Crockpot Mac and Cheese
116 Comments Feb 08, 2023
Updated Jun 12, 2025
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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!
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.
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
Crockpot Mac and Cheese Recipe
How to Video
Equipment
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!
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More Pasta Recipes
Pesto Chicken Pasta and Slow Cooker Chicken Penne are two easy, creamy chicken dinners packed with flavor.
For classic Italian comfort, try Slow Cooker Lasagna or Crockpot Spaghetti and Meatballs—both are hearty and hands-off.
This was amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Hi! Not sure if my previous inquiry posted or not.. but I made this tonight to take to work day after tomorrow for a Thanksgiving potluck. Any tips on rewarding it?? Thanks!
I replied below.
I’m making this to take to work for all the nurses on Thanksgiving (day after tomorrow) so I need to make it ahead of time. How do you recommend I rewarm it without it burning?
I think it would dry up being reheated in the slow cooker. Could everyone reheat individual servings in the microwave?
Can you freeze this?
I don’t see why not!
I am unable to rate recipe as I have not tried it yet. My question; is milk safe to cook with in a crock pot? I read that it can separate and become a grainy mess. I have cooked with cream cheese in a crock pot and the jury is still out on that… With dairy, it just concerns me. We are doing a vacation but will be doing all the cooking ourselves (me). Lol. I don’t want to spend my vacation cooking, so I am looking for some easy crock pot meals/sides. This sounds good. I will rate once I have tried this. 🙂
This has such a short cook time it doesn’t have time to seperate.
I can’t rate the recipe because I haven’t tried it yet, but I have a question. With it only bring me, I’d love to halve the recipe. Should I adjust the cooking time to 1 instead of 2 hours? Or, put the setting on LOW and cook it for the specified 2 hours? Thanks.
Hi! Yes, you’ll most likely need to cut down the time. It’s hard to say without testing. My guess is 1.5 hours.
I made this yesterday. It was delicious. I used 2 cups of sharp cheddar and 2 cups of Colby Jack cheese. Only cooked in pot for 1 1/2 hrs; 1 hour on high and 1/2 hour on low. It was perfect – I couldn’t stop eating it!
Did you use the cream cheese? Thank you.
Never put cream cheese in Mac and Cheese before. What a game changer!
This was a fail for me, i wonder what happened? I followed the directions . My mac burned and became dry. I think the directions should have been for low setting, maybe my mac would have came how very good.
Your slow cooker may cook hot. I’m sorry this happened!
Hi are you spraying or buttering your pan? Ive seen all kinds of recopies and many have melted butter in the them
You can spray or butter it. My slow cooker is pretty new, so not much sticks to it.