Make Mac and Cheese in a Slow Cooker
You can cook macaroni recipes like Easy Peasy Mac & Cheese in a slow cooker as well as on the stove.
Macaroni and cheese is a favorite in my family. Perhaps you’ve read about my Creamy Cheesy Chicken in the Slow Cooker. I made that recipe at my daughter’s house. However, it didn’t turn out just like I had intended. So my daughter surprised me that evening with a box of Kraft Velveeta brand of shells and cheese. I cooked it in the slow cooker, and it turned out great.
Why Cook Boxed Macaroni and Cheese in a Slow Cooker?
Why cook such a simple boxed meal in a slow cooker when it’s just as easy to cook on the stove?
- You may be cooking a large meal for a group of people or guests, using all of the burners on your stove, and need to cook an extra side dish of pasta.
- The stove may not be working, and you have to cook in a different cooking appliance. I’ve experienced that in a fixer-upper where the stove often tripped the breaker. Such times require some ingenuity. A little creativity is all it takes. Cook in electric appliances like a slow cooker, microwave, toaster (yes, even the toaster – it’s great for breakfast), griddle, and grill.
Easy Mac & Cheese
All you need in this Easy Mac & Cheese recipe, though, is water and the macaroni and cheese from a box. Save the cheese to put in at the last. Of course, what makes this mac and cheese dish different than the typical stove-cooked style is the slow cooker.
Easy Peasy Slow Cooker Mac & Cheese
Notes
Cooking time depends on your slow cooker. In this recipe, the macaroni was done at 1 hour and 15 minutes. The packets of cheese were added in then. It was perfect and creamy.
Ingredients
- 2 Boxes Kraft Velveeta Shells and Cheese
- 6 Cups Cold Water
Instructions
- Pour water into slow cooker.
- Turn slow cooker on low.
- Add macaroni.
- Cook for an hour, then stir and taste to see if the macaroni is al dente.
- Continue to check to see if the pasta is done (every 15-20 minutes).
- When macaroni is a firm texture (al dente), drain, but don't rinse the pasta.
- Return macaroni to cooker pot and mix in cheese sauce.
Nutrition Facts
Easy Peasy Slow Cooker Mac & Cheese
Serves: 6
|
Amount Per Serving: 4 oz.
|
||
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 360 | |
| % Daily Value* | ||
| Total Fat 12g | 18.5% | |
| Saturated Fat 4g | 20% | |
| Trans Fat 0g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 | |
| Sodium 940mg | 39.2% | |
| Total Carbohydrate 49g | 16.3% | |
| Dietary Fiber 2g | 8% | |
| Sugars 4g | ||
| Protein 13g | ||
| Vitamin A | Vitamin C | |
| Calcium | Iron | |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
KITCHEN SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY (KSH)
Four Variations of Slow Cooker Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Like to cook mac and cheese at least once a week? Try out the following roundup of slow cooker mac and cheese recipes.
- Holly from Spend with Pennies makes Crock Pot Mac and Cheese with sour cream.
- The Crock Pot Mac and Cheese recipe by Brown Eyed Baker includes evaporated milk and Velveeta, two of my favorite ingredients to make creamy macaroni and cheese.
- Go look at Slow Cooker Triple Cheesy Mac & Cheese recipe at theslowroasteditalian.com – looks delicious with the cream cheese and heavy cream.
- Instead of sour cream, make iheartrecipes.com’s mac and cheese recipe variation with Greek yogurt.
When have you needed to get creative with cooking appliances and come up with great recipes and meals? I’d love to hear your stories. You can share them in the comment section.
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I know what you mean about needing and extra place to cook. One thanksgiving, my oven broke. I had an electric turkey roaster, thankfully, but I needed to make my traditional sides–mac and cheese, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, and mashed potatoes. All of the sides except the mashed potatoes required an oven. I made all of those other sides in my own and borrowed crock pots. The meal turned out very nice, too. Since then, I’ve been in love with my crockpot.
That would be terrible on Thanksgiving – the day we cook a feast!