Crockpot Mac and Cheese with Cream Cheese + Video
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Mac and Cheese with Cream Cheese is made in a slow cooker with THREE cheeses! This recipe makes the cheesiest comfort food meal ever! This creamy macaroni is an easy recipe that makes the best homemade mac!
I swear, this is the perfect comfort food. There are so many boxed versions out there, but I’m so over the flavor of those!
What I love about this homemade macaroni is that there are many different types of cheeses. You’ll love this new family favorite that shows how easy mac can be.
This recipe can be a side dish or the main star of the dinner table for your family gatherings. I think that this is a main course – why not?
Mac and Cheese with Cream Cheese
If macaroni and cheese is one of your favorite meals, you’re in the right place, because it is one of our favorite comfort foods too!
One pot meals are always a winner in my book, and using a crock pot just takes that to the next level.
Every ooey, gooey bite of this homemade mac and cheese with cream cheese creates an explosion of flavor in your mouth!
When life is hectic, there’s nothing better than tossing a handful of ingredients into a pot.
Flip a switch and come back a few hours later to a hot, delicious meal, ready to eat.
This is our daughter’s favorite recipe, and she has been making it herself since she was 7 years old.
I guess this is the best testimonial you could have — crock pot mac and cheese with cream cheese is a kid-friendly favorite, and the recipe is easy enough for a picky 7 year old to make!
Macaroni and Cheese with Cream Cheese
Cream cheese and white cheddar are a bit tangy, while freshly grated Pepper Jack adds enough heat to make it interesting.
Plus, because it cooks right in the creamy sauce, corkscrew pasta soaks up all of that fantastic cheesy, saucy goodness!
The best thing about this macaroni and cheese with cream cheese recipe is the short prep time – it takes just 5 minutes!
Oh, and it cooks to creamy, heavenly goodness in only 2 hours!!
I’ve got another easy crock pot macaroni and cheese recipe made with Gruyere and mozzarella, plus a few extra spices for plenty of bold flavor.
Or, try another one — homemade mac and cheese with cream cheese, PLUS bacon and fresh chiles!
I think that dish tastes just like a jalapeño popper! Or try our smoked cream cheese that is always a hit!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Cream cheese – Using cream cheese in mac and cheese helps add another layer of flavor to the cheese sauce.
Also, it acts as a thickener, helping the sauce stick to the ridges of the noodles.
You can also use my smoked cream cheese in this recipe to really amp up the flavor. - Other cheeses
This macaroni and cheese with cream cheese also has 2 other cheeses — medium sharp white cheddar and Pepper Jack.
When I make it for a potluck dish or when I know kids will be eating with us, I often swap the Pepper Jack out and use Colby Jack instead. - Pasta – We use cellentani, otherwise known as corkscrew pasta, for this creamy mac and cheese.
If you want a substitute, any type of small pasta with ridges on it works well. Good options are penne, ziti, rigatoni, or even elbow macaroni would be fine. - Cayenne pepper – There is only a pinch of cayenne in this dish, just enough spicy heat to wake up your taste buds.
If you’re sensitive to spicy foods, feel free to leave it out.
Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Cook to al dente.
The initial cooking time will vary based on the type of noodle you use. If possible, start checking the noodles at the 1 hour mark.
When the pasta is no longer crunchy and has a slight bite to it, you’re ready for the next step. - How to keep it creamy.
The three cheese sauce does thicken as it cools, which can sometimes make it a bit dry and difficult to scoop.
If you plan on keeping the crockpot mac n cheese in the slow cooker, use the “warm” setting, and stir in a little extra milk before everyone digs in.
Crock Pot Mac and Cheese with Cream Cheese FAQs
First, be sure that you’ve added all of the ingredients in the correct amounts. The cream cheese will melt as the other liquids heat up.
Also, it helps to stir the ingredients really well when you first add them to the crock pot. If you would like, you can even stir the macaroni and cheese once or twice during the cooking time.
It can be tricky to convert crockpot recipes to an electric pressure cooker.
We haven’t tried making this crock pot macaroni and cheese recipe in the IP, but you are more than welcome to experiment.
If you do, please let us know how it turns out!
For a recipe that definitely works, I recommend my Instant Pot Mac and Cheese. It is very rich and creamy, and it’s ready in under 15 minutes.
A lot depends on your flavor preference, but it helps to use cheeses that melt well.
Cheddar, pepper jack, and cream cheese are perfect in a creamy mac and cheese recipe, and the combination tastes scrumptious.
If you want a different flavor altogether, try cheeses like Gruyere, smoked gouda, or Fontina! All of them melt really well and add a more sophisticated flavor.
The recipe card below proves that this dish can be flexible. It’s not called the ultimate comfort food for nothing!
You can add garlic powder, black powder, mustard powder, dijon mustard, hot sauce, onion powder, or even chili powder for the best results.
This is one of my favorite dishes to make because of all the different cheeses and tender elbow pasta. It’s one of the first things that I make when I’m craving creamy pastas!
Prep Ahead Instructions
There’s not much to do in advance for this recipe, except maybe grate the cheeses.
However, we do sometimes make 3 cheese mac and cheese to portion out for lunches during the week.
KITCHEN HACK – Reheating Mac and Cheese
I have a hack that makes reheating even easier, especially if you’re taking lunch on the go!
Before transferring to storage containers, stir additional milk into the mac n cheese to thin out the sauce.
This way, it will be easier to scoop when it’s cold from the fridge, and you won’t need to add any additional liquid when you reheat it.
Storing and Reheating Cream Cheese Mac and Cheese
Once cool, you can refrigerate the leftovers for 3 to 5 days in an airtight container.
Use the same trick of adding extra milk as noted above, or simply add the liquid before reheating.
Or, for individual portions, reheat in the microwave or on the stove top until creamy and warmed through.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Other Easy Mac n Cheese Recipes
Crockpot Mac and Cheese with Cream Cheese + Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound cellentani (corkscrew) pasta, uncooked, or other small pasta shape
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, sliced into tablespoon-sized pieces
- 4 ounces cream cheese, cut into 1 ounce pieces
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese, I use sharp cheddar
- 1 cup freshly shredded pepper jack cheese
Instructions
- Pour the uncooked pasta onto the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker. Scatter the butter and cream cheese pieces over the pasta.
- Sprinkle the salt and cayenne pepper over the top and pour the milk and cream into the slow cooker.Stir to combine everything and smooth the pasta into one even layer coated in sauce.
- Cover and cook on low for 1 to 2 hours, until the pasta is chewy (not quite crunchy, but very al dente). Your cook time will vary if you use a different pasta or different size crockpot, so start with 1 hour and adjust from there.
- Stir once halfway through the cook time and be sure to smooth the pasta into one layer so it is well coated with the sauce.
- Once the pasta is ready, sprinkle on the cheddar and pepper Jack cheeses and stir to combine. Cover and continue cooking for 10 minutes. The cheeses will melt into the sauce to create the most luxurious creamy cheese sauce.
- Stir before serving. Enjoy!
Video
Donna’s Notes
- I love the flavor in this recipe, but when I am preparing it for a crowd I substitute Colby Jack cheese for the Pepper Jack. It gives it a great flavor, but it isn’t overly spicy for sensitive palates.
- The cheese sauce will thicken as it cools. If you plan to hold the mac and cheese in the slow cooker on warm, add extra milk as needed to keep the sauce nice and creamy.
- Also, if you are going to refrigerate it to eat later, add enough milk to the pasta to thin out the sauce before refrigerating. That way when you pull it out, it will scoop easily and the mac and cheese will warm up perfectly in the microwave or on the stove top. We do this every week and portion it out for easy lunches.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published October 2017, updated and republished March 2024
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My family favorite recipe is the pulled pork. [email protected]
I love cooking roasts and soups.
I love using the slow cooker to make chili but after reading this post I think I'm going to have to try this mac and cheese! It looks and sounds amazing!
i make a delicious slow cooker lentil soup!!
Hi Bianca! Im looking for a great lentil soup in my crockpot.Can you share that please? 🙂
I love making beef stew (I don't follow a recipe) and pulled pork (I use a special rub) in my slow cooker. Your recipe sounds delicious; I think I'll try making it.
My favorite slow cooker recipe has to be the macaroni and cheese! Perfect comfort food for my family. There are so many wonderful recipes! Hard to choose just one. Thanks for the opportunity to win some great prizes! [email protected]
This looks delicious. I've bookmarked to make for my mother who loves mac and cheese (and is bedridden with dementia).
I've cooked very little in my slow cooker, but the past two things I tried were really good. Simple but tasty is: round or chuck steak, seasoned with Cajun spices and browned. Add water, onion, bell pepper, and fresh garlic. Cook until desired tenderness. Remove meat and reduce liquid; serve over rice.
Beef Stew & Chili are 2 things we love to make in the crockpot. I’m on the hunt for more great crockpot recipes as we have 2 young “active” kids and it’s easier to make dinner this way! I can get everything ready during morning nap & there’s no struggle to keep the kids out of trouble while it’s cooking!
Pulled pork, then pot roast and soups. [email protected]
This triple mac and cheese looks delicious, I will be trying tonight. My family loves meatloaf and I've found that cooking it in the crockpot is so easy and ensures a dinner everyone will eat and love.
This looks so delicious! I'm going to try it this week. One of my fav is Pork Carnitas in the slow cooker. So flavorful and something a little different to serve.
[email protected]
Our family favorite slow-cooker recipe is a pork loin cooked with cream of mushroom soup.
My favorite slow cooker recipe is Irish beef stew with mashed potatoes…so good! My email is [email protected]
My favorite is a pot roast, cabbage, potatoes & carrots.
My favorite is slow cooker lasagna. I make a meatless one. Always great!
Love all of your recipes. Your very talanted
My favorite Slow Cooker recipe is Crock-pot Lasagna. The family loves it too! I will definitely be making the Mac & Cheese recipe as my husband just got dentures and it's difficult for him to eat solid food that's not soft. I would also love to be added to the Giveaway as my insert to my Crock Pot just cracked and I had to throw it out.
This Mac and cheese looks amazing and I will cooking it soon! My favorite thing to make in the Crock-Pot is Roast! I put it on early in the morning And leave all day then I make gravy from the juice! I would love to win a new crockpot. My is well used and ready to give out on me.
Love the BBQ pulled pork sandwiches! I need a new slow cooker as I just discovered mine has a small crack in the bottom!��
My favorite is the Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings! There is something to be said about delicious comfort food after a long day! I can't wait to try your Mac and Cheese! Keep up the great work and a big congrats on your book!
My favorite slow cooker recipe is pot roast. I love the smell of a good pot roast!
Apple butter.
My kids favorite is your mac n cheese!!! It's awesome to put on during one of our busy sports nights and come home stir in the pepper jack and cheddar and be able to chow in ten minutes. �� We are Wisconsinites so the more cheese the better. ������ thanks for all of the easy ideas!
This summer we tried the Hawaiian Cheesecake Salad recipe and it was divine! In my crock pot, though, making the hearty beef stew is a family favorite around here. Makes you feel warm and cozy inside. �� We’ve been using my crock pot for at least 4 day’s out of each week due to sports commitments and really need another one before this old one croaks! The seal in the lid is also giving way! [email protected]
A favorite slow cooker recipe here is a hearty beef stew. Just makes you feel warm and cozy inside! We use the slow cooker at least 4 days out of the week right now with so much going on with sports commitments and things. [email protected]