This Crock Pot Mac and Cheese is a family favorite and appears at every holiday! With just minutes of prep, the sauce is unexpected and always gets rave reviews!
Serve this slow cooker macaroni as a holiday side dish or alongside baked ham for Sunday supper. This comes out of the slow cooker perfect every time!
Holly’s Notes From the Test Kichen
Elbow macaroni noodles are slow cooked in a rich, cheesy sauce. Homemade mac and cheese is my personal favorite food, and I can assure you that this is the best crock pot macaroni and cheese I’ve ever had!
- Unusual ingredients, amazing flavor. Thousands of reviews can’t be wrong!
- It has a perfect consistency every time, and the pasta is not mushy.
- This recipe takes only about 10 minutes of prep, and the slow cooker does the rest.
- This recipe can be doubled for a crowd and left on warm for serving.
- Everyone loves this recipe , it’s the best.
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Why This is the Best Crockpot Mac & Cheese Ever
1. Precooked Pasta
To ensure a perfect texture, precook the pasta to ensure it is perfect every time.
After testing countless “no boil” mac and cheese recipes that call for uncooked pasta, I’ve found the results to be inconsistent, with some brands becoming mushy or gummy.
Tip: Boil the macaroni about 2 minutes less than indicated on your package to keep it from getting mushy.
2. Sauce Ingredients
I prefer crock pot macaroni and cheese without Velveeta or evaporated milk. This sauce uses an unusual mixture that I created, and while some of the ingredients may seem odd, they come together to make the best cheesy sauce!
A traditional cream sauce or cheese sauce doesn’t hold up well in the slow cooker, as dairy can curdle and/or separate in the crock pot. The mayonnaise keeps the sauce silky smooth, you can’t taste it, and either regular or light mayonnaise or dressing will work.
Crock Pot Mac and Cheese is perfect for camping or potlucks, basically, anywhere you don’t have an oven. It’s also a great way to save oven space for Thanksgiving dinner (including turkey and stuffing!) and cook this on the side.
How to Make Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
This slow cooker macaroni and cheese takes less than 10 minutes to get into the Crock Pot and then it’s ready to go!
- Boil pasta for about 2 minutes less than the package indicates.
- While pasta is boiling, shred the sharp cheddar cheese.
- Put all of the ingredients into the slow cooker and cook per the recipe below.
Tips for Perfection
- Pasta: Do not overcook the pasta, it should be very firm after boiling. Rinsing the pasta stops it from cooking.
- Cheese: Our recent recipe tests have shown little difference between shredding your own cheese and pre-shredded cheeses.
- Cooking time: Check the pasta early, slow cookers can vary.
- Slow cooker size: A single batch of this slow-cooker mac can be cooked in a 4QT slow cooker. If using a 6QT slow cooker, it will cook faster so check it early.
- Double the recipe: To double this recipe, use a 6QT crockpot. Cook on high for 2 1/2 hours, stirring after 1 hour and 2 hours. (When stirring, try to do it as quickly as possible to keep the heat inside).
- Make ahead: To prepare this ahead of time, mix all of the ingredients except the pasta. The pasta can be cooked ahead, rinsed, and cooled. Combine the pasta and sauce ingredients in the crock pot just before cooking.
- Baking in the oven: If you prefer or if you are short on time, you can bake this in the oven (and I have many many times!) Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake 30 minutes covered and 30 minutes uncovered.
Note: Slow cookers can vary! You may have to slightly adjust the time for your slow cooker. If your Crock Pot Mac and Cheese is done early, you can turn your slow cooker onto warm.
More Crock Pot Holiday Sides
- Crock Pot Creamed Corn
- No Boil Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
- Crock Pot Scalloped Potatoes
- Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole
- Crock Pot Stuffing
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups elbow macaroni uncooked
- 10.5 ounces condensed cream of chicken soup 1 can
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded gruyere cheese
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream regular or light
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Boil macaroni noodles according to directions to make them very al dente. (I cook them for at least 1-2 minutes less than directed on the bag. Mine boiled for 5 minutes). Drain and rinse under cold water.
- Combine all ingredients in a 4qt* slow cooker and cook on high for 2 hours or low for 3 hours, stirring once or twice.
- Serve hot.
Video
Notes
- Pasta: Do not overcook the pasta, it should be very firm after boiling. Rinsing the pasta stops it from cooking.
- Cheese: If you do not have gruyere cheese, you can use an additional cup of cheddar instead (4 cups in total).
- Cooking time: Check the pasta early, slow cookers can vary.
- *Slow cooker size: A single batch of this slow-cooker mac should be made in a 4QT slow cooker. If using a 6QT slow cooker, it will cook faster so check it early.
- Double the recipe: To double this recipe, use a 6QT crockpot. Cook on high for 2 ½ hours, stirring after 1 hour and 2 hours. (When stirring, try to do it as quickly as possible to keep the heat inside).
- Make ahead: To prepare this ahead of time, mix all of the ingredients except the pasta. The pasta can be cooked ahead, rinsed, and cooled. Combine the pasta and sauce ingredients in the crockpot just before cooking.
- Baking in the oven: If you prefer or if you are short on time, you can bake this in the oven (and I have many many times!) Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake 30 minutes covered and 30 minutes uncovered.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Casserole, Main Course, Pasta, Side Dish
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I’ve made your crockpot mac n chz recipe for many years now… hands down the BEST recipe ever…everyone absolutely loves it and I’ve shared your website for them to make it. Only note to those new to making it – dont use processed pre-shredded cheese it won’t work the same, grate your own and I use mild cheedar with the guierie cheese – sharp didn’t work as well for me. If you like some spice add a little cayenne! LOVE THIS RECIPE honestly it gets more then 5 stars
I’ve made your crock pot mac n chz recipe for many years now… hands down the BEST recipe ever…everyone absolutely loves it and I’ve shared your website for them to make it. Only note to those new to making it – dont use processed pre-shredded cheese it won’t work the same. grate your own and I use mild cheedar with the guierie cheese – sharp didn’t work as well for me. If you like some spice add a little cayenne! LOVE THIS RECIPE honestly it gets more then 5 stars
This was a huge hit at the school potluck. One mom was even mad that her husband raved about it because he asked her to make it! Super easy and very tasty!
Is there another ingredient that you could use as a substitute for the mayonnaise? Would milk be a viable option and if so, how much would you use?
You could try additional soup but I can’t say for sure how this will change the texture/flavor. We have only made this as written. Let us know how it goes!
This was FANTASTIC!!! The only thing I changed was using cheese soup instead of chicken. Everyone at the party couldn’t get enough :)
Hi there, this looks delicious! Is there a good substitute for Gruyère? My small-town grocery store only Carrie’s the basic cheeses. I think Münster is the most fancy they have. Thanks!
You can use all cheddar in this recipe if you’d like.
I have to start by saying I am not known for my cooking. I tried doing a baked macaroni and cheese last Thanksgiving and it was a disaster. I wanted to try on more time before resigning myself to a life time of Kraft macaroni and cheese. I was originally looking at the crockpot mac that you didn’t have to cook the noodles but it didn’t get great reviews. I settled on this one even though the ingredients seemed a little odd to me. I have to say it turned out wonderful and my oldest son said I had redeemed myself from last year’s disaster. I used sharp cheddar cheese and Monterey jack cheese and used light mayo and light sour cream and 98% fat free cream of chicken soup. It. was a hit and I’ll definitely try again.
I tried this recipe because it had a 5 star review but GROSS! I cook a LOT and have my own blog. I was looking for a crockpot mac and cheese recipe since I was short an oven this year. I was leery of the mayo and rightfully so- it literally tastes like mayo and all 7 of our kids HATED it.
Hi Sara, I’m so sorry you didn’t love this recipe as much as we do! We find the mayo undetectable in flavor, but just adds creaminess to the mac and cheese. Thank you for trying it.
I’m a no on this one. Very dry. I had to add lots of milk. Maybe I missed something.
happy Thanksgiving I’m out of cream soup, can I sub cheddar cheese soup?
Sure you can!
Delicious for Thanksgiving kids and adults
thank you for sharing it’s very creamy and delicious making it as we speak
Hi, If I double the recipe should I add more time?
Just found the additional information below the recipe! Thank you!
To double this recipe, use a 6QT crockpot. Cook on high for 2 ½ hours, stirring after 1 hour and 2 hours. Enjoy Nicole!
Can this be topped with a layer of cheese to add a little “crust”? If so, should I add it right at the beginning of the cooking process?
I haven’t tried it but it should work just fine. As the mac and cheese needs to be stirred, I would suggest adding it after stirring.
I only have a 6quart slow cooker is this fine?
It will work but may cook a little bit quicker. If it’s done you can turn it to warm.
Just realized I don’t have the right kind of noodles . Do you think penne would work??
That should work fine.
How long can you leave this in the crock pot on a warm setting after cooking to prevent anything from getting mushy or overcooking?
It will probably be fine for an hour or so. If you try it I would love to hear how it turns out Kelsey!
First, I enjoy your recipes! And this question may be too late; however is there substitution can use for the sour cream?
I’ve only tried this as written however you could try Greek yogurt or plain yogurt. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the recipes Shirley!
I had to add a little milk. Also used all Sharp Cehddar cheese. Delicious and easy!
Made a double recipe and 12 people ate it all! The only change made was I used “smoked” Gruyère. Cooking in the Crock Pot was perfect for our Thanksgiving lunch.