crock pot by themselves. I usually boil them in the pot first 🙂 Sure hope you like them!! Happy Thanksgiving!
Thought of making this for Thanksgiving so gave it a trial run today. It’s a great recipe! The cheddar soup kind of grossed me out at first, but you can’t really taste it. I think the sourcream is what makes this mac and cheese special.
The fact that it’s so easy makes it a 5/5 in my book. It a very cheesy saucy mac and cheese that thickens as it sits. The noodle to sauce ratio makes this a decadent treat for sure.
Thank you so much for sharing all that! I am glad you tried it & liked it!
WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE CREAM OF CHEDDAR SOUP? CAN I USE ANY CREAM SOUP? i DON’T WANT TO GO TO THE STORE TODAY:)
You know, I have not tried, but I am sure you could 🙂 Let me know what you use & if you like it!
if you double the recipe do you have to double the cook time as well?
No, you shouldn’t have to 🙂
I made this an it seemed to have a grit to it ….followed directions…what could have I done wrong…taste good just a texture
Hmm, that’s a good question. Maybe, it wasn’t stirred enough?
HELLO – CAN I DOUBLE THIS RECIPE?
You sure could 🙂 Enjoy!!
I have tried a similar recipe but the cheddar cheese didn’t melt very well in the butter and “clumped” rather than marry. Is there a way to avoid this? Should I add the cheddar when I put it all into the crock pot instead?
It shouldn’t clump in this recipe 🙂 It’s one of our favorites!
Making this for my 3 grandchildren always have dinner with them on Thursday night,ages6 3,5,they are my CRITICS.they tell anyone that’ll listen to them,my nana cooks really good food.
I sure hope they like it!! I love that!
Can you make this the day before and put in fridge till next day then put in crockpot to reheat or won’t it be as good? Thinking for bringing to the lake and have it done ahead of time!!
I think that would work just fine! You can certainly give it a try!
Can you double this recipe? want to make it for easter and we have 10 people coming over!
Yes, of course 🙂 Hope it’s a hit!