Crockpot Mac And Cheese Recipe Using Real Cheese

Crockpot Mac and Cheese

So many crockpot mac and cheese recipes are filled with ingredients like Velveeta cheese, condensed cheddar cheese soup, condensed cream of chicken soup, cream cheese, sour cream, and even mayonnaise. I wanted a recipe that was make with lots of REAL cheese, but was still creamy and smooth and delicious and this recipe nails it. I love to make this up in the crockpot on a weeknight when I don’t feel like standing over a hot stove.

Ingredients

Elbow Macaroni Noodles – To avoid soggy noodles, use a good brand of pasta. Thicker noodles or noodles with ridges will absorb the sauce without getting too soft. Whole Milk – Its gotta be whole milk. Nothing else will get you a creamy sauce. Evaporated Milk – Evaporated milk is a shelf-stable cow’s milk that has had most of the water evaporated from it. It helps to make the sauce smooth and creamy! DO NOT get it mixed up with sweetened condensed milk, it is NOT the same thing. Cheese – Use flavorful, meltable cheeses like cheddar, American, Gruyere, fontina, or Monterey for the best crockpot mac and cheese. Spices – These spices are optional, but I think they add so much flavor to the mac and cheese. I like to use salt, black pepper, garlic powder, dry mustard powder, and cayenne pepper. Butter – A little bit of butter on top just adds more flavor to the cheese sauce.

Tips for the Creamiest Mac and Cheese

The most important tip for making creamy, smooth crockpot mac and cheese is to shred your own cheese. Pre-shredded cheese is coated in an additive that will make your sauce gritty. The cheese will not melt as well. Purchase a block of high quality cheese at the deli counter and shred it yourself. I promise you will thank me! Keep your crockpot on LOW. If you cook the mac and cheese on high, then the noodles will become mushy and the cheese won’t melt properly. Use whole milk. Skim milk and other non-dairy milks will not produce a creamy sauce. Serve immediately after cooking. If the sauce sits after cooking, it will become gritty. If it has to sit for a minute before you eat, you may need to loosen the sauce with a little milk.

What Can I Add to/Serve with Crockpot Mac and Cheese?

Mac and Cheese makes a great side dish for BBQs and potlucks. It also makes a delicious burger topping! If you want to make your crockpot mac and cheese into a full meal, then consider adding some toppings. Below is a list of our favorite meats, veggies, sauces, and seasonings to serve with mac and cheese.

BaconDiced HamPulled PorkBBQ ChickenHot DogsSmoked SausagePeasGreen OnionsBroccoliChopped Asparagus ArugulaFresh ParsleySrirachaBBQ SauceBalsamic GlazeRed Pepper FlakesEverything But the Bagel Seasoning

Crockpot Mac And Cheese Recipe Using Real Cheese