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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.
Can plain Greek yogurt be substituted for sour cream?
You sure could 🙂
I’m going to be making this for thanksgiving. I am wondering what kind of cheddar cheese to use. Sharp, white, extra sharp, mild? Also can you use half evaporated milk and half whole milk? I heard evaporated milk gives a much richer flavor?
I like to use sharp or medium cheddar, but really it’s a personal preference 🙂 I haven’t tried using the half evaporated milk. But, if it gives a richer flavor..I’d say it’s worth a try 🙂
I just was worried about what kind of cheeses to use. I have made homemade Mac and cheese once with a Pinterest recipe and it turned out a disaster. It was super grainy. So I wanted to make sure I use the right kind of cheese. With the 4 TBLS of butter is that just unsalted block butter?
No problem 🙂 I like to use unsalted, that way I can control the salt.
I haven’t made it yet. Hoping to do so today! But if I use 1 whole box of elbow macaroni, do I double the rest of the ingredients? I’m not sure how much to use if I make a whole box?
I would probably double the rest of the ingredients. I would say a 1lb box is about 4 cups of dry macaroni.
will sharp cheddar cheese make this too tangy?
I don’t think so. Just a personal preference 🙂
I was kinda bummed about two things, the texture wasn’t as creamy as I was expecting, it was a little grainy. Also it didn’t make very much, definitely double the batch if you’re feeling more than 5.
Hello! I just made this and was looking creamy but after 2 hours in the crockpot (on low) dried out! Should i make more Of the milk/cheese mixture to add in? Thanks!
Oh, darn..sorry that happened! I am guessing it does need more of that 🙂
This mac and cheese is So good. I just hosted friendsgiving before my husband’s deployment (around 20 people) and this was a Huge hit! The onLy food we didnt have leftovers of 🙂
Friendsgiving is so fun! I am so happy it was a hit!! Thank you for sharing the recipe with your friends 🙂
Can we add in one more cheese such a gouda? I love gouda cheese 🙂
You sure could 🙂 Enjoy!!
My family loved this recipe!
Happy they do! Thank you for letting me know!
This recipe is delicious! I added a few more noodles, and it was still super creamy and delicious. A favorite for kids and adults!
It totally is! Thanks for saying that!