It's rich and creamy and leaves you wanting more. Our quick and easy Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese with Velveeta is the perfect recipe to set and forget. Have this classic dish on your dinner table with only about 10 minutes of prep time.
By simply combining all the ingredients in the slow cooker, you will love how easy our Velveeta Mac and Cheese is. Not to mention, because it is all made in one dish, there is no added mess! Let your slow cooker meld all the delicious flavors together for a tasty final product that everyone will love.
What is Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese with Velveeta?
Velveeta Mac and Cheese is probably one of my favorite ways to make cheesy Mac! The creamy texture of Velveeta provides the best results for a delicious recipe that is sure get you rave reviews! Mac n cheese is an American classic comfort food and blending that with crock pot recipes is my go to for a big family dinner.
Jump to:
- What is Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese with Velveeta?
- Why You Will Love This Slow Cooker Velveeta Mac and Cheese
- Ingredients
- Substitutions and Variations
- How to Make Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese Velveeta Recipe
- More Recipes You Will Love
- How to Store Slow Cooker Velveeta Mac and Cheese
- What to Serve with Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese Velveeta
- Top Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions About Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese Velveeta
- More Recipes You Will Love
- Slow Cooker Velveeta Mac and Cheese Recipe
We love making mac n cheese in our house because we love hosting large family dinners. Next time you need to try our Baked White Cheddar Mac and Cheese which is what inspired this easy recipe.
Why You Will Love This Slow Cooker Velveeta Mac and Cheese
- Hands-Off Approach: You will love how you can mix everything in the base of the slow cooker, allowing little cleanup and a hands-off cooking method.
- Easy Recipe: All you need is about 10 minutes to prep your cheese, to measure out a few ingredients, and you're set.
- Maximum Taste: The rich, velvety taste of Velveeta paired with old cheddar makes an incredible flavor combination that keeps you wanting more!
- Simple Ingredients: We love keeping things simple, with some basic pantry staples you are already on your way to making this crock pot macaroni and cheese!
Ingredients
Chances are you already have some of these following ingredients in your kitchen. After a quick check, a fast trip to the store will be almost as quick as the prep time.
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
- Uncooked Elbow Macaroni: The perfect noodle for mac and cheese. Any small dry pasta works well.
- Whole Milk: The full fat milk makes for a thicker sauce.
- Velveeta Cheese: This adds that velvety, cheesy flavor and creaminess to the final product.
- Old White Cheddar Cheese: Adds a sharpness to the flavor profile.
- Unsalted Butter: Allows you to control salt content while adding more creaminess. Salted is fine if you prefer.
- Sea Salt: This helps to amplify the other flavors in the dish.
- Dry Mustard: An unexpected subtle tangy flavor that balances the richness of the cheese.
- Ground Black Pepper: Adds an extra kick of flavor.
For this recipe, you'll want to have on hand a slow cooker, cheese grater, measuring cups and spoons and a spatula.
Substitutions and Variations
We have made this a few ways and they are all fantastic! Here are a few variations you can try for your own easy Velveeta mac and cheese.
- Cream: For added creaminess use cream, I haven't tried going higher than 10%.
- Milk: You can use a skim, 1% or 2% if it is all you have.
- Cream Cheese: Adds to the creaminess and pairs nicely with the rich Velveeta flavors.
- Shredded Cheeses: American cheese is another great option for a variation, as a well as a sharp cheddar cheese. A Colby jack cheese would offer a mild flavor that would allow the Velveeta to shine.
- Pepper Jack Cheese: For a spicy kick, you can sub fully or partially for the white cheddar.
- Herbs and Spices: Try adding in garlic powder or onion powder to change the profile of our crockpot Velveeta Mac. If you want to garnish with some red pepper flakes or add cayenne pepper to the recipe, you can play around with the results.
How to Make Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese Velveeta Recipe
You will know you have found the right recipe when grating cheese is the toughest part. Look how simple it is to make this mac and cheese with Velveeta.
Lightly grease the base of your slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
Add all ingredients to a 4–6-quart crock pot, including the uncooked pasta and stir to combine.
Cook on low heat, stirring a couple times, for 1 hour and 45 minutes, or until noodles are cooked to your preference.
Serve in bowls with freshly cracked black pepper.
Hint: Every slow cooker distributes heat a little differently, I find the best way to get the best results, the first time, is to stir the mac n cheese once or twice during the cooking time, to help break up some of the cheese cubes and ensure your pasta is not too al dente.
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How to Store Slow Cooker Velveeta Mac and Cheese
This easy macaroni recipe can be stored to stretch its shelf life.
- Refrigerator: Place cooled pasta in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Conversely, you can store in a prepared casserole dish and cover in plastic wrap.
- Freezer: Some pasta recipes freeze better than others, dairy-heavy dishes tend to be trickier as cheeses can hold a lot of water. However, because the sauce is very thick and creamy that helps. Once fully cooled you can pop it in an airtight container or leave in the casserole dish and double wrap in plastic wrap, and then tinfoil before popping into the freezer.
- Reheating: Reheat any thawed portion in the microwave by adding a little milk to your bowl. Set the microwave on medium power for 2 minutes or until warmed through. In the oven, preheat to 350F, drizzle with some added milk over your thawed pasta and cover your baking dish with tinfoil. Bake for about 30 minutes or until warmed through.
- Make Ahead: This is one of those meals that can be portioned out in the morning and then popped in the slow cooker when you get home. Ready in 2 hours, by the time you've finished up helping with homework and relaxed from a long day, dinner is served!
What to Serve with Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese Velveeta
This slow-cooker mac is great as a main dish, but here are some great ways to spread it out over a large crowd and treat it as a side dish.
- Pork: There are so many varieties of pork that go well with this simple recipe, but here are a few of our favourites: Slow cooker pulled pork, BBQ ribs, pork chops, BBQ pulled pork sliders, or our Hawaiian roll pulled pork sliders. For a simpler option, you can just top it with crispy bacon bits.
- Chilis: Serve a big scoop on top of or alongside either of our stove top chili or pork and beef chili recipes.
- Chicken Dishes: This Velveeta mac pairs well with many types of chicken. We love serving it with fried chicken, our chicken thighs with honey or a simple chicken thigh marinade!
- Green Vegetables: Add a light salad or sautéed green beans to balance out textures and complement the cheese flavor.
Top Tips
Keep these tips in mind for a foolproof, flavorful and creamy slow cooker mac and cheese.
- Freshly Shredded Cheese: Pre-shredded cheese does not melt as well as fresh due to additives they put in the packing to keep the cheese from sticking together. Shred your own for the creamiest sauce.
- Cube the Velveeta: Cutting it into small cubes ensures it melts evenly throughout the mac and cheese without clumping.
- Stir Halfway: Be sure to give the pasta a quick stir around halfway, this keeps the pasta from sticking together and helps evenly distribute the cheese and seasonings.
- Keep the Lid On: Resist the urge to open the lid frequently—slow cookers need that trapped heat to cook the noodles properly.
- Check Early: All slow cookers cook a little differently, so the pasta could be ready sooner than expected. Start checking around the 1.5-hour mark to avoid overcooking.
- Noodle Choices: Mac and cheese is traditionally made using elbow noodles, but any short pasta noodle will do. Other shapes that hold sauce well include small shells, rotini, or cavatappi if you don’t have elbow noodles on hand.
Frequently Asked Questions About Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese Velveeta
Do you have questions about making slow cooker mac and cheese with Velveeta? We can help. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions and answers.
There are a few reasons why it is not recommended. The cheese may not have enough time to fully melt. This can also prevent the pasta from cooking properly. Also, the potential for curdling can occur. A low and slow approach is best.
Short pasta noodles are better at holding the sauce, so they are the preferred choice. Some options are: small shells, rotini, or cavatappi. Alternatively, tube shaped pastas like penne and ziti noodles work well too.
Yes! It is recommended that an uncooked pasta noodle is used as it will cook in the cheese sauce.
You can add pre-cooked mix-ins like ham, bacon, or broccoli. We suggest adding them during the last 20-30 minutes of cooking.
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Slow Cooker Velveeta Mac and Cheese Recipe
Equipment
- Slow Cooker/Crockpot
- Cheese Grater
- Wooden Spoon/Spatula
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
Ingredients
- 650 grams elbow noodles dry (approximately 5 cups)
- 4 cups whole milk
- 16 ounce Velveeta cubed
- 400 grams old white cheddar grated
- 2 sticks butter, unsalted
- ½ tablespoon sea salt
- 2 teaspoons dry mustard
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to your slow cooker. Stir to combine. Cook on low heat for 1 hour and 45 minutes, or until noodles are cooked to your desired doneness, stirring halfway.
- Serve in bowls with freshly cracked black pepper.
Notes
- Pre-shredded cheese does not melt as well as fresh due to additives they put in the packing to keep the cheese from sticking together. Shred your own for the creamiest sauce.
- Cutting it into small cubes ensures it melts evenly throughout the mac and cheese without clumping.
- Be sure to give the pasta a quick stir around halfway, this keeps the pasta from sticking together and helps evenly distribute the cheese and seasonings.
- Resist the urge to open the lid frequently—slow cookers need that trapped heat to cook the noodles properly.
- All slow cookers cook a little differently, so the pasta could be ready sooner than expected. Start checking around the 1.5-hour mark to avoid overcooking.
- Mac and cheese is traditionally made using elbow noodles, but any short pasta noodle will do. Other shapes that hold sauce well include small shells, rotini, or cavatappi if you don’t have elbow noodles on hand.
Nutrition
We would be so grateful for you to leave us a rating and review on any recipes you try. If you make any alterations, let us know how they turned out.
Eva Filer says
Rich and creamy - this recipe is so perfect and easy to make! We love it.
Kelly Robinson says
This was amazing! I doubled the recipe and had enough for 5 meals. Froze well and there was no change to the consistency when thawed and reheated.
Trust the process of the recipe and your slow cooker. I was scared that I had done something wrong but once the ingredients started to melt it all made sense 🤣
Eva Filer says
Oh Kelly, we are so happy you enjoyed it! 🙂 Thank you so much for letting us know that it worked and with a double batch!
Colton says
This mac and cheese recipe is great! It's so rich and creamy, the only problem is there's no leftovers!!
Eva Filer says
Thanks for your feedback Colton. We are so happy you enjoyed this Mac and Cheese!