Name: 3 Cheese Crockpot Mac and Cheese
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 2 h
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, melted; 2 cups dry macaroni; 1 can evaporated milk; 1 1/2 cup whole milk; 6 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded; 8 ounces Mozzarella cheese, shredded; 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, shredded; 1 cup heavy cream; 1/2 cup sour cream; 1 tsp salt; 1 tsp black pepper; 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

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3 Cheese Crockpot Mac and Cheese is the easiest way to whip up this popular comfort food. The perfect side dish or meal, it takes only 5 minutes to prep! Your slow cooker does the rest of the work.

crockpot cooker mac and cheese in a bowl

For most people, mac and cheese is a favorite dish. Whether you grew up eating the boxed mac and cheese, or only like the made from scratch kind, it’s rare to find someone who doesn’t have a type they love.

Slow cooker mac and cheese has become one of our family’s favorite ways to make this delicious side dish with minimal effort. It’s basically a dump meal that requires just a few minutes of prep. The slow cooker does the rest!

Three cheese mac and cheese is perfect for a busy weeknight side dish, a soothing comfort dish when you want to eat your feelings, or perfect for the holidays or a potluck. The recipe is easy to double, and also helps to save oven space if you’re cooking for Thanksgiving dinner.

Picky kid approved, serve it with your Thanksgiving turkey and Christmas ham. It also makes a great base for loaded mac and cheese bowls!

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Three Cheese Crockpot Mac and Cheese Ingredients

To make this slow cooker side dish, you’ll need a few simple ingredients (and remember that you can scroll to the end of the post for the recipe card with the full measurements and steps in a printer-friendly form, too):

Dry macaroni pasta
Melted butter
Evaporated milk
Whole milk
Heavy cream
Sour cream
Shredded cheddar cheese
Shredded mozzarella cheese
Shredded Parmesan cheese
Salt
Black pepper
Cayenne pepper

slow cooker mac and cheese in a white bowl

How to Make 3 Cheese Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

You’ll love how easy it is to make this three cheese mac and cheese recipe in the crockpot!

Pour the melted butter into the crockpot and add the macaroni, stirring well to completely coat the pasta.

Add the evaporated milk, whole milk, heavy cream and sour cream along with the spices. Stir well to combine before adding all of the cheese. Stir again.

Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes.

Serve hot and enjoy!

cooked mac and cheese in the slow cooker

If you have leftovers, allow the mac and cheese to cool down to room temperature first before transferring to an airtight container or individual food storage containers. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Tips for the Best Three Cheese Crockpot Mac and Cheese

Want to speed up the prep process? You can mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl except for the dry pasta and butter, and store in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to start the slow cooker, just dump it in after you have mixed the pasta and butter together. Be sure to mix well.

Be sure to refrigerate the leftover mac and cheese within two hours of cooking as this is a dairy-based dish.

Cook time might vary as slow cookers can vary. If you’re concerned your crockpot mac and cheese might cook faster, check on it after an hour and half. If you find it’s cooked enough, just turn your slow cooker to warm if it’s done.

On the flip side, if you find that your mac and cheese isn’t creamy enough, add more whole milk or heavy cream and mix well.

To reheat crockpot mac and cheese on the stovetop, heat a serving in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir frequently until heated through. This method allows for better temperature control and even heating, as well as less of a risk of the cheese separating as it reheats.

Leftovers can also be reheated in the microwave. Transfer the desired amount of mac and cheese to a microwave-safe dish. Heat it in the microwave on medium power for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until heated through. Continue in 30-second intervals as needed.

More Holiday Recipes

Classic White Russian Recipe

White Chocolate Christmas Popcorn (Christmas Crunch)

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