Crock Pot Mac and Cheese Recipe

If you love your slow cooker or crock pot, try my all-time favorite mac and cheese recipe! My kids love it and your family will, too.

I am always searching for meals that are not only easy to make but also well-loved by my family. I’m guessing you are, too. That’s why I’m sharing my all-time favorite crock pot mac and cheese recipe, which has some surprising ingredients that work incredibly well together!

Mac and cheese is the ultimate “yes, please” dinner and side dish. In fact, its origins supposedly date back centuries.

While it’s hard to imagine that something now sold in a convenient container or box on the shelves was once a coveted and difficult recipe for our ancestors, it’s not hard to believe that this comfort food has been a staple in homes worldwide since its conception.

Macaroni and cheese is one of those dishes we prepare and just assume will please a crowd, so it goes without saying that this recipe is perfect for family dinners, potlucks, holiday gatherings, and more.

Plus, this recipe is made in the slow cooker, so you can relax while it cooks itself!

This is on my go-to list for busy evenings where we’re running around after sports, concerts, late shifts at work, and more. I also make it as a side dish for holiday celebrations!

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese Ingredients

To make this slow cooker macaroni and cheese, you will need:

• 1 box (8 oz) uncooked elbow noodles
• 1 container (16 oz) cottage cheese, small curd preferred
• 2 cups shredded macaroni and cheese blend cheese, or shredded cheese of your choice (we’ll discuss this more later)
• 1 stick of butter (I prefer salted)
• 2 cups boiling water

You can double this recipe to serve more people (I do in my home, and there are still some leftovers for me to bring to work!) Using a large slow cooker is helpful if you do decide to make more.

You do not need to modify the cook time if you double the recipe.

Tip: Using a crock pot liner can make clean-up easier and prevent pasta from sticking to the sides.

If you’re wondering, can you taste the cottage cheese? No! You can’t. By the time the recipe is done cooking, the cottage cheese has mixed in with the rest of the ingredients, and the individual flavors and textures have disappeared.

I wasn’t a cottage cheese fan for several years, but this was still my favorite macaroni and cheese. Don’t let the inclusion of cottage cheese scare you away from giving it a try!

You could also try using a flavored cottage cheese, such as dill or chive, to mix up the recipe a bit.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

Follow these simple directions:

1. If using a liner, place the liner inside of the slow cooker. Otherwise, coat the inside walls of the crock pot with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil on the stove.
3. Pour the box of macaroni noodles into the crock pot and spread them evenly along the bottom.
4. Evenly spread the container of cottage cheese over the top of the noodles.
5. Cut one stick of butter or margarine into slices, and place them spaced evenly on top of the cottage cheese. Add the shredded cheese of your choice.
6. Pour 2 cups of boiling water over the top of all ingredients. Do not mix.
7. Cook on high for 2 ½ hours. If not using a liner, consider stirring halfway through to avoid sticking and burning.
8. Stir before serving and allow to cool slightly before serving.

Best Add-Ins for Macaroni and Cheese

When preparing this slow cooker macaroni and cheese recipe for my family, I add extra gouda cheese on top of the medium cheddar cheese. This gives it a creamy, smoky flavor that is sophisticated enough for adult palates but doesn’t discourage picky kiddos from giving it a try.

Since some of my kids like meat in mac and cheese and others do not, I often prepare bacon on the side and crumble it up for whoever wants it!

Here are some other fun and interesting additions you can prepare to mix into your mac and cheese:

• Hot dogs or kielbasa
• BBQ sauce-coated chicken, pork, or beef
• Pickled jalapenos
• Cubed ham
• Hot sauce and chicken for Buffalo chicken mac and cheese
• Vegetables: broccoli, mushrooms, asparagus, cherry tomatoes, etc.
• Pesto and sundried tomatoes
• Ground beef, kidney beans, and chili powder or premade taco seasoning
• Roasted garlic
• Parsley

Wondering what to serve as a side with your macaroni and cheese? Check out the list of our best ideas!

What Cheese is Best for Macaroni and Cheese?

When choosing the best cheese for mac and cheese, consider which cheeses will melt most easily.

Cheddar cheese is a popular choice for mac and cheese, and is available in sharp, medium, and mild flavors. A combination of these is often preferred for a variety of flavors, though many people may also have a specific preference.

Gruyere, gouda, Monterey Jack, provolone, rindless Brie, and fontina are also popular choices. Mozzarella makes a good secondary cheese in mac and cheese because it melts well and isn’t oily.

Shredding your own cheese can ensure better melting. Cheese that is pre-shredded may contain anti-caking agents such as cornstarch that prevent the cheese from melting fully.

Tips for Perfect Mac and Cheese

Follow this useful advice, whether you’re making my crock pot mac and cheese or a different recipe!

• Use enough cheese. Half of the name is cheese! Be liberal with the cheese. Life is for living!
• Use the right kind of pasta. You can replace other pasta shapes in mac and cheese, but be sure to use something sturdy and short that holds up well. If not using elbow macaroni, try something like small shells, ziti, penne, fusilli, or rigatoni.
• Don’t overcook the pasta. A mushy noodle is just no fun! Check your slow cooker recipe at around the 2-hour mark to ensure the pasta is not overcooking. When preparing baked mac and cheese, undercooking your pasta slightly when boiling it is key to keeping a firm mac later.
• Use a blend of cheeses. As explained above, a variety of cheeses mixed together will provide complexity to the flavor and texture of your mac and cheese. Make it memorable and unique!
• Keep the sauce thick. We want creamy, savory sauce, not watery. When in doubt, do not thin it out.

Why I Love Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese is easy to make ahead of time so you’re not in a crunch for dinner at the end of a crazy, hectic day. You can prepare a huge batch to eat it for days, both as a main or a side, and as leftovers for lunch or dinner. You can refrigerate it for up to 3 days in a tightly sealed container.

You can freeze macaroni and cheese for up to three months, so making too much to eat in a few days is no issue. Thaw in the fridge and reheat by baking on low or placing it in the slow cooker on “warm.” You can also microwave individual sizes. It’s so easy!

Mac and cheese is the perfect potluck dish since it’s pretty universally loved and enjoyed by all ages. Even if two people bring macaroni and cheese to a dinner, the odds of them having different flavors and textures are high!

Other Mac and Cheese Recipes to Try

Want more than just this crock pot mac and cheese recipe? We get it. Here are a bunch of options:

• Soul Food Mac and Cheese
• 6 Cheese Mac and Cheese
• Crispy Baked Mac and Cheese
• Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
• Ina Garten Grown Up Mac and Cheese
• Ina Garten Lobster Mac and Cheese
• Sausage Mac and Cheese
• Instant Pot Panera Mac and Cheese
• Gluten-Free Beefy Mac and Cheese
• Stovetop Mac and Cheese Recipe