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
Ann Marie Desmarais says
This is so creamy and delicious!!I use only one egg and a bit more cheese. Super good!!
Deena says
This is THE best homemade Mac and Cheese recipe I have ever had! Perfect everytime!!
Dawn says
Can this be made the day before you're serving it? How does it heat up the next day?
Gina says
I made this with o my two eggs. It wasn’t quite cheesy enough for me, so I added a small jar of cheese whiz! It turned out amazing!!!
Jenna says
Hi Deb, I have never tried freezing this before. If anyone else has let me know if it's still good.
Debbie E. says
Does this recipe freeze easy?
Christina says
I've made this recipe many times, and have always left out the eggs. For my son's graduation party my crockpot sadly died. I used all of the ingredients, but put them in casserole dishes (I think I tripled the recipe because we had a large crowd). I topped it with more shredded cheddar before sliding the pans into the oven. Totally different texture, but just as delicious.
Madison says
Can I double the recipe and it still fit in a large crock pot? I am attending a pot luck with close to 100 people and want to make as much as I can in one crock pot.
I made this recipe for Christmas last year and loved it. I just don’t remember how much it made.
Carrie says
I love this Paula Dean recipie and it is always a big hit! I also don’t include the eggs and we love it!
April Imm says
I love this recipe, I always use the eggs, and also dont melt the cheeses, I also use a little velveeta cheese, makes it so creamy. I always get request for me to make this from family and friends. It always turns out perfect!