Description
Hearty mac and cheese delivers pure comfort straight from the slow cooker. Cheesy pasta promises delightful flavors that comfort home cooks when you want a simple, satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) elbow macaroni pasta
- 8 ounces (227 grams) sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 4 ounces (113 grams) american deli cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 3 cups half and half
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon paprika
Dairy and Fat Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons butter, cut into 1-inch cubes
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in the crock pot, ensuring even distribution of pasta, cheese, and seasonings.
- Set slow cooker to LOW temperature and cook for 1.5 to 2 hours, gently stirring every 30 minutes to prevent pasta from sticking.
- Test pasta’s tenderness around 1.25 hours by checking with a fork; continue cooking if needed until pasta reaches desired softness.
- If sauce appears too dense, gradually incorporate milk to achieve a smooth, creamy consistency.
- Once pasta is perfectly cooked and sauce is velvety, turn slow cooker to WARM setting to maintain temperature.
- Serve hot directly from the crock pot, garnishing with optional fresh herbs or additional cheese if desired.
- For storage, transfer remaining mac and cheese to an airtight container and refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking.
- Refrigerated leftovers will maintain quality for up to 3 days; gently reheat with a splash of milk to restore original creaminess.
Notes
- Prevent pasta from sticking by generously buttering the slow cooker’s interior before adding ingredients.
- Opt for full-fat cheese and milk to ensure a luxuriously creamy texture that doesn’t separate during cooking.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular pasta with gluten-free macaroni and use cornstarch instead of flour as a thickener.
- Enhance flavor by adding crispy bacon bits, caramelized onions, or roasted garlic for a gourmet twist on classic mac and cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 506
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 634 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 19 g
- Cholesterol: 59 mg