Creamy Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese Recipe
This creamy slow cooker mac and cheese is a comforting, easy-to-make meal featuring tender elbow macaroni bathed in a rich blend of sharp cheddar and classic American cheese. Slow-cooked to perfection with butter, half and half, and a touch of Dijon mustard and spices, it’s the ultimate hands-off comfort food that’s perfect for busy days or cozy dinners.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Pasta
- 1 lb. elbow macaroni pasta
Cheese
- 8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese (grated)
- 4 oz. American deli cheese (cut into 1″ cubes)
Dairy & Fats
- 4 tablespoons butter (cut into 1″ cubes)
- 3 cups half and half
Seasonings
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Add Ingredients: Place the elbow macaroni, grated sharp cheddar cheese, American deli cheese cubes, butter cubes, half and half, Dijon mustard, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and paprika into the slow cooker.
- Cook on Low: Set the slow cooker to LOW and cook for up to 2 hours. Stir the mixture every 30 minutes to ensure even cooking and prevent sticking.
- Check Doneness: At around 1½ hours, check if the pasta is fork tender. If not ready, continue cooking while watching not to overcook the pasta.
- Adjust Sauce Consistency: If the cheese sauce is too thick after the pasta is done, stir in a few tablespoons of milk to loosen it to your desired creaminess.
- Serve or Keep Warm: Once cooked, serve immediately or switch the slow cooker to the WARM setting to keep it hot until ready to serve.
- Store Leftovers: Transfer any leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate. Consume within 3 days for best quality.
Notes
- To make this mac and cheese gluten-free, substitute regular elbow macaroni with pasta made from brown rice, chickpeas, or lentils. Cooking times may vary with alternative pastas.
- If you cannot find American deli cheese, slices of American cheese from the dairy aisle work well as a substitute.
- In place of Dijon mustard, you can use regular yellow mustard or 1 teaspoon of dry mustard for a slightly different flavor.
