Easy, creamy, Slow Cooker 4 Cheese Macaroni – a fun twist on an old classic made right in your crockpot!
Get more tasty recipes out of your slow cooker with my Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas, Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole, and Slow Cooker Parmesan Herb Chicken & Orzo.
Wow, I feel like it has been ages since I’ve posted a slow cooker recipe. And by ages I mean weeks. Which is the equivalent of ages in blog time. Because I am a borderline crockpot addict and usually have to post at least 1 (if not 5) slow cooker recipes per week to keep my needs satisfied.
I can’t help myself. A crockpot is a beautiful thing.
Look at all of that CREAMY cheese sauce! It makes me want to face-plant right into this bowl of deliciousness. Just looking at it makes me want to swoon.
You had me at four cheese.
We had my sister and nephew over last night for dinner and this is what I served. I told them I was making “fancy mac n’ cheese”. My sister is a pasta-lover of the most obsessive kind and my nephew, well he’s 15.
Enough said.
This entire pot of 4 cheese macaroni was demolished by the end of the meal. My nephew probably put away a good half of it (growing boys. what can ya do) but even so, we each had a big fat helping of this dreamy stuff and snarfed it down in no time.
You know what else? I’m thinking this dish could be the answer to bridging that gap between what the grownups want for dinner, and the only things they can get their picky little eaters to go for.
Macaroni magic.
What people are saying about this Slow Cooker 4 Cheese Macaroni
“I just made this tonight for dinner and yum-o! I was worried at the hour point when I added the mustard, garlic and salt because it was really runny but it thickened up nicely in that last 20 minutes. I also tweaked it at the end – I put each serving in it’s own oven safe bowl, topped it with panko bread crumbs and a sprinkle of parmesan and put it under the broiler for a couple of minutes and it upped the amazing by a million percent. Thanks for the recipe!!!” – Nicole
“AMAZING!! I’m so happy!! First one I’ve had that didn’t look dry and clumpy. It was done sooner, probably could have pulled it at 1:20, so I added the seasonings a big earlier. I did use some extra milk toward the end. A little kick of cayenne and nutmeg went nicely. Also skipped Gruyere because the store didn’t have it so used extra cheddar, havarti and some parm.” – Lauren
Slow Cooker 4 Cheese Macaroni
Ingredients
- 12-14 ounces macaroni elbows - (uncooked)
- 1 ⅔ cup milk
- 1 12-ounce can evaporated milk
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese - (sliced or shredded)
- 4 ounces creamy havarti cheese - (sliced or shredded)
- 2-4 ounces gruyere cheese
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt - (or to taste)
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- optional: grated parmesan cheese and chopped parsley for topping
Instructions
- Add macaroni, milks, and cheeses to slow cooker. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 1 hour.
- After one hour add ground mustard, salt, and garlic powder. Stir to combine. Cover and cook 20-30 minutes longer. Check to see if macaroni is tender and cheese is fully melted. If needed, cover and cook 15-30 minutes longer. Serve warm and sprinkle with parmesan cheese and parsley if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe adapted from Host the Toast
What type of gruyere should I use? My grocery store has mild, medium and intense
What type of gruyere should I use? My grocery store had mild medium and intense
Do you think a double recipe would fit? I’m having a crowd over soon!
It came out sooooo great! I did add some water in the end to give it a more liquid texture, just to help little mouths enjoy it a little more.
What did I do wrong? At the hour mark it was nice and creamy, maybe a little runny but no big deal because it was cooking for at least 30 more minutes. At the 30 minute mark it was no longer creamy, I wouldn’t say the sauce “broke” per se as it wasn’t oily and it was still edible but it was clumpy, almost looked like a rustic mashed potatoes at first glance. Please help! I was hoping to make this for a party I’m having in 7 days!!
That’s exactly how mine came out. It was perfect at the 1:15 mark but by 1:30 it was thicker then thick, barely spoonable
Tiffany – Thanks so much! This sounds like a super recipe for the cheese-lover in me, so I’ll definitely try it. I’m concerned though—I need crockpot recipes that I can turn on before I head out to work in the morning, and come home at the end of the day to the finished product. Most of your recipes are done in 1 1/2 – 2 hours. Even setting this at the slowest temp, I’m afraid that wonderful mac and cheese would be mush when I come home. Any suggestions? I’d really like to give this a try!
I had the same problem so I purchased an inexpensive timer that plugs into the wall, and the slow cooker plugs into the timer. Just set the time you want it to start. works like a charm
Mel – Thanks so much! I never thought of that timer – it’s a brilliant idea. i was about to give up! Happy holidays to you.
I just made this tonight for dinner and yum-o! I was worried at the hour point when I added the mustard, garlic and salt because it was really runny but it thickened up nicely in that last 20 minutes. I also tweaked it at the end – I put each serving in it’s own oven safe bowl, topped it with panko bread crumbs and a sprinkle of parmesan and put it under the broiler for a couple of minutes and it upped the amazing by a million percent. Thanks for the recipe!!!
Hi,
I love your slow cooker recipes. The Broccoli Beef is a favourite in my house. Tried this today, took about an hour more than stated above and that was on high. Not sure if anyone else had that problem. Even though, this was a delicious meal. Next time I’m going to add crumbled bacon and small chicken pieces to round it out. Will definitely become a go to meal. Thanks for all the hard work you do making life easier for everyone else. Keep going
Gave up my large slow cooker since it’s just the two of us seniors–using my rice cooker–What size slow-cooker is used for this recipe? No info is listed. Please advise–I want to use my rice cooker for these recipes.. Thanks -June.
Hi June, Most of my slow cooker recipes can be made using a 4-6 quart slow cooker.
How long would I cook it if I’m doubling the recipe? Thanks!
Thanks. I used reduced fat cream cheese and reduced fat cheese, and it turned out great.
Would low fat cream cheese work?
I haven’t tried it but I think it would work fine!
I can chime in as to why you should avoid using whole wheat pasta in this – I just finished making this recipe, and unfortunately, the pasta turned out super gummy and chewy (and not in the good way!). I’m not sure if that’s unique to using whole wheat pasta, or maybe just a quirk of my slow cooker, but definitely avoid it! The sauce turned out absolutely delicious though.
I use whole wheat all the time but it requires almost double the normal cooking time to reach a texture similar to white pasta. gummy pasta is simply a sign of being undercooked
Who knew you could do macaroni and cheese in the slow cooker? This looks simple enough that I think my boys should learn to make this one.
Living away from family now and a husband that travels I’m teaching my boys simple meals to make.
This looks amazing! Do you think it would work with whole wheat macaroni?
Hi Kristin! Good question. So… normally I would say yes, whole wheat pasta should work just fine! But, I actually was inspired by this dish here and the gal who made that one has a note in her recipe saying that whole wheat macaroni didn’t work well for her. She didn’t explain why so I’m not sure the reason! 🙁