Description
This creamy crockpot mac and cheese recipe uses uncooked pasta, milk, and freshly shredded cheese for a rich and comforting side dish everyone will love.
Ingredients
1 pound elbow pasta, uncooked (regular, NOT gluten free, NOT quick cook; Barilla recommended)
2 ½ cups whole milk
12 ounces evaporated milk
12 ounces extra sharp cheddar, shredded (about 3 cups, shred yourself, not bagged)
4 ounces American cheese, shredded (about 1 cup, from the deli)
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon dry mustard
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Dash of cayenne pepper, to taste
¼ cup butter, cubed
Instructions
1. Spray a 6-quart slow cooker with non-stick spray.
2. Rinse the uncooked pasta well in cold water and drain.
3. Add pasta to crockpot along with whole milk, evaporated milk, shredded cheddar, shredded American cheese, salt, pepper, dry mustard, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Stir well, making sure the pasta is mostly submerged in liquid.
4. Dot the top with cubed butter.
5. Cover and cook on low for 1 hour. Remove lid briefly, stir quickly, then replace lid.
6. Check every 30 minutes thereafter until pasta is tender and sauce is creamy, usually 1 hr 45 mins to 2 hrs 20 mins depending on your slow cooker.
7. Once done, sauce will thicken as it cools slightly. Serve warm.
Notes
Do not use bagged shredded cheese — it contains anti-caking agents that make the sauce gritty. Always shred your own cheese from a block.
Use sturdy pasta, not thin noodles, which can turn mushy.
Cook on LOW heat only. Do not turn up the heat or the pasta will overcook.
Condensed milk and evaporated milk are not interchangeable. If needed, you can make evaporated milk by simmering regular milk until reduced by half.
For holidays, test the recipe in your slow cooker beforehand since cooking times vary.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 2 hrs
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 574
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 923 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Carbohydrates: 51 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg