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Home » Side Dishes » Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

by Sarah Olson on March 25, 2019 | Updated March 27, 2021 60 Comments

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collage of mac and cheese photos for pinterest

This Easy Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese has tender pasta, cream cheese and sharp cheddar, a recipe you’ll want to make every week!

large elbow macaroni with cheese in an oval slow cooker.

As I am writing up this recipe for you I am dreaming about making it again this week! This mac and cheese is ultra creamy and a family favorite.

I use two types of cheese in this and cream cheese to thicken the sauce, no need for a flour and butter roux to make this.

Cooked macaroni noodles, cream cheese and cheddar cheese before cooked in a slow cooker.

Should I boil the noodles?

Yes! The slow cooker does not get hot enough, fast enough to properly cook noodles. You will be left with a chalky mess if you do not boil the noodles.

a  pot with food in it, with Slow cooker

How to make Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese:

You will need these ingredients:

  • Dried elbow noodles (we will cook them in first step on the stove-top)
  • Cream cheese
  • Sharp cheddar
  • White sharp cheddar
  • Milk
  • Salt and pepper

That’s it! May not be the healthiest meal but at least it has real ingredients.

Mac and cheese cooked in a slow cooker with wooden spoon on the side.

Directions:

  • Start by boiling the noodles as directed on the package. Do not cook a minute longer. Get other ingredients ready while pasta cooks.
  • After draining pasta add it to the slow cooker while it’s still hot and add remaining ingredients. Stir.
serving mac and cheese cooked in a slow cooker with a wooden spoon.

How long to cook:

Add the lid and set the slow cooker to High. Cook for 2 hours. Stirring occasionally.

close up of cooked macaroni and cheese in a slow cooker with spoon in it.

What to serve this with:

  • Sliced garden tomatoes
  • Slow Cooker Ribs
  • Any type of grilled meat
  • Garden salad with dressing
  • Fresh fruit
  • Steamed veggies

I think your family will enjoy this recipe as much as mine does. Enjoy!

Mac and cheese cooked in a slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

4.74 from 45 votes
Ultra creamy mac and cheese made with cream cheese and sharp cheddar!
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Slow Cooke Mac and Cheese
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 732kcal
Author: Sarah Olson

Equipment Needed:

  • Slow Cooker Size: 4 quart or larger

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups dried elbow noodles, large or small (see instructions on how to prepare)
  • 8 oz. cream cheese, cubed
  • 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 cups shredded sharp white cheddar cheese
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper

For topping:

  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheese (optional)
US Customary – Metric

Instructions:

  • Cook pasta according to package directions on the stove top and not any longer. Get other ingredients ready while pasta cooks
  • Drain the pasta immediately after done cooking and add to the slow cooker add remaining ingredients and stir.
  • Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 hours. Stir the pasta twice during this cooking time, once at the hour mark and then and the 1.5 hour mark. Be gentle when you stir.
  • When the cooking time is up add more cheese on top, add the lid and let melt for 5-10 minutes.
  • Serve and enjoy!

How to Video:

Recipe Notes:

Different types of cheese are fine to use in this recipe! Use what you like best. I prefer to use cheese that I grate by hand not pre-shredded for a very creamy sauce.
Nutritional Values are approximate. Please use your own calculations if you require a special diet. Recipe values are for 1/6 of the recipe.

Nutrition:

Calories: 732kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 28g | Cholesterol: 148mg | Sodium: 1062mg | Potassium: 355mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1585IU | Calcium: 818mg | Iron: 1.4mg
Made this recipe?I want to see your photos! Tag me on Instagram @themagicalslowcooker

Do you love this recipe? Try another of my slow cooker recipes that have pasta:

  • Slow Cooker Pesto Mozzarella Chicken Pasta
  • Slow Cooker Chicken Penne
  • Slow Cooker Baked Spaghetti
  • Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Fettuccine 
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    Filed Under: Side Dishes Tagged With: cheesy, crock pot recipes, crockpot, mac and cheese, macaroni and cheese, slow cooker

    Comments

    1. Debbie says

      April 9, 2021 at 8:38 pm

      2 stars
      Everything curdled and separated. Back to standing over the stove with my tried and true stovetop recipe. Good taste though.

      Reply
    2. Tracey says

      February 14, 2021 at 9:01 am

      2 stars
      Taste was good. However, I made it to soon and after 2 hours it became very soggy.

      Reply
    3. Jennifer Alexander says

      January 23, 2021 at 8:12 am

      5 stars
      This recipe is so creamy and delicious! I doubled the recipe and used some cheese that I had left over from a cocktail party the night before. I am now giving up making my mac and cheese from scratch with homemade cheese sauce and love that I can add anything I want to this recipe and it comes out wonderful every time. Seriously a must have in your Crock-Pot Arsenal.

      Reply
    4. Tim says

      January 19, 2021 at 11:04 am

      3 stars
      After about 20 minutes it started drying out and sticking to the sides. I was wondering if a smaller pot or a lower heat setting would have been better. Maybe my CrocPot was too hot. I had to scoop out into a pan, top with cheese. Turned out good, just dry.

      Reply
    5. Teresa says

      January 17, 2021 at 5:14 pm

      5 stars
      Perfection!

      Reply
    6. Kelly A Sylvester says

      January 1, 2021 at 2:54 pm

      5 stars
      Family loved this even more than my Mac and cheese made with a homemade cheese sauce from scratch! This was so much easier to make. Though I did leave it on a little too long and it dried out a bit easy fix added more milk and stirred up. Cream cheese makes this recipe so good. Thank you!

      Reply
    7. cindy says

      January 1, 2021 at 1:39 pm

      5 stars
      I used a box of rigatoni pasta…which equals about 3X the recipe cooked. i used 3 bricks of cream cheese, two 2c pkgs sharp white cheddar, two 2c pkgs sharp cheddar, 4c milk. I added chopped up ham about a half hour before cooking was finished. It is creamy, and so tasty. the noodles are NOT mushy, but perfect texture for mac and cheese…….mac and cheese, in my experience was never al dente. I also notice someone said it was grainy or something like that…i dont know how that could have happened, because this is creamy and smooth. I also did not find it to be buttery or oily one bit!!! I will make this again and again. It is an exceptional recipe!!

      Reply
      • cindy says

        January 1, 2021 at 1:42 pm

        5 stars
        i just wanted to add, i boiled the pasta for 7 minutes exactly. in case anyone wanted to know how long it boiled it for.

        Reply
        • Anonymous says

          March 22, 2021 at 8:06 am

          Thanks

          Reply
    8. Shawna says

      December 7, 2020 at 9:36 am

      Looks good except that you add cooked pasta and then you cook for another 2 hrs. I like my pasta Al Dente and this seems like it would be over cooked

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        December 7, 2020 at 11:51 am

        Then slow cooker mac and cheese probably isn’t for you. I don’t think it’s over cooked but it is not al dente.

        Reply
    9. Beth Roberts says

      December 2, 2020 at 5:39 am

      1 star
      Nope. Not what I’m looking for. This was grainy… and VERY buttery/oily. I followed the directions exactly. I’m looking for creamy, yet sturdy noodles… without tasting like Velveeta. Don’t make this if you want creamy mac n cheese.

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        December 2, 2020 at 8:34 am

        This is what mac and cheese tastes like without velveeta. I apologize for the confusion.

        Reply
    10. Tamara says

      November 24, 2020 at 3:12 pm

      Would this recipe also work cooked in the oven?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        November 24, 2020 at 3:44 pm

        I don’t see why not.

        Reply
    11. Michele says

      October 25, 2020 at 7:34 pm

      Do you cook for longer if you double the recipe?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        October 25, 2020 at 9:29 pm

        You may need to do an extra half hour.

        Reply
    12. Marilyn Spirito says

      September 29, 2020 at 2:24 pm

      C
      Family loved this so I think it was cream cheese. Didn’t t know about. Also first time in chock potT Thank you. Marilyn

      Reply
    13. Anonymous says

      July 28, 2020 at 1:34 pm

      Your recipes looks delicious
      Can’t wait to try that Mac and cheese in the crock pot
      Thanks

      Reply
    14. Norma Perkins says

      July 27, 2020 at 7:16 pm

      5 stars
      Good recipe Thanks

      Reply
    15. Dawn says

      June 29, 2020 at 8:16 pm

      5 stars
      My family ate it all up and keep asking to make it again

      Reply
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