{"id":7077138,"date":"2026-10-05T17:30:20","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T17:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7077138"},"modified":"2026-10-05T17:30:20","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T17:30:20","slug":"crockpot-mac-and-cheese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7077138","title":{"rendered":"Crockpot Mac And Cheese"},"content":{"rendered":"


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This Crockpot Mac and Cheese gives you tender macaroni in a rich, creamy sauce with very <\/em>little hands-on work. All you have to do is give the pasta a quick head start on the stovetop so it can finish cooking gently in the slow cooker without turning mushy. This recipe makes 8 servings for just $0.82 each, and I think it’s PERFECT for family dinners, holidays, and potlucks or anytime you need a side dish you can mostly let the slow cooker handle. And that creamy cheddar sauce? It’s absolutely the part everyone will be going back for. 😋<\/p>\n

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An Easy Crockpot Mac and Cheese for Feeding a Crowd<\/h2>\n

Mac and cheese is always a crowd pleaser, so having a super easy slow cooker version in your back pocket is a pretty great thing. Sure, our homemade mac and cheese<\/a> can be on the table in about 20 minutes, but this Crockpot version really earns its place when I’m feeding a crowd or want to free up my stove for the rest of the meal. It makes a big batch, there’s very little to do once everything is mixed together, and you can serve it straight from the slow cooker. That makes it especially handy when I’m cooking for a group! Add a green veggie on the side or make it part of a larger meal, and you’re pretty much set.<\/p>\n

As for the flavor here, I keep things simple and classic on purpose. Sharp cheddar brings the familiar cheesiness, cream cheese adds richness and a little tang, and evaporated milk helps create a smooth sauce (without making a roux or adding extra thickeners). I only par-cook the macaroni for four minutes so it gets a head start without fully cooking, then it finishes gently in the sauce. <\/p>\n

I also tested this crockpot mac and cheese recipe MANY times, and I think this ratio of whole milk, evaporated milk, and cheeses really hits the sweet spot for a creamy sauce that isn’t too loose. However, you can absolutely add a splash more milk at the end if you like your mac and cheese extra<\/em> saucy!<\/p>\n

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Recipe Success Tips<\/span><\/h2>\n
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  1. Yes, the four-minute parboil is worth it!<\/strong> I tried this recipe without parboiling the macaroni, and the results just weren’t as good. Trust me on this one. Giving the pasta a few minutes in boiling water helps it cook more evenly once it goes into the slow cooker and gives the dish a much better final texture. It’s one extra little step, but truly, it’s worth it.<\/li>\n
  2. …But don’t let that parboil turn into a full cook! <\/strong>Set a timer as soon as the macaroni goes into the boiling water and drain it after four minutes. It should still be very firm and noticeably underdone at this point. If you cook it until it’s al dente before it goes into the crockpot, it’ll soften too much or get mushy by the time the cheese sauce is ready.<\/li>\n
  3. Grease the crockpot first. <\/strong>Lightly coat the inside with nonstick spray, oil, or butter before adding the macaroni. The sauce can stick around the edges as the cheese melts and the sauce thickens, similar to when you make a baked mac and cheese<\/a>. Greasing the slow cooker helps avoid lots of baked-on cheese and makes cleanup much easier later!<\/li>\n
  4. LOW heat isn’t<\/em> optional here.<\/strong> I tested this mac and cheese on both LOW and HIGH, and HIGH cooked the macaroni too quickly and left it mushy. It’s definitely tempting to try speed things along, but LOW gives the pasta time to finish cooking gently as the cheese melts into the sauce.<\/li>\n
  5. Not all crockpots cook the same!<\/strong> Slow cookers can run surprisingly differently, even on the same LOW setting, so I treat the 45-60 minute cook time as a range rather than a hard rule. I start checking the macaroni at 45 minutes and stop cooking as soon as it’s tender and the cheese is fully melted. If your crockpot runs hot, it may be ready sooner. The pasta is always a better guide than the clock.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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    Crockpot Mac and Cheese<\/h2>\n

    #wprm-recipe-user-rating-1 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-full svg * { fill: #343434; }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-33 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-33); }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-50 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-50); }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-66 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-66); }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-33 stop { stop-color: #343434; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-50 stop { stop-color: #343434; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-66 stop { stop-color: #343434; }<\/p>\n

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    This Crockpot Mac and Cheese is a definite game-changer for those big holiday meals and family gatherings. It’s creamy and delicious with minimal prep!<\/span><\/div>\n
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    Course <\/span>Dinner, Side Dish<\/span><\/div>\n
    Cuisine <\/span>American<\/span><\/div>\n
    Total Cost <\/span>$6.55 recipe \/ $0.82 serving<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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    Prep Time <\/span>10 minutes<\/span><\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
    Cook Time <\/span>1 hour<\/span><\/span> hour<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
    Total Time <\/span>1 hour<\/span><\/span> hour<\/span> 10 minutes<\/span><\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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    Servings <\/span>8<\/span> servings (1 cup each)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
    Calories <\/span>558<\/span>kcal<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
    Author <\/span>Jennie Alley<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n
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