Crockpot Mac and Cheese with Cream Cheese

This crockpot mac and cheese with cream cheese is the best mac and cheese you will ever make. Good for potlucks and holidays, it is fully made within the gradual cooker and has the very best gooey, tacky texture!

A wood spoon serving a creamy, gooey mac and cheese with white cheese.

This selfmade mac and cheese will likely be a traditional recipe that everybody within the household will love. Make it your individual by including in greens, like broccoli or spinach, or some shredded leftover roast hen.

Serve this gradual cooker mac and cheese with bang bang brussels sprouts or a butter lettuce salad for a straightforward meal.

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Mac and Cheese with Cream Cheese

Mac and cheese is one in all my favourite consolation meals after I’m not feeling nicely, however so many recipes use aged cheeses or evaporated milk, which may have carrageenan. And the straightforward boxed mixes typically comprise meals dyes to make them so vivid and orange.

With this simple gradual cooker mac and cheese, we’re utilizing easy, primary elements. By means of my journey with a migraine weight-reduction plan, I’ve discovered good high quality American cheese and cream cheese could make the very best creamy sauce.

For this recipe, I wished one thing you might simply dump into the crockpot and have it prepared for a meal in the event you do not feel like cooking.

You will love this crockpot mac and cheese recipe as a result of:

Simple – No parboiling noodles, which I really feel defeats the aim of a crockpot recipe being simple. The entire recipe takes solely 5 minutes to prep.
Easy – Fundamental elements and nothing canned with carrageenan or meals dyes.
Creamy – An excellent gooey texture with the mixture of cream cheese and American cheese.

Elements

Ingredients for crockpot mac and cheese with cream cheese and american cheese on a white background.

Under are simply a few of the elements for this cream cheese mac and cheese, with a full recipe card on the backside of this publish.

Elbow macaroni – This may be substituted with different forms of pasta, however I examined it with the traditional elbow macaroni. As a result of this recipe does not parboil the pasta, a few of the recipe testing yielded a mushy pasta. I discovered Barilla held up the very best in testing. If you happen to’re on the lookout for a superbly cooked al dente pasta, this is not the recipe for you (and possibly no gradual cooker recipe is!). If you would like tremendous simple and additional gooey mac and cheese, you will adore it.
Cream cheese – Use an excellent high quality, block-style cream cheese. Philadelphia model is my go-to. Select one with out carrageenan, which offers you the creamiest sauce.
American cheese – Good high quality American cheese is from manufacturers like Boars Head or Andrew and Everett and its REAL cheese. American cheese melts the very best and offers you that traditional texture. For a bigger block that is good for grating, you may ask the deli to chop you one as an alternative of slicing it.
Salted butter – I like to make use of Kerrygold right here. If watching your sodium consumption, unsalted is okay.

Substitutions

American cheese – typically occasions a lot of my worldwide readers battle with discovering good high quality American cheese, which is a mixture of Colby and really younger cheddar cheese. You’ll be able to substitute this with mozzarella for a much less silky sauce.

Low sodium – Use unsalted butter and mozzarella as an alternative of American, relying on what the manufacturers you will discover are (I discover American to be greater in sodium).

A spoon holding macaroni to show a close up of the cheesy sauce on the pasta.

As for gluten free and dairy free, I do not advocate these edits for this significantly recipe.

Gluten free pasta tends to get a bit extra mushy, and gradual cooking can improve that. If you happen to do not thoughts this texture, you may attempt to substitute it!

I’ve not discovered any good dairy free cheese substitutes, however would advocate this Boursin pasta with dairy free Boursin for a greater choice.

Directions

Process photos showing adding the ingredients to a slow cooker, stirring in the milk, then cooking and stirring in the cheesy till creamy.

Step 1: Add pasta and spices to the gradual cooker

Add macaroni pasta, water, milk, garlic powder, mustard powder, salt, black pepper, and butter. Use a spoon to stir and ensure the pasta is submerged within the liquid as a lot as doable.

Step 2: Cowl and cook dinner

Cowl with the lid and cook dinner on excessive for 25 minutes. Use a spoon to stir, then cook dinner for an additional 20 minutes – 45 minutes whole.

Step 3: Add the cream cheese

Take away the lid, add the cream cheese and shredded cheese, and gently stir to include the cheese. Don’t overstir or the pasta might get mushy!

Step 4: Cowl and cook dinner

Cowl with the lid and cook dinner on excessive for quarter-hour till the cheese is melted and pasta is absolutely cooked. Style and season with extra salt and pepper if wanted.

Take pleasure in instantly or maintain heat within the gradual cooker for as much as 3 hours, including sizzling water if wanted to skinny the cheese sauce.

Mac and cheese in a creamy sauce in a white bowl with a spoon and black pepper on top.

Recipe Suggestions

Barilla pasta held up nicely in recipe testing. It retained a terrific texture that wasn’t too mushy or gummy.
The longer the cooking time, the softer the pasta can get.
Boiling the pasta earlier than it is al dente (about 5 minutes) earlier than including it to the crockpot appears to assist it retain an excellent texture, however we really feel this defeats the aim of a straightforward crockpot mac and cheese.
Cooking time – gradual cookers can fluctuate in cooking temperatures. The primary time you make this, test it across the 30 minute mark and see how it’s.

Easy methods to Preserve Crockpot Mac and Cheese Creamy

In recipe testing, the mac and cheese stayed creamy for as much as 3 hours earlier than serving.

The gradual cooker was saved on heat, and a splash of water was blended in each hour or so to maintain the sauce mushy and creamy. You possibly can additionally add milk, if desired.

A bowl of white mac and cheese next to shredded cheese and a slow cooker with extra macaroni.

Pairing Options

I really like an excellent crockpot mac and cheese with cream cheese on it is personal or with merely steamed broccoli, however listed below are some ideas to pair it with.

For a vacation like Christmas or Thanksgiving, this may make a terrific potluck dish and would unlock oven and range house. Pair it with stuffing balls, forged iron roast hen, inexperienced bean casserole, and cranberry sauce with out orange.

If you happen to’re on the lookout for a comfortable meal at house, pair this with a easy butter lettuce salad or pear arugula salad. This apple fennel salad would additionally assist to chop a few of the richness of the sauce with sweetness and acidity.

Storage and Reheating

This gradual cooker mac and cheese can simply be saved and reheated.

Make forward – If you happen to intend to make it forward, you may maintain it within the crockpot. Carry on heat if aspiring to serve inside 3 hours, and simply stir often, including water to skinny as wanted.

Fridge – Preserve within the fridge for as much as 3-4 days in an hermetic container.

Freezer – Freeze for as much as 4 months in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag.

Reheating from contemporary – Add a splash of milk and stir into the mac and cheese. Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring typically, and including milk as wanted. You possibly can additionally do that on the stovetop as nicely, stirring typically.

Reheating from frozen – Defrost in a single day within the fridge and use the directions above to reheat. Or place the frozen mac and cheese in a baking dish and canopy with tin foil. Bake at 325 levels Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes, then stir. Add extra milk if it appears dry. If warmed by, uncover and bake one other 5-10 minutes.

A wood spoon in a slow cooker with mac and cheese and cream cheese on top.

Incessantly Requested Questions

Can I exploit a special kind of pasta?

This recipe was examined with elbow macaroni, however it might in all probability work with one other Barilla pasta like penne, rigatoni, or rotini. If the pasta is bigger, it could take a bit longer to cook dinner. Modify with liquid and time as wanted.

What can I substitute for the American cheese?

I extremely advocate utilizing good high quality American cheese right here due to how splendidly it melts right into a silky sauce. That is Boar’s Head or Andrew and Everett, which will be discovered on the deli counter, and minimize into a big block. Monterey jack could be my subsequent alternative, and mozzarella may also work, it should simply be a much less silky, clean sauce.

Can I exploit an immediate pot?

I did not check this with an immediate pot, however I discover the gradual cooker perform on immediate pots to be wildly troublesome and inaccurate for cooking occasions. Would advocate a conventional gradual cooker right here, or simply make a primary stovetop macaroni, just like the one in my Mediterranean Food regimen cookbook.

Cream Cheese Recipes

If you happen to’re on the lookout for different easy pasta recipes like this crockpot mac and cheese with cream cheese, do not miss my Boursin pasta, mascarpone pasta, or mozzarella alfredo.

If you happen to make this, tag me #thedizzycook or @thedizzycook on Fb and Instagram. And in the event you love the recipe, please go away a evaluation beneath! Observe alongside on my Pinterest for extra nice recipes.