This creamy crockpot mac and cheese start with an uncooked elbow or any small pasta (which will require more milk) or use the pasta cooked first.
There is evaporated and regular milk, several kinds of cheese, and seasonings topped with breadcrumbs all made in a slow cooker for a meal that's a classic usually made in the oven into a simple one-pot meal
We’ve also made homemade chicken mac and cheese, buffalo chicken mac and cheese, seafood mac and cheese, and baked macaroni and cheese with garlic, but the slow cooker is super easy when you're in a hurry or out for the day.
This is a great casserole to take to a potluck or family picnic the kids all go crazy over mac and cheese and it feeds a large crowd for an easy side dish.
Steps for Making Mac and Cheese in a Slow Cooker
- oil spray your slow cooker
- add the ingredients listed in the recipe or use your favorite recipe
- place it on high for 2 hours
- if it's too soupy boil some more pasta cooked separately and drain, then add it into the slow cooker, and add it to the cheese sauce..
- if it's too thick add some more milk
Best Tips for Making Macaroni and Cheese in a Slow Cooker
- add vegetables or cooked meats for a complete-style casserole dish
- always spray the slow cooker with cooking oil
- cook the pasta and drain it first if using uncooked more milk should be added
- use any kinds of cheese that melt easily
- leftover meats of any kind go great in this casserole
- this easily freezes in small containers
- use more cheese on top if you're a cheese lover
- only use whole milk for that ingredient or half and half
- the best cracker crumbs are herb butter-flavored to use Italian flavored breadcrumbs
Try These Other Pasta Favorites
15 Easy Pasta Recipes
Chicken Bacon and Spinach Pasta
Pastina and Egg
Ingredients You Will Need to Make Cheesy Chicken Pasta Casserole
- canned cheddar cheese soup
- butter
- evaporated milk
- granulated garlic powder
- whole milk, or half and half
- any kind of pasta shape (we use elbows or baby shells) cooked and drained or use uncooked adding more milk
- Italian-flavored bread crumbs
- cheddar cheese or any other shredded cheese you prefer
- thinly sliced mozzarella or Havarti cheese shredded
- whipped cream cheese
- see the recipe card for the rest of the ingredients and the exact measurements below and the instructions
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Easy Slow Cooker Recipes
Creamy, cheesy, buttery Mac and Cheese on a plate, all made in the slow cooker what can be easier?
We just love the ease of this slow cooker mac and cheese, it's just too good to be true!
You pretty much just dump everything into your crock pot and forget about it.
The results are exactly what everyone loves and will rave about after they try this.
It's so cheesy, creamy, and perfect for even a side dish to make ahead for holiday guests or picky eaters (everyone loves mac and cheese).
The crockpot does all the work while it frees up your time to do fun things in your day.
Just look at the printable recipe card below to make your shopping list for the best mac and cheese you'll ever eat!
Crockpot Mac and Cheese
Yield: 8
Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 3 HourTotal time: 3 H & 15 M
This slow cooker mac and cheese is so easy made with several kinds of cheese and is the best recipe for busy cooks.
Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow macaroni, shell pasta, or spirals (as shown), cooked for around 10 minutes and then drained.
- NOTE: .you can use dry pasta but will have to add enough milk to cover the pasta so you can't see it in the crockpot. Either way, this works, I have tried both and they both come out great! But the dry pasta needs more milk so you need to check it and make sure it doesn't dry out.
- 1 (12 ounces) can evaporate milk or half and half
- 2-1/2 cups milk
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 can of cheddar cheese soup
- 4 tablespoons of whipped cream cheese
- 4 tablespoons of melted butter
- 4 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon of granulated garlic powder
- pinch of cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh chopped or dried parsley
- cooking oil spray
- *1/4 cup Italian flavored bread crumbs mixed in 2 tablespoons melted butter for topping
Instructions
- Place the cooked macaroni in a slow cooker that has been coated with nonstick vegetable spray.
- Add all the liquids, melted butter, soup, eggs, seasonings, add cheeses. (saving 1 cup of cheddar for the top) except for breadcrumbs.
- Mix well.
- Sprinkle with the rest of the shredded cheese then a 1/4 of a cup bread crumb topping spray the crumbs with cooking oil spray and lightly salt pepper to taste.
- Then cover and cook on the Low setting for 2 to 4 hours, or until the mixture is firm and golden around the edges.
- Do not remove the cover or stir.
Notes
Tips
- add vegetables or cooked meats for a complete-style casserole dish
- always spray the slow cooker with cooking oil
- cook the pasta and drain it first if using uncooked more milk should be doubled or an extra can of evaporated milk
- use any kinds of cheese that melt easily
- leftover meats of any kind go great in this casserole
- this easily freezes in small containers
- Use more cheese on top if you're a cheese lover
- Only use whole milk for that ingredient or half and half
- The best cracker crumbs are herb butter-flavored to use Italian flavored breadcrumbs
- use a 4 or 5-quart slow cooker
- slow cooker bags will work however you must spray them with cooking oil so the pasta doesn't stick to the bag
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Try Some Of Our Other Favorite Recipes
Traditional Sunday Sauce
Mom's Tuna Casserole
Mom's Bake Italian Hamburgers
Mom's Baked Sausage and Peppers