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    Home » Recipes » Slow Cooker

    Slow Cooker Mac & Cheese

    Published: Sep 22, 2021 · Modified: Mar 17, 2023 by Beth Sachs · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 5 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Slow cooker mac and cheese for pinterest.

    The ultimate in comfort food, this easy slow cooker mac and cheese recipe is creamy, cheesy, and luxuriously indulgent!

    There's no pre-cooking of the macaroni required, and no bechamel sauce to make. It's a dump the ingredients in, mix, and turn on kind of macaroni cheese, and those are the recipes I REALLY LOVE!

    There's a handful of secret ingredients in this easy slow cooker macaroni cheese, which produces the most delicious, velvety, smooth cheese sauce for the pasta! Those special (not so secret anymore!) ingredients are cream cheese, evaporated milk, and marmite!

    This is the kind of pasta comfort food you need on a cold winter's day, although we enjoy it any time of the year, to be honest!

    👩‍🍳 Love macaroni cheese? Try this Spanish-style chorizo macaroni cheese or creamy bacon mac and cheese too!

    Jump to:
    • ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!
    • 🛒 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 💭 Top tips
    • 🍴 Serving suggestions
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🥡 Storage
    • ❓ FAQs
    • 😋Related recipes
    • Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!

    • Dump, mix and turn on! No pre-cooking is required in this easy crockpot mac and cheese recipe.
    • Proper 'stick to the ribs' comfort food.
    • Easy family-friendly dinner.
    • Customizable with meat and vegetable add-ins.
    • Best slow cooker mac and cheese recipe you'll ever try!

    🛒 Ingredients

    Ingredients needed to make slow cooker macaroni cheese
    • Pasta - macaroni or elbow pasta are best in this crockpot macaroni cheese, as they cook much faster than larger pasta shapes. If you did want to use penne or rigatoni you would need to increase the cooking time.
    • Cheese - use a mixture of grated extra-mature (sharp) cheddar and Parmesan. Feel free to substitute with a medium cheddar for a slightly milder flavour.
    • Sauce - the base of the cheese sauce is made using a combniation of evaporated milk, full-fat cows milk, cream cheese and butter.
    • Flavourings - for that extra rich, umami like taste add marmite, dijon mustard, smoked paprika, garlic granules, and a small amount of sea salt.

    🔪 Instructions

    The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post

    One: Place the dry macaroni in the bottom of your slow cooker basin.

    Two: Pour over the evaporated milk and milk and give it a stir.

    Three: Mix in the cream cheese.

    Four: Add the cubed butter, marmite, dijon mustard, smoked paprika, garlic granules and salt.

    Step by step photo instructions for making slow cooker mac and cheese

    Five: Add the grated cheddar and Parmesan.

    Six: Mix to combine.

    Seven: Cook on a low heat for 1.5 hours. Take off the lid and give it a good stir until the sauce comes together. Replace the lid and cook for a further 5 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked.

    Step by step photo instructions for making slow cooker macaroni cheese.

    💭 Top tips

    • Don't use pre-packaged grated cheese for this recipe. Pre-packaged grated cheese is usually coated in anti-caking agents which may have an affect on the texture of the cheese sauce.
    • Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature before starting the recipe. I take the dairy ingredients out of the fridge about 30 minutes beforehand.
    • Don’t keep opening the slow cooker lid to check on the pasta. It lets the steam and moisture escape which is actually helping to keep the pasta from drying out.

    💡 Pro Tip - All slow cookers and crockpots run slightly differently. I recommend cooking the dish on a low setting for 1.5 hours as directed in the recipe, but if you find the pasta isn't quite cooked, extend the cooking time, checking the dish every ten minutes. If you leave it too long there is a danger the pasta will turn mushy!

    🍴 Serving suggestions

    This slow cooker macaroni cheese is extremely rich and filling, therefore I often serve it as it is, or with some homemade pesto focaccia on the side.

    If you need to stretch the meal further, air-fryer chicken breasts or honey-glazed air-fryer salmon are great accompaniments, along with a side of green vegetables such as roasted Tenderstem broccoli or roast courgettes.

    📖 Variations

    There are so many ways to customize this easy slow cooker mac and cheese recipe!

    • Add 6 grilled and chopped bacon rashers for slow cooker macaroni cheese with bacon.
    • Garnish with chopped parsley and toasted pine-nuts for colour and texture.
    • Make it lower in fat and slimmimg world friendly by using low fat cheeses, light cream cheese and semi-skimmed milk.
    • Make it spicy by adding chilli powder or cayenne pepper.
    • Add roasted cubed sweet potato, roasted butternut squash, or sweetcorn to the dish for added nutrition.
    • Use different cheeses! Gruyere, blue cheese, and mozzarella would all work well.
    • If you don't have a slow cooker, make my easy macaroni cheese recipe on the hob instead!
    Slow cooker mac and cheese in a crockpot basin.

    🥡 Storage

    Slow cooker macaroni cheese is best eaten fresh as soon as it's made! However, leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheated in the microwave.

    💡 Pro Tip - I recommend reheating it gradually in the microwave, stirring the pasta regularly during cooking, whilst adding a tablespoon of milk to prevent it from drying out. The texture may be altered slightly by doing this, but it will still taste great!

    ❓ FAQs

    Can I make this mac and cheese on the stovetop or hob?

    Unfortunately, this recipe has been developed for use in a slow cooker or crockpot only and is not suitable for stovetop cooking.

    Can I use all regular milk rather than evaporated milk?

    The evaporated milk in the recipe is what helps make the cheese sauce smooth and velvety. I haven't tested this recipe using all regular milk before and therefore can't say whether it would work.

    Is the slow cooker mac and cheese freezer friendly?

    Yes, slow cooker mac and cheese can be frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost thoroughly in the fridge before reheating in the microwave with a little milk added.

    😋Related recipes

    More delicious slow cooker recipes to try!

    • Slow Cooker Pork Chops
    • Slow Cooker Tortellini
    • Slow Cooker Chicken Curry
    • Slow Cooker Sausage Casserole
    • Slow Cooker Chilli Con Carne
    • Slow Cooker Beef Goulash
    • Slow Cooker Hunters Chicken
    • Slow Cooker Pulled Beef
    • Slow Cooker Chinese Chicken Curry

    Tried this recipe? Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating in the comments!

    Recipe

    A bowl of slow cooker mac and cheese.
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    5 from 10 votes

    Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

    The ultimate in comfort food, this easy slow cooker mac and cheese recipe is creamy, cheesy, and luxuriously indulgent!
    Course Pasta
    Cuisine British
    Keyword crockpot mac and cheese, slow cooker mac and cheese, slow cooker macaroni cheese
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 1 hour 35 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
    Servings 4
    Calories 838kcal
    Author Beth Sachs
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Slow Cooker
    • Kitchen Scales
    • Wooden Spoon

    Ingredients

    Metric - US Customary
    • 250 g Macaroni
    • 400 g Evaporated Milk
    • 200 ml Milk
    • 100 g Cream Cheese
    • 50 g Butter cubed
    • 1 teaspoon Marmite
    • 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
    • 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
    • 1 teaspoon Garlic Granules
    • ¼ teaspoon Sea Salt
    • 200 g Cheddar Cheese grated (I find extra mature cheddar is best for flavour)
    • 75 g Parmesan grated

    Instructions

    • Place the dry macaroni in the bottom of your slow cooker basin.
    • Pour over the evaporated milk and milk and give it a stir.
    • Mix in the cream cheese.
    • Add the cubed butter, marmite, dijon mustard, smoked paprika, garlic granules and salt.
    • Add the grated cheddar and Parmesan and mix thoroughly.
    • Cook on a low heat for 1.5 hours. Take off the lid and give it a good stir until the sauce comes together. Replace the lid and cook for a further 5 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked.

    Notes

    Top Tips:
    • Don't use pre-packaged grated cheese for this recipe. Pre-packaged grated cheese is usually coated in anti-caking agents which may have an effect on the texture of the cheese sauce.
    • Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature before starting the recipe. I take the dairy ingredients out of the fridge about 30 minutes beforehand.
    • Don’t keep opening the slow cooker lid to check on the pasta. It lets the steam and moisture escape which is actually helping to keep the pasta from drying out.
    💡 Pro Tip - All slow cookers and crockpots run slightly differently. I recommend cooking the dish on a low setting for 1.5 hours as directed in the recipe, but if you find the pasta isn't quite cooked, extend the cooking time, checking the dish every ten minutes. If you leave it too long there is a danger the pasta will turn mushy!
     
    Storage:
    Slow cooker macaroni cheese is best eaten fresh as soon as it's made! However, leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheated in the microwave.
    💡 Pro Tip - I recommend reheating it gradually in the microwave, stirring the pasta regularly during cooking, whilst adding a tablespoon of milk to prevent it from drying out. The texture may be altered slightly by doing this, but it will still taste great!
     
    Nutrition:
    The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
     
    Nutrition Facts
    Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    838
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    46
    g
    71
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    25
    g
    156
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    11
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    127
    mg
    42
    %
    Sodium
     
    1028
    mg
    45
    %
    Potassium
     
    672
    mg
    19
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    66
    g
    22
    %
    Fiber
     
    2
    g
    8
    %
    Sugar
     
    16
    g
    18
    %
    Protein
     
    40
    g
    80
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    1557
    IU
    31
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    2
    mg
    2
    %
    Calcium
     
    956
    mg
    96
    %
    Iron
     
    2
    mg
    11
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    More Easy Slow Cooker Recipes

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Michele

      September 22, 2021 at 1:44 pm

      5 stars
      This is my go to Mac and cheese recipe! It is so easy in the slow cooker. Thanks for a great recipe!

      Reply
    2. Shadi Hasanzadenemati

      September 22, 2021 at 1:52 pm

      5 stars
      This was amazing and such a treat! Thank you!

      Reply
    3. Traci

      September 22, 2021 at 2:05 pm

      5 stars
      Slow cooker mac and cheese is always a winner and this recipe is no exception. I love the dump and start method ... always! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Sarah Hawcock

        June 24, 2022 at 1:15 pm

        5 stars
        I made your Mac and cheese , delicious ,easy to make, and as am recovering from a stroke it's easy to swallow thanks, shall be making it again.

        Reply
    4. Gina

      September 22, 2021 at 2:05 pm

      5 stars
      This is the CREAMIEST mac and cheese ever - so good!

      Reply

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    Beth Sachs Food Blogger

    Hi, I’m Beth, a Mum of three (and one crazy dog), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

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