Crockpot Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

 Here are TWO easy cheesy crockpot macaroni and cheese recipe styles we love! Just dump it into your slow cooker and let it cook by itself all day long. I will never make homemade mac and cheese any other way now, unless I’m in a hurry and make Ninja Foodi mac and cheese.

Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

This is great to cook for dinner or make a larger batch for a pot luck or for when other families come over for dinner. An easy recipe that will surely take you back to your childhood.

To make my crockpot macaroni and cheese recipe you will need just a few ingredients. You probably already have them in your cupboard already. At the end enjoy as is or with leftovers folded in like our brisket mac and cheese dish.

Crockpot Mac and Cheese

Unlike making boxed Kraft macaroni and cheese in Instant Pot, this is richer and smoother. It is fabulous the next day too.

• I have made this two different ways and am including both recipes in this post.

One way uses canned cheddar cheese soup and the other uses Velveeta, take your pick. Both are creamy and delicious but I’d try both and see which y’all prefer.

Let’s talk a little bit about slow cooking shall we?? First off I have a few different varieties and I love them all. Each one has an occasion to be used like….

1. This is my favorite 6 quart programmable one with a locking lid so it’s great for bringing to a potluck too.
2. If you just want to serve a few appetizers you should get this one that sit side by side one another.
3. I prefer not to use liners, but rather just spray olive oil inside before adding my food for easier cleanups.

Let me give you a peek of my pretty thang I bought recently. It goes with my kitchen so I can just leave it out on the countertop all the time. 😉

Crockpot macaroni and cheese recipe

1. Uncooked elbow macaroni noodles
2. Velveeta cheese sauce
3. Evaporated milk
4. Bacon bits – optional
5. Salt and pepper
6. Garlic powder
7. Paprika

You can also add a bit of shredded Monterey jack and sharp cheddar cheese on the top for the last 30 minutes to melt if you want it extra ooey gooey.

Crockpot Mac and Cheese Pinterest

You may have found “us” on that popular social network and looking for all the instructions. You can jump to recipe below and print it to keep it handy. Here’s a quickie on how to make this first slow cooker macaroni version. It’s explained in the printable recipe card below too.

• It is best if you first spray the inside of your pot with non stick spray.
  • Add cheese and evaporated milk into pot.
  • Then stir in seasonings.
  • Cook on high for 1 hour, stir halfway if able.
• On stovetop boil noodles until they’re al dente. Drain water and add them into your slow cooker, stir so they’re nicely coated.
  • Add bacon bits now if you’d like. Leftover diced ham is a great add in too.
• Cover again and cook on low for 1-2 hours or until noodles are as tender as you’d like.
  • You could sprinkle some shredded fresh cheese on top the last 30 minutes.
  • Cover and allow to melt also if you wanted extra cheesiness.

Serve this as a side dish or main entree this week! You can even transfer it to a cast iron pan and transform it into pizza mac and cheese too. Let us know what you think below.

Mac and Cheese in Crockpot

Both are good, just depends on your preference. If you want to double this recipe there shouldn’t be an issue, I’d just use a large 10 quart pot.

• Here’s a quick video showing how I made the second version using canned cheddar cheese soup.
• I boiled the noodles before putting them into the crockpot.
  • It’s still pretty easy to make in your slow cooker, just a different variety.

The recipe for this Crock pot mac and cheese is below. We hope you enjoy them both!

Slow cooker mac and cheese

This is one method, seen above and directions below.

• Boil 16 oz. of noodles and drain when they are about 1/2 way done, so yes they are al dente quite a bit (they will soften and if you put them in fully cooked they will get mushy).
• Throw the noodles (16 oz. or so, I used this whole box) in the crockpot on low (or 300 if you have one like mine here).
• Shred 2 cups of cheddar cheese and throw in, put in the whole can of cheddar cheese soup just like it is in the can
• Add 1 1/2 cups sour cream (you can use light). This will make your cheese sauce.
• Cover and cook this for an hour.
• After that hour pour 2 cups of milk in and stir
• Allow it to cook about an hour more and it is done and delish!!
• You can just add everything together at once and cook this mac and cheese recipe for 2 hours.

What can I add to mac and cheese?

Of course the possibilities are endless but here are a few options if you really want to load it up and make it totally over the top!

1. Crumbled bacon
2. A mixture of bread crumbs and parmesan sprinkled on top
3. Diced onions
4. Minced garlic
5. Leftover ham diced and thrown in with the cooked noodles
6. Finely diced chives on top when served
7. Additional shredded cheeses on top

If you want to make this super quick, try our Instant Pot macaroni and cheese too! This is our easy homemade macaroni and cheese recipe for your stovetop.

Looking for other easy family friendly meals? I am all about easy peasy so everything on my site is for busy families. No weird ingredients or something that will take you a long time to prep or stand at the stovetop to make.

• Crockpot chili mac is always a winner
• A green chile chicken casserole is packed with flavor
• We love air fryer mac and cheese too

Can I keep mac and cheese warm in a Crockpot?

YES! Just keep cooked macaroni and cheese warm in a slow cooker for serving at a potluck or anytime you need the dish to stay warm for hours. For best results stir the food occasionally. This will prevent the noodles from sticking together which isn’t super appetizing. 

How to save leftover macaroni and cheese – This saves quite well actually. You want to make sure you spoon in all that wonderful sauce. Use a sealable container that is not too much bigger than what you have left. Air is the enemy y’all. If you can seal tight it will keep it moist. You should reheat in microwave within 3 days of storing.

Printable recipe is below with nutritional information including calories and saturated fat per serving (but just enjoy).