Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
Macaroni, milk, evaporated milk and cheddar cooked together for 2 hours 30 minutes until creamy. Six servings, with 10 minutes of work.
Storing and Planning Ahead
Keeps in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat with a splash of milk.
How to Make Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
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Grease the slow cooker. Put the macaroni, milk, evaporated milk, butter, mustard powder, salt and pepper in and stir.
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Cover and cook on low for 2 hours 30 minutes, stirring once after 1 hour 30 minutes. Check the pasta from 2 hours and stop when it is just tender.
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Stir in 250 g of the cheese until melted.
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Scatter with the remaining cheese, cover for 5 minutes and serve.
A Few Pointers
- Check from 2 hours; the pasta overcooks quickly.
- Grate the cheese yourself.
- Stir once in the middle of cooking.
- Loosen with milk if the sauce tightens.
Some Background
The macaroni goes in raw and cooks in the sauce, which is why this method works without a roux or a separate pot. The starch from the pasta thickens the milk as it cooks, and the cheese melts into it.
The risk is overcooking, because slow cookers keep heating for as long as they are on. The pasta turns from tender to mush within 20 minutes. Check from 2 hours and turn it off the moment the macaroni is soft.
Evaporated milk does the work that cream does in a baked version. It is stable when heated for a long time, where fresh milk may curdle at the edges, and it adds a rich body for little cost.
Grate the cheese yourself. Bagged grated cheese has a coating that stops it melting smoothly, and the sauce comes out grainy. Stir the cheese in at the end for a minute, then let the pot stand with the lid off. Season with mustard powder and pepper.
What to Put Next to It
Steamed broccoli · Green salad · Sausages · Garlic bread
Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese FAQ
How long does Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese take to make?
About 2 hours 40 minutes in total — 10 minutes of preparation and 2 hours 30 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 6.
What are the key tips for making Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese?
Check from 2 hours; the pasta overcooks quickly. Grate the cheese yourself. Stir once in the middle of cooking. Loosen with milk if the sauce tightens.
What should I serve with Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese?
Steamed broccoli; Green salad; Sausages; Garlic bread.
How should Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese be stored?
Keeps in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat with a splash of milk.
Is Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese?
About 624 kcal per serving, with 29 g protein, 55 g carbohydrate and 32 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
What's in a Serving
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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