Mac and cheese has been a favorite among people of all ages throughout the years… but it doesn’t always have to be the old run-of-the-mill boxed mac and cheese of memory. Mac and cheese dishes can actually be spruced up into delicious, hearty sides, which is what makes these top 5 best crock pot mac and cheese recipes worth giving a try!
(Pst. Before you dive in, be sure to check out MomDot’s Favorite Crock Pot Recipes!)
1. Delish Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
The first mac and cheese dish on our list is this mouth-watering Crock Pot recipe from Delish. It uses three different cheeses, and spices including garlic powder and paprika to add a little kick to this not-so-average mac and cheese. It yields 8 to 10 servings, takes only a few minutes to prepare, and requires 3 hours to cook.
Here’s what you’ll need to add to your grocery list:
- 1 pound of Elbow Macaroni
- 1 stick of melted butter
- 4 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 oz. cream cheese cut into cubes
- 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan
- 2 cans of evaporated milk (12 oz.)
- 2 cups of whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon of paprika
- Fresh Chives
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Click here to follow the full recipe!
2. Cookies & Cups Multi-Cheese Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
This recipe from Cookies & Cups is a no-boil Crock Pot mac and cheese. It uses three different types of cheese including Monterey Jack and Sharp Cheddar, giving this mac and cheese a range of flavors. It’s super easy to make, and yields 6 servings, takes only a few minutes to prepare and requires 2 hours to cook.
Here’s what you’ll need to add to your grocery list:
- 2 1/2 cups of milk
- 1 can of evaporated milk (12 oz.)
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika
- 1 pound of Elbow Macaroni
- 1/4 cup of butter, cubed
- 4 ounces of Velveeta, cubed
- 8 ounces of Sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated
- 4 ounces of Monterey Jack Cheese, grated
Click here to follow the full recipe!
3. AllRecipes Creamy Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
AllRecipes Creamy Crock Pot Mac and Cheese is unique in that it uses cheddar cheese soup to enhance the cheesy flavor of the dish (yummy!). It yields 12 servings, takes about 15 minutes to prepare, and requires 3 hours and 10 minutes to cook.
Here’s what you’ll need to add to your grocery list:
- 1 package of Elbow Macaroni (16 oz.)
- 1/2 cup of butter
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 package of shredded cheddar cheese (16 oz.), divided
- 1 can of evaporated milk (5 oz.)
- 2 large eggs, well beaten
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 can of condensed cheddar cheese soup (10.75 oz.)
- 1 pinch of paprika, or to taste
Click here to follow the full recipe!
4. Simply Happy Foodie Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
The Simply Happy Foodie Crock Pot Mac and Cheese Recipe includes three different kinds of cheese for intense flavor and the unexpected (but totally worthwhile) addition of ground mustard for a savory taste you won’t want to miss. It yields 7 servings, takes about 20 minutes to prepare, and requires 2 hours to cook.
Here’s what you’ll need to add to your grocery list:
- 16 oz. Macaroni Noodles
- 4 Tablespoons of butter, cut into cubes
- 8 oz. Processed Cheese (such as Velveeta)
- 3 cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 cups of whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground mustard (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Click here to follow the full recipe!
5. Pioneer Woman Thick and Cheesy Mac and Cheese
The Pioneer Woman is one of the leading ladies in recipe creation and her Thick and Cheesy Mac and Cheese Recipe is yet another of her creations that is a must to try! This is the most versatile and tasteful on our list, and the recipe yields 6 to 8 servings, takes about 15 minutes to prepare, and only requires 30 minutes to cook.
Here’s what you’ll need to add to your grocery list:
- 4 cups of dried Macaroni
- 1 large whole egg, beaten
- 4 Tablespoons of butter
- 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 cups of whole milk
- 2 heaping teaspoons of dry mustard
- 16 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of seasoned salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
Along with optional spices of:
- Cayenne pepper to taste
- Paprika to taste
- Thyme to taste
Click here to follow the full recipe!
Great Crock Pot Mac and Cheese Add-Ins
These crock pot mac and cheese recipes are great all on their own… but these add-ins might just make them better.
- Bacon. It’s just a fact that bacon goes with pretty much everything and mac and cheese is no exception to that rule. Add a few spoonfuls of bacon bits in the crock pot and mix or use as a garnish when serving.
- Chives. Chives and cheese jive well together, whether it be on cheesy potatoes or on mac and cheese.
- Chicken. If you want to make a full meal out of the crock pot mac and cheese, add some baked chicken on top for a pasta dish. This Chicken in Honey Sauce Recipe pairs beautifully with mac and cheese (trust us).
- Ground beef (Cowboy Mac and Cheese). Similar to Hamburger Helper, Cowboy Mac and Cheese is easy to make and pretty darn good to eat. You can either just add drained cooked ground beef directly to the mac and cheese, or create sloppy joe and add that to the mac and cheese, depending on your preferences.
- Sausage. Italian sausage, hot dogs (for the kids), spicy sausage, or regular smoked sausage all make great additions to cheesy mac and cheese… and it fills you up, too!
Final Thoughts
Without question, all of the crock pot mac and cheese recipes on our list are totally worth a try. Some of the dishes take as long as 3 hours and 10 minutes to cook, while others will only take as little as 30 minutes before it’s ready to serve. Each of the 5 best crock pot mac and cheese recipes contains multiple kinds of cheese and spices that stray away from the traditional mac and cheese we all know and love, but we’d have to say our favorite is definitely the Pioneer Woman Recipe! It leaves room for personalization and is tasty enough for the whole family to enjoy.
No matter which crock pot mac and cheese you choose to try, we know it’ll leave you wanting more! Happy cooking!