This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
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.
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!
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.
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
HOW to make it
Three easy steps:
PASTA. Bring water to a boil and cook macaroni for 6 minutes. Drain and set aside.
SAUCE. In a medium pan, mix butter and cheese until cheese melts. Add sour cream, soup, salt, milk and pepper until combined.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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!
This was a fun base recipe. I tweaked some things. Used smoked gouda, sharp cheddar and mozzarella. I also used half milk half heavy cream (adding a fourth cup more then the recipe because it seems a bit dry when it’s done cooking). And added in some sauteed kielbasa sausage to round out the meal. I also added some dry mustard and a little cayenne too for some heat. It’s a good macaroni and cheese that my kids absolutely love!
I used a 6-quart crockpot for this recipe. I haven’t doubled the recipe before so I’m not sure if there would be enough room in the crockpot. You should have room if you make 1 1/2 times the recipe though. Hope this helps!
Made with cream of chicken soup as I never have cheddar cheese soup on hand? I also added a splash of Worcestershire sauce because I love it with cheesy dishes.
I think the crock pot is totally not needed. One could eat it right away once the noodles (I fully cook them and drain) are mixed with the melted cheese sauce. I placed it in a baking dish, sprinkled seasoned bread crumbs on top, and broiled uncovered for 15 minutes. I have also made this using a 16 oz package of gnocchi instead of the noodles with awesome results! A favorite add-in is a small can of Rotel (drained). A little Bleu cheese adds a delicious twist too!
Can you double this recipe?
You bet! It may take a little longer to heat all the way through in the crockpot being doubled, but should still taste the very same!
First time making this and it was very good 😋
Yay! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it!
I made this for Easter and it was a hit!
I’m so glad everyone liked it!
What size crock pot if I double the recipe? Anxious to make for my family for Easter!
I would use a 10 quart crockpot if you double this recipe. I hope you have a fabulous Easter!
If I double the recipe, what size crockpot should I use? I’m anxious to make for Easter!
This was a fun base recipe. I tweaked some things. Used smoked gouda, sharp cheddar and mozzarella. I also used half milk half heavy cream (adding a fourth cup more then the recipe because it seems a bit dry when it’s done cooking). And added in some sauteed kielbasa sausage to round out the meal. I also added some dry mustard and a little cayenne too for some heat. It’s a good macaroni and cheese that my kids absolutely love!
All of those additions and tweaks sounds amazing! A gourmet mac and cheese for sure! I’m so glad your kids enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing!
What size crockpot did you use for this amount? Have you ever doubled the recipe? I’m wondering if I can make a bigger batch for a crowd. 😊
I used a 6-quart crockpot for this recipe. I haven’t doubled the recipe before so I’m not sure if there would be enough room in the crockpot. You should have room if you make 1 1/2 times the recipe though. Hope this helps!
I use a little extra butter & cheese and it’s to die for! So easy & good!
Can’t go wrong with that! Thank you!
Made with cream of chicken soup as I never have cheddar cheese soup on hand? I also added a splash of Worcestershire sauce because I love it with cheesy dishes.
I think the crock pot is totally not needed. One could eat it right away once the noodles (I fully cook them and drain) are mixed with the melted cheese sauce. I placed it in a baking dish, sprinkled seasoned bread crumbs on top, and broiled uncovered for 15 minutes. I have also made this using a 16 oz package of gnocchi instead of the noodles with awesome results! A favorite add-in is a small can of Rotel (drained). A little Bleu cheese adds a delicious twist too!
That all sounds great! Thank you for sharing what you did!
Super easy added NM Hatch green chile for spice!