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–+ servings
mac and cheese in a crockpot.
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5 from 4 votes

Crockpot Mac And Cheese

This Crockpot Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food, perfect for any day of the week. It's delightfully creamy and packed with a rich, cheesy flavor that's sure to please. Ideal for family dinners or potlucks, this dish is a crowd-pleaser that's as easy to make as it is to love.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time3 hours
Total Time3 hours 20 minutes
Course: Dinner, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8
Calories: 644kcal
Author: Joanna Cismaru

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces elbow macaroni
  • 4 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 cup evaporated milk
  • 8 ounces cream cheese cubed
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Begin by lightly spraying the interior of the crockpot with non-stick cooking spray. This ensures that your finished mac and cheese can be served with ease, and it facilitates simpler cleanup.
  • To the crockpot, add the uncooked elbow macaroni evenly across the base, followed by the shredded cheddar, whole milk, evaporated milk, cream cheese, salt, black pepper, paprika and garlic powder.
  • Gently toss all the ingredients together.
  • Place the lid on the crockpot. Set it to low and let it do its thing for 1.5 to 2 hours.
  • When time's up, give it one last good stir. If it's thicker than you like, a splash of milk will fix it right up. Serve warm.

Notes

  1. Cheese Tips: For the best flavor and texture, shred your cheddar cheese from a block rather than buying pre-shredded cheese.
  2. Milk Matters: I recommend using whole milk and evaporated milk for their richness, but you can substitute with lower-fat options if preferred.
  3. Spice It Up: In this recipe I use basic spices like garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Feel free to adjust these to taste, or add in other favorites like mustard powder or onion powder for an extra flavor kick.
  4. Stirring Strategy: Halfway through the cooking time, give the mac and cheese a good stir. This helps to ensure even cooking and prevents any pasta from sticking to the bottom of the crockpot.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 644kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 686mg | Potassium: 447mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1178IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 641mg | Iron: 1mg