Crockpot Mac and Cheese

Feb 08, 2023Updated Jun 12, 2025

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This crockpot mac and cheese has that classic, creamy texture thanks to a blend of real cheeses—no shortcuts, just comfort food done right.

What I love most about my crockpot mac & cheese recipe is that there’s no need for a flour and butter roux to make the sauce. Instead, cream cheese does the work of thickening it up. This version uses freshly shredded cheese—no Velveeta or cheddar soup here!

Ingredients for crockpot mac and cheese on a table.

Key Ingredients

No complicated steps—just these pantry-friendly ingredients. Full Recipe is in the recipe card below the images.

Elbow Macaroni: Use large or small elbows
Cheese Combo: A mix of sharp cheddar and white cheddar gives the sauce its rich, classic flavor.
Cream Cheese: Adds extra creaminess and helps the sauce stay smooth.
Milk: Thins the cheese mixture just enough to coat the noodles perfectly.
A Large Crockpot: This recipe makes a big batch, so be sure to use a 6-quart or larger slow cooker to avoid overflow.

elbow noodles, two kinds of cheese, cream chease and seaonings in a slow cooker.

Cook’s Tips and Variations

A few things to keep in mind for the best texture and flavor:

Cook the pasta separately—the slow cooker doesn’t get hot enough to properly cook dried noodles.
Don’t overcook the pasta on the stove; it’ll keep softening while it cooks in the crockpot.
Mac and cheese doesn’t freeze great—this one’s best eaten fresh within a few days.
Sharp cheddar is the way to go—mild cheddar doesn’t have enough flavor for a dish like this. You can swap the white cheddar for more sharp cheese, or try Swiss, Gouda, or Fontina.
Try other shapes like shells, penne, or cavatappi if you want to switch things up—they hold up well.

What to serve with this

Crockpot macaroni and cheese is a fantastic dish that can be served as-is or with other dishes to create a full-course meal. Here are a few meal ideas to pair with it:

Mac and cheese goes great with holiday mains like crockpot ham, or turkey.

Other great main dishes we love to serve this with are grilled burgers, slow cooker cube steak, slow cooker whole chicken, crockpot drumsticks, or crockpot ribs.

If you want more sides that pair well, try my green bean casserole or honey garlic carrots.

Featured Comment

“This is such a great recipe. I love that it’s in the slow cooker and the whole family loves it.”
– Christine

116 More Reviews

Crockpot Mac and Cheese Recipe

4.10 from 30 votes

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 2

Total Time: 2 15

Servings:

By: Sarah Olson

Made with sharp cheddar, white cheddar, and cream cheese, this slow cooker mac and cheese is ultra creamy and full of flavor—perfect for feeding a crowd.

Rate Pin Print

How to Video

Equipment

Slow Cooker Size: 4 quart or larger

Ingredients

▢ nonstick cooking spray
▢ 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
▢ ¼ tsp. pepper

For topping:

▢ 1 cup shredded cheddar sharp cheese, (optional)

Instructions

Cook pasta according to package directions on the stove top and not any longer. Get other ingredients ready while pasta cooks.
Spray the slow cooker with nonstick spray or rub down with oil or butter. 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!