Crock Pot Mac and Cheese Recipe

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese is pure comfort food and the stuff dreams are made of. Made with four different cheese and a topping of bacon you can't go wrong.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 2 30

Total Time 2 40

Servings servings

Calories 648kcal

Author Leigh Anne Wilkes

Equipment

Ingredients

Seasoning Mix

1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp paprika
1 tsp dried parsley
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil

Mac and Cheese

1 cup medium or sharp cheddar cheese grated
1 cup mozzarella cheese grated
1 cup Monterey Jack cheese grated
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese grated
2 cups whipping cream
1 cup 2 % milk
1/4 cup butter melted
2 cups small dry elbow macaroni
6 slices bacon cooked crisp and chopped

Instructions

Mix together the spices and set aside.
Mix together the cheeses in a bowl.
Spray a 6 quart slow cooker with cooking spray
Add the cream, milk, butter and spices into the slow cooker, stir to combine
Add in the pasta and 3/4 of the grated cheese mixture. Stir to combine
Cook for 2 hours on low.
Top with remaining cheese and bacon and cook for an additional 30 minutes or until the pasta is the desired tenderness.

Video

Notes

Grate Your Own Cheese. For the smoothest, creamiest results, grate cheese from a block rather than using pre-shredded cheese. Packaged shredded cheese contains ingredients that help prevent it from clumping in the bag but can also keep it from melting as smoothly.
Use the Right Size Slow Cooker. Make sure your crock pot is large enough to give everything room to cook and heat evenly. You don’t want it filled all the way to the top.
Watch the Cooking Time. Slow cookers can vary quite a bit in temperature. The first time you make the recipe, check it toward the earlier end of the recommended cooking time. You want creamy pasta, not overcooked noodles.
Don’t Skip the Seasonings. The herbs and spices are one of the things that make this Crock Pot Mac and Cheese so good. With all that cheese and cream, the seasonings help balance the richness and add plenty of flavor.
Keep It Warm for Serving. If your slow cooker has a warm setting, use it once the mac and cheese is finished cooking. This is especially helpful when serving it for a party, potluck, or holiday dinner.
Use a combination of cheeses for a deeper flavor. My favorite combination is sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, Mozzarella and Parmesan but feel free to play around with the cheeses you have on hand. You want a total of 3 1/2 cups of cheese.

Nutrition