Paula Deen's Mac and Cheese recipe is one of my favorite recipes for mac and cheese. When you bite into the mac and cheese you get bites of melted gooey cheddar surrounding creamy cheesy noodles.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
For the beginning of this recipe there is a lot of stirring involved. Once you combine the cheese sauce with the noodles you could actually serve it right there. I think the crock pot is just used to keep the cheese sauce warm and or heat it up more.
This recipe can be made all year long. Not just for Holidays. I like to add some cut-up hot dogs to this or some cheddar wursts. Use your air fryer and cook them at 350 for 5 to 7 minutes. Then slice them up and throw it in there.
Air fry some breaded chicken patties and cut them up to add on top of the mac and cheese. Then drizzle some buffalo sauce over it. It's delicious. 🙂
Looking for more easy cheesy appetizer recipes? Try out Paula Deen's Corn Casserole, Paula Deen's Corn Salad with Fritos, Banana Pudding Cake (Not Yo Mama's) Crock Pot Potato Soup, Cheesy Hash Brown and Potato Casserole or Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes.
Ingredients Needed for Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
- Uncooked elbow macaroni - I also like using cavatappi noodles with this recipe.
- Butter - always use unsalted butter to control the salt
- Sharp cheddar cheese - If you really want to be spontaneous try a mix of different cheese like Asiago or White Cheddar
- Large eggs - a lot of people have better results omitting the eggs in the recipe. Check out the comments below. If not made properly the eggs might scramble.
- Sour cream - light sour cream or regular and be used
- Condensed cheddar cheese soup
- Salt - Kosher
- Whole milk - 2% or skim milk also works
- Dry mustard - grounded
- Black pepper - grounded
- See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How to Make Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
Step 1: Boil the macaroni in water for six minutes. Drain and set aside in a crock pot.
Step 2: In a medium saucepan over medium heat add the butter and cheese. Stir until the cheese melts. Slowly incorporate the sour cream, cheddar soup, milk, and spices. Remove from heat and let it cool down a bit. About 3 - 5 minutes.
Step 3: Whisk the eggs together in a bowl and slowly start incorporating them into the cheese sauce.
Step 4: In a slow cooker, combine the cheese mixture and noodles.
Cook on low for 2 ½ hours, stirring occasionally
Crock Pot Mac and Cheese Tips
Make this mac and cheese fancy by adding some lobster to it. Try Lobster Mac and Cheese or make Alton Brown Stovetop Mac and Cheese.
Paula Deen adds in the whisked eggs when all the other ingredients are slowly starting to warm up so that the eggs don't scramble. You can however do all that in a sauce pan like step 2 says.
This is a very popular recipe that is made a lot for Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you're wondering what else to serve this with I have ideas below.
This is not a slow cooker recipe you can leave sitting in the pot for 6 hours. The whole entire recipe is made in less than 3 hours. Probably even 2 hours depending how hot your slow cooker gets. It's a great dish to make on the weekend and not during the weekday when you know you are home.
What to serve Crock Pot Mac and Cheese?
People love to make this recipe as a side dish on Christmas or Thanksgiving.
For a protein, I would also make her Pepper Jelly Glazed Ham recipe which I also love or maybe serve it with Alton Brown's City Ham.
I'd make smoked asparagus, twice baked potatoes, or bacon-wrapped green beans for some vegetable options.
Recipe FAQs
No you do not, if you are worried about the eggs scrambling in the crock pot or slow cooker leave them out.
This depends on how much liquid is in the crock pot that the recipe calls for. I think it is just easier to cook the noodles in a sauce pan prior to making this recipe.
Make ahead by prepping all the noodles and cheese sauce and let it cool down before adding it to a slow cooker. Cover and put in the refrigerator over night. Heat the macorani and cheese 1 to 2 hours in the slow cooker before ready to start serving.
Other Crock Pot Recipes
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Paula Deen's Crockpot Mac and Cheese
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 2 ½ hrs
- Total Time: 29 minute
- Yield: 8
- Category: Medium
- Method: Crock Pot
- Cuisine: American
Description
Paula Deen's Mac and Cheese recipe is one of my favorite recipes for mac and cheese. When you bite into the mac and cheese you get bites of melted gooey cheddar surrounding creamy cheesy noodles.
Ingredients
- 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 ½ cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 3 eggs (optional)
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 (10 ¾ ounce) can condensed cheddar cheese soup
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Boil the macaroni in water for six minutes. Drain.
- In a medium saucepan, mix butter and cheese. Stir until the cheese melts.
- In slow cooker, combine cheese mixture and add the eggs (I omitted the eggs), sour cream, soup, salt, milk, mustard and pepper. Add the drained macaroni and stir again.
- Cook on low for 2 ½ hours, stirring occasionally.
Notes
My WW Personal Points: 12 Click here to see in recipe builder (will have to log in)
If you are planning on serving this at a party plan on heating the crock pot up 1 to 2 hours before serving.
Adding the eggs isn't necessary but to stop them from scrambling in the crock pot you need to add them into the cheese mixture when its warm and not really hot.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 392
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 676mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 16g
Tarainga says
I also omit the egg and I actually don’t use the slow cooker. I make the pasta as directed and mix all the other ingredients (sans eggs) in a saucepan to make the cheese sauce. I mix the pasta on and put into a baking dish, top It with cheese and bake it for about 20 min. It’s amazing.
Dawn Black says
I have made this recipe for years. Never add the eggs as some are allergic, don't miss them and can't imagine what they add as this is soo good without them.
Also I make this everytime we go camping. I pre cook the macaroni only until slightly soft with a hint of stiffness because they cook more later. Usual cook time for elbow macaroni is 9 to 11 minutes, I only cook them about 7 minutes. If you cook them all the way then the end result will be mushy as they finish cooking in the crock pot.
I just add the remaining ingredients minus the eggs to my crock pot and cook for about 3 hours, stirring it in between. Never had a fail yet! Huge hit, soo easy!!! I personally don't add the Mustard either due to another family members allergy and we don't miss that either!! I have been asked to make this dish over and over and have been asked for this recipe so many times I can't count!! Enjoy!!!
Helen says
I lovvve this recipe, and use it all the time. I like to use the whole box of elbows so I add another can of soup and more sour cream and it turns out great every time, so versatile.
Lisa says
Fabulous recipe I always double! Completely agree with omitting the eggs and not melting anything on the stove! I just cut up the butter into small pieces. While the pasta cooks for exactly 6 min, I mix everything else in a bowl. Return cooked, drained pasta to warm pot, pour cheese mixture over top and gently stir before transferring to a lined crockpot. The liner makes clean up a breeze! No additional cooking time needed for a double or triple recipe.
Barbara says
This always goes over great at pot licks. Especially where there are a lot of children and teens. I have made it many times. It is very good.
Tracy says
Fool proof recipe. Even reheats well.
Angela says
My grand children love this. Every time they visit they beg me to make the crock pot Mac and cheese
Penny griffin says
I make this for Holidays get togethers everyone loves it !! Always have to double because there is never enough then sometimes not then . Love all the short cut tips from others and will maybe try without the eggs ?
Tammy says
Can you make this in the oven to feed about 80 people?
Eva Setser says
Yes we freeze when need be, but it be wet last that long to freeze