Perfect for potlucks and for making ahead, this Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese is sure to please even the pickiest palate!
What kid doesn’t love macaroni and cheese? What adult, for that matter, doesn’t love macaroni and cheese?! People LOVE Mac N’ Cheese—it’s a proven fact. That yummy, cheesy, cozy side dish is increasingly becoming the main dish for a lot of meals. Add a veggie side to this Crock Pot Mac N’ Cheese and you’re good to go!
Easy Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
Although there’s nothing wrong with Mac N’ Cheese from a box—and everyone who has kids probably has a stockpile of boxed mac in their pantry!—there’s definitely something to be said for homemade macaroni and cheese.
It’s creamier, cheesier, and all-around irresistible, but it’s also a pain to make with the roux and the baking. That’s where this Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese recipe comes in. It’s a cinch!
While I came up with this recipe as a weeknight meal for my family, it’s also easy to scale up when you need to feed a crowd. It’s perfect for a holiday side dish or serving as part of a Game Day spread.
You can even make Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese for a Mac N’ Cheese bar! Set out a bunch of different topping options and let people customize their bowls.
(Want to try another version of mac and cheese? You’ll love my Southern Baked Mac and Cheese too!)
Ingredients
- Uncooked elbow macaroni
- Dry mustard
- Salt
- Pepper
- Butter
- Sour cream
- Condensed cheddar cheese soup
- Sharp cheddar or colby jack cheese
- Whole milk
Substitutions
Cheese – For a little bit of a kick, use pepper jack cheese.
Cheddar cheese soup – Use condensed broccoli cheese soup or nacho cheese soup for a different flavor.
Macaroni – You can use rotini, cavatappi, or shells instead of elbow noodles if you prefer, like my Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese.
How to Make Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese
- Make the noodles – Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta to al dente (about 7 minutes), then drain well.
- Make the cheese sauce – In a medium saucepan, heat the butter and cheese until the cheese melts. Stir in the sour cream, soup, dry mustard, salt, and pepper.
- Transfer to slow cooker – Once the sauce is smooth, add the drained macaroni and milk. Stir to coat, then transfer the Mac N’ Cheese to the crock pot. Cover and set the crock pot to warm. Stir occasionally until you’re ready to eat.
Hint
For a baked Mac N’ Cheese effect, you can toast breadcrumbs in a skillet with butter, then sprinkle them over the Mac N’ Cheese after ladling it into bowls or onto plates.
Variations
Tex-Mex – Use nacho cheese soup and pepper jack cheese; fold in drained Ro-Tel tomatoes and chiles before serving and top with crumbled tortilla chips.
Pulled Pork Mac – Make pulled pork in a separate slow cooker and top each portion of Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese with it.
Broccoli Mac – Use broccoli cheese soup; stir frozen broccoli florets into the cheese sauce with the pasta.
Loaded Mac – Ladle the Mac N’ Cheese into bowls and top with crumbled bacon, sliced green onions, and a dollop of sour cream.
Cheeseburger Mac – Brown ground beef in a skillet; drain off the fat and stir into the Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese with a can of Ro-Tel, then top with toasted breadcrumbs and sliced green onions.
FAQs
Cheddar is always the classic choice for Mac N’ Cheese, but that doesn’t mean you can’t switch things up! Don’t be afraid to experiment with other cheeses you like or happen to have on hand.
This is the best method of making Mac N’ Cheese if you want to keep it warm for a while! With Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese, you’ll leave the mac in the slow cooker at a low temperature so it stays hot for as long as you need it to.
Top Tip
If the sauce thickens in the slow cooker, you can add more milk to make it smooth and creamy again.
If you’re looking for more….try these recipes next!
- Crock Pot Lasagna
- Creamy Bacon Mac and Cheese
- Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole
- Simple Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
- Cornbread Dressing
- Slow Cooker Turkey and Stuffing Casserole
- Homemade Creamed Corn
Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- 3 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
- 1/2 tsp dry mustard
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 stick butter
- 1/2 sour cream
- 1 can condensed cheddar cheese soup 10 3/4 oz
- 1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese or colby jack cheese
- 1 cup whole milk
Instructions
- Boil the macaroni in plenty of water until tender, about 7 minutes. Drain.
- In a medium saucepan, mix butter and cheese. Stir until the cheese melts.
- Add the sour cream, soup, dry mustard, salt, and pepper – stir until well combined.
- Add drained macaroni and milk and stir again.
- Place Mac N’ Cheese in the crock pot set on the warm setting, stirring occasionally until ready to serve.
made for a work party and was a hit!
sounds delish! yep gonna try but ….this is made on the stove. it becomes a crock pot meal because after you cook it on the stove you transfer it to a crock pot to stay warm??hmmmm maybe change the name.
I just made this, first off it was so easy and secondly its delicious. Didn’t even use the crockpot, ate it immediately after preparing. I added a little bit of pressed garlic which gave it some zip for all those garlic lovers out there.
That sounds amazing! I can’t wait to try it after I finish my Clean program next week. I’m missing cheese… (here’s to hoping I’m not lactose intolerant). Check out http://rawobjectivism.com to see updates on my progress in Clean. (I could use the encouragement).
Looks so yummy 🙂 I’ll try this the next time I make Mac N’ Cheese, thanks 🙂
Thanks everyone! Let me know if you try it out!
GOD that looks AMAZING!
Love the sour cream addition. Will have to try that.
You’re a genius! Love me some mac n’ cheese!
Macaroni and Cheese is the best meal for my nephews!~$^ sometimes i put tomoto inside so they will eat veg as well…
Oh this just looks so easy and delicious!!
Oh yum, sour cream should be in more recipes
I agree! Sour cream makes EVERYTHING better! haha!!
I don’t see sour cream in any of the ingredients. How much do I add?
HI Marie – it’s a 1/2 cup. It’s in there now. Thanks for catching that!
I HIGHLY recommend using a combo of flagship and jack cheese from Beechers as the cheeses in this. The mac and cheese was on Oprah’s favorite things and opted to just get the cheeses and make it myself to make it more healthy. I use 100% whole grain pasta and low fat milk and then the cheeses. nom, nom
GREAT tips, Hope. I’ve heard that Beechers is really, really good! I’ll have to try it for sure!