Easy Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese: A Weeknight Favorite (Print Version)

Easy Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese recipe for busy weeknights. Get creamy, dreamy pasta with minimal fuss. Your family will love this cheesy comfort food!

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 2-3 Hours minutes
Total Time: 17 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: American
Dietary: Vegetarian (optional additions will change)

# Ingredients:

→ Base Ingredients

01 - 1 lb elbow macaroni, cooked 2-3 minutes less than package directions
02 - 4 cups whole milk
03 - 1 cup heavy cream
04 - 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

→ Cheese Blend

05 - 4 cups (about 1 lb) sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
06 - 2 cups (about 8 oz) Gruyere cheese, freshly grated
07 - 4 oz cream cheese, cut into cubes

→ Flavor Boosters

08 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
09 - 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
10 - 1 tsp garlic powder
11 - 1 tsp onion powder
12 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
13 - 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
14 - 1/2 tsp black pepper (or to taste)

→ Optional Extras

15 - Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
16 - Extra shredded cheese for topping

# Instructions:

01 - First things first, get that elbow macaroni going. You want to boil it for about 2-3 minutes less than the package directions, so it's really, really al dente. Like, still quite firm. This is where I sometimes forget to salt the water, oops! But it's important for flavor. Drain it well, like, super well. We don't want any extra water messing with our creamy sauce, honestly. I usually spread it out on a baking sheet to cool slightly and stop cooking while I prep the other stuff.
02 - Now, grab your slow cooker. Mine's a 6-quart, and it's perfect for this. Pour in the whole milk and heavy cream. Add the melted unsalted butter. Give it a good whisk until it's all combined. This is the foundation, so make sure it's smooth. I once just dumped everything in and it took ages to get smooth later, so trust me, a good whisk now saves you grief. Don't be afraid to really get in there and get it homogenous, it's worth it for this Easy Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese.
03 - Start adding your cheeses! I like to do about half of the sharp cheddar, Gruyere, and cream cheese into the liquid base. Then, stir in your Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Give it all a good stir. It won't be fully melted yet, and that's okay, it's just getting cozy. You'll smell those aromatics starting to mingle, and it's just lovely.
04 - Gently fold in your undercooked macaroni. Make sure every single piece is coated in that cheesy, creamy mixture. Don't overmix, though, we don't want to break up the pasta before it even starts cooking. This step always makes me think of how much my family loves this dish, and it just makes me smile. It's looking good, feeling good, smelling good!
05 - Pop the lid on your slow cooker. Set it to LOW for 2-3 hours. Now, here's the crucial part: you need to stir it gently every 30-45 minutes. Seriously, don't skip this! It prevents the cheese from sticking to the bottom and ensures everything melts evenly into that luscious sauce. I learned this after a few batches with slightly burnt bottoms, oops! This is where the magic happens for truly creamy slow cooker mac and cheese.
06 - After 2-3 hours, when the pasta is tender and the sauce is thick and bubbly, give it one last gentle stir. The sauce should be incredibly creamy and coat the macaroni beautifully. It smells absolutely divine at this point, like pure comfort. Taste it, adjust seasonings if needed (maybe a little more salt or pepper?). Ladle it out immediately and get ready for some serious comfort food. This Easy Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese is best served warm, obviously!

# Notes:

01 - Always undercook your pasta significantly before it goes into the slow cooker; mushy pasta is a no-go.
02 - Reheat leftovers gently on the stovetop with a splash of milk or cream to restore that beautiful creaminess.
03 - If you're out of Gruyere, a good quality Fontina or extra sharp cheddar makes a decent stand-in, I've tried it.
04 - Serve this Easy Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese with a crisp green salad to balance the richness, it's my favorite way!

# Equipment Needed:

01 - 6-quart slow cooker
02 - large pot
03 - whisk

# Nutrition (Per Serving):

Calories: 650
Total Fat: 35g
Total Carbohydrate: 60g
Protein: 28g

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