Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

This recipe for slow cooker mac and cheese is rich and creamy with only 5 minutes of prep time. It’s the easiest homemade mac and cheese ever!

Would you believe that this mac and cheese is the very first slow cooker recipe on this website? What took me so long?! Luckily it’s a good one. I’ve found that homemade mac and cheese can be a little tricky to get right. Sometimes I have issues with the sauce separating or being grainy from the flour, and I find tht baked versions of mac and cheese can dry out easily. This slow cooker mac and cheese is practically fool proof; it comes out ultra creamy every time thanks to a secret ingredient.

This crock pot mac and cheese is about as easy as it gets. Simply place all the ingredients in your slow cooker, stir and set to low. In about 2 hours you’ll have mac and cheese perfection! The cook time for this mac and cheese varies a bit depending on your slow cooker. I find that some of the older slow cookers tend to run on the hot side and have less heat settings. If you’ve got an older crock pot, cook this mac and cheese for about 1 1/2 hours to avoid mushy noodles. If you’ve got a more modern crock pot with multiple heat settings, cook on the lowest setting for 2 hours. Either way you’ll want to stir the mac once during the cooking process.

And now for the secret ingredient reveal: American cheese! Not the kind that comes in the little slices wrapped in plastic; go to your deli and buy a block of American cheese to cut into cubes for this recipe. This cheese melts beautifully and makes the end result ultra creamy.

I love that this slow cooker mac and cheese recipe is so low maintenance – it cooks in just one pot and the prep work is minimal. It’s the perfect addition to any meal!

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5 from 1 vote

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Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

This slow cooker mac and cheese recipe is rich and creamy and super easy to make!

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 2 hours

Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes

Servings 8

Calories 571 kcal

Author Dinner at the Zoo

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups whole milk
• 1 can evaporated milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 pound dry macaroni
• 3 tablespoons butter cut into cubes
• 10 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
• 4 ounces American cheese cut into cubes
• 2 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients in a slow cooker, stir to combine.

2. Cook on low for 1 1/2 - 2 hours, stirring once halfway through.

3. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts

Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

Amount Per Serving

Calories 571 Calories from Fat 252

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 28g 43%

Saturated Fat 17g 85%

Cholesterol 88mg 29%

Sodium 912mg 38%

Potassium 419mg 12%

Total Carbohydrates 51g 17%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Sugars 10g

Protein 25g 50%

Vitamin A 19.2%

Vitamin C 1%

Calcium 65.4%

Iron 6.8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.