Substitute some of the sharp cheddar with gruyere, gouda, fontina, or even Monterey jack. Milk is added to give it the perfect smooth texture.Įnsure you’re using sharp and bold cheeses in this recipe.
The leftover pasta water from cooking adds a little starch to the sauce to help it stick to the noodles. The water is not drained, it is combined with cheese to make the creamy sauce!ĬHEESE SAUCE Cheese, cheese, and more cheese! Remember not to drain the pasta. WATER & SEASONINGS The cooking water in this recipe is seasoned to add flavor to the pasta. These are small, easy to eat, and are great for soaking up all that cheesy sauce. PASTA Dry elbow macaroni noodles are the simple pasta of choice for this recipe. It’s easy to use and cooks meals in no time at all making it perfect for weeknights! This is the ultimate quick comfort food and just might become your new go-to macaroni and cheese recipe!Īn Instant Pot is a brand of electric pressure cooker. This Instant Pot Mac and Cheese recipe is so incredibly simple, it all cooks in just one pot (including the pasta) and is ready in minutes.Įxtra creamy, super cheesy, and ridiculously easy.
CROCK POT MAC AND CHEESE RECIPES CRUNCHY FULL
Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Content and photographs are copyright protected. (Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.) Bake 30 minutes covered and 30 minutes uncovered.Ĭalories: 464, Carbohydrates: 31g, Protein: 27g, Fat: 47g, Saturated Fat: 21g, Cholesterol: 105mg, Sodium: 917mg, Potassium: 203mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 1000IU, Vitamin C: 0.2mg, Calcium: 665mg, Iron: 1.5mg Combine the pasta and sauce ingredients in the crockpot just before cooking.īaking in the oven – If you prefer or if you are short on time, you can bake this in the oven (and I have many many times!) Preheat the oven to 350☏. The pasta can be cooked ahead, rinsed, and cooled. Make ahead – To prepare this ahead of time, mix all of the ingredients except the pasta. (When stirring, try to do it as quickly as possible to keep the heat inside). Cook on high for 2 1/2 hours, stirring after 1 hour and 2 hours. If you do not have gruyere cheese, you can use 4 cups cheddar instead.Ĭooking time – Check the pasta early, slow cookers can vary.ĭouble the recipe – To double this recipe, use a 6QT crockpot. Rinsing the pasta stops it from cooking.Ĭheese – Shred the cheese from a block, pre-shredded cheeses do not work as well. Pasta – Do not overcook the pasta, it should be very firm after boiling. This slow cooker macaroni and cheese takes less than 10 minutes to get into the Crock Pot and then it’s ready to go! It’s also a great way to save oven space for Thanksgiving dinner (including turkey and stuffing!) and cook this on the side. Regular or light mayonnaise (or dressing) will work.Ĭrock Pot Mac and Cheese is perfect for camping or potlucks, basically, anywhere you don’t have an oven.
The addition of mayonnaise sounds odd and even if you don’t love mayonnaise, it works (as you can see by the reviews on this recipe below). While some of the ingredients in this recipe may seem odd, they really make a great cheesy sauce!Ī traditional cream sauce or cheese sauce doesn’t hold up well in the slow cooker, as dairy can curdle and/or separate in the crock pot. I prefer crock pot macaroni without evaporated milk or Velveeta cheese. Depending on the brand, the pasta can become mushy or gummy in texture and I find it to be inconsistent.īoiling the macaroni about 2 minutes less than indicated on your package (so it’s quite firm) keeps it from getting mushy. I’ve tested countless “no boil mac and cheese recipes” (using uncooked pasta). Precooking the pasta ensures it is perfect every time. Homemade mac and cheese is my personal favorite food and I can assure you that this is the best crock pot macaroni and cheese I’ve ever had! This easy mac and cheese recipe needs just minutes of prep and comes out of the slow cooker perfect every time! It is great as a holiday side and a favorite for Sunday supper. This Crock Pot Mac and Cheese is a family favorite! Elbow macaroni noodles are slow cooked in a rich cheesy sauce.