This crock pot mac and cheese with Velveeta is one of those recipes I’ve made so many times I could probably make it in my sleep. It never fails me. My oldest son asks for it constantly and could probably eat the entire batch himself. It’s ultra creamy, ridiculously easy and always disappears fast whether I’m making it for a holiday gathering, potluck or easy dinner at home. With just 6 simple ingredients and minimal prep, this is the kind of comfort food recipe people come back to again and again.
Original post: 2014 | Updated: October 2023 and May 2026
Why This Recipe Works
There are plenty of reasons I come back to this crock pot mac and cheese with Velveeta again and again, but here are the biggest ones:
- Ultra creamy and cheesy every single time
- Made with just 6 simple ingredients
- Requires almost no prep or hands-on time
- Frees up valuable oven and stovetop space during busy holidays
- Always gets rave reviews from both kids and adults
- Perfect for potlucks, parties, holidays or easy weeknight dinners
Velveeta is the secret to the smoothest, creamiest texture every single time.
This is one of those dependable comfort food recipes that works for nearly every occasion. Whether I’m making it for Thanksgiving, a summer gathering or a random Tuesday night dinner, it always disappears fast.
If you love cozy comfort food recipes, you’ll also want to try my chili recipe.
Recipe Ingredients for Crockpot Macaroni and Cheese
Elbow macaroni
Watch the noodles carefully as they cook to avoid mushy pasta. When stirring, replace the lid quickly to keep as much heat inside as possible.
Milk
Whole milk creates the creamiest texture, but 2%, 1%, oat milk or almond milk all work well. For an even richer result, replace part of the milk with heavy cream.
Evaporated milk can also be used for extra creaminess.
Velveeta
Velveeta is the secret to the ultra smooth, creamy texture in this recipe.
Butter
Salted butter adds great flavor, but unsalted butter works just as well.
Sharp cheddar cheese
Sharp cheddar adds the best flavor, but you can easily swap in mozzarella, pepper jack, colby jack, Monterey Jack or another creamy cheese. Freshly shredded cheese melts more smoothly, but pre-shredded works great for convenience.
Parmesan cheese
A sprinkle of parmesan on top adds extra flavor and texture.
How To Make Crock Pot Mac and Cheese with Velveeta
- Add ingredients to the slow cooker
Add cooked elbow macaroni, milk, Velveeta, butter, shredded cheddar and parmesan cheese to a 7-quart crock pot.
- Cook on low
Cover and cook on low for 2 to 3 hours, until creamy and fully melted. - Stir occasionally
Stir the macaroni and cheese a couple of times throughout cooking for the creamiest texture. Start checking for doneness around the 2-hour mark, since slow cookers can vary.
Avoid overcooking, since the pasta will continue softening as it sits.
Recipe Notes
- Coat the slow cooker with nonstick spray or use a liner for easier cleanup.
- This recipe makes a large batch and is perfect for potlucks, holidays or feeding a crowd.
- This mac and cheese thickens as it sits, so serve it warm for the creamiest texture.
- Add a splash of milk if the macaroni and cheese becomes too thick while cooking.
- Stirring occasionally helps create the creamiest texture.
- Add sour cream for an even richer, creamier result.
- Ham or bacon make great additions if serving as a main dish.
- Garlic powder or onion powder add extra flavor to the cheese sauce.
- Pre-shredded cheddar works great for convenience, but freshly shredded melts more smoothly.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Substitute For Milk in Mac and Cheese
Whether you are looking for a different flavor in your next creamy macaroni dish or you just don’t have milk on hand, learn replacements for milk in macaroni and cheese!
What To Serve With Mac and Cheese
Mac cheese is the perfect comfort food! But what goes with it?! This roundup provides 16 delicious ideas about what to serve alongside mac and cheese to create a complete, satisfying meal!
What To Do With Mac and Cheese Leftovers
Delivering you a massive list of 41 ideas for leftover cheesy mac! Whether you have an abundance of leftovers or just want new things to do with this classic comfort food, we’ve got your back.
Crockpot Mac and Cheese FAQ
Yes. Heavy cream, evaporated milk, oat milk or almond milk can all work well depending on the flavor and texture you prefer.
Stir occasionally while cooking and add a splash of milk if the macaroni and cheese becomes too thick.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of milk to help restore creaminess.
Mac and cheese pairs perfectly with barbecue, ham, chicken, vegetables, salad or dinner rolls.
Use leftovers for fried mac and cheese bites, casseroles or loaded bowls topped with bacon or pulled pork.
More Comfort Food Recipes You’ll Love
If you love easy, cozy comfort food recipes like this crock pot mac and cheese with Velveeta, here are a few more favorites to try:
What People Are Saying About This Recipe
“This is definitely going to be my go-to mac and cheese recipe from now on. Soooooo good!”
— Leah“Everyone who ate it LOVED it. Now I get asked to make it for every upcoming occasion.”
— Sally“I made this for a potluck at work and everyone absolutely loved it. It’s my go-to mac and cheese recipe now.”
— Katie
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Crock Pot Mac and Cheese With Velveeta
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 oz elbow macaroni
- 3 cups milk
- 8 oz velveeta cut into chunks
- 1/4 cup salted butter cut into chunks
- 3 cups cheddar cheese shredded
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
Instructions
- Cook pasta in boiling water 3 minutes short of being al dente.16 oz elbow macaroni
- Place the cooked macaroni, milk, Velveeta, butter and cheddar cheese into a crockpot. Stir and top with Parmesan cheese.3 cups milk, 8 oz velveeta, 1/4 cup salted butter, 3 cups cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- Set heat to Low and cook for 2 to 3 hours. Stir occasionally and check for doneness starting at the 2-hour mark.
Video
Notes
-
- Stir occasionally while cooking for the creamiest texture.
- Add a splash of milk if the macaroni and cheese thickens too much.
- Velveeta creates the smoothest, creamiest texture in this recipe.
- This recipe makes a large batch and is perfect for potlucks or holidays.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
Megan Porta is a comfort food recipe creator who specializes in easy family meals and Instant Pot desserts, and the founder of Pip and Ebby. She has been cooking for three decades and developing recipes for over fifteen years, helping home cooks make reliable, cozy recipes for real life.
I would go back to London, learn more about the city & it's history so I'd know what I was looking at.
I hadn't done that when I was there before so didn't really understand what I was seeing.
Then I'd stay away from the tours but would would hire a personal guide and go through the city.
Then I'd rent a car and drive all over England, Wales, and Scotland, visiting with the locals and seeing the local sights. When I was there on a brief tour I was very impressed with Scotland -England is tame, Scotland is rugged.
Lovely country.
I am looking forward to trying out this recipe. It does sound perfect for those busy spring soccer, swim meets, and dance practice/recital days!
Actually, I have no desire to leave my country or even my state! There are so many places to visit in West Virginia, that I will run out of years before I run out of places! lol
Absolutely love this recipe! Making it for my family tonight as a matter of fact! If I could go anywhere in the world I'd take my brother, sister, and mom to Scotland because that is our homeland. I'm only 17 so I haven't quite made a vacation budget yet but soon I will! It'd be amazing to see where our ancestors grew up and the castle my great great grandparents lived in. (The Brodie Castle)
I would travel to Ireland that is my husband dream vacation because it is his heritage
Made this, awesomeness in a crockpot!!! I will say, mine was completely done in 1:40 minutes. I used jumbo elbow macaroni. I had to make it twice this week due to demand!
If I could travel anywhere it would be back to NC. Moved back to SD, home state, in 2011 with my youngest son staying. Now he is a proud papa of a 9 mo old son. Have only seen my grandson 1 time at 2 mo. Long ways to travel very often. That's where I would like to travel.
I have made the original recipe twice now but with a few tweaks and have loved it!!! My family always begs for more! For those that say the evaporated milk makes it taste too sweet, try replacing it with sour cream, I do that and it gives it a much better taste and evens it out amazingly well. I also add a few pats of butter(usually about 5 or 6)and a few different kinds of cheese(because who can ever get enough of cheese right?). I do add a touch more milk if I am adding a lot of extra cheese to keep it from getting too terribly thick but all in all it turns out great!!! For the cream cheese I do believe I used a bit over 12 oz for my recipe. You don't even taste the sour cream in the Mac and cheese once it's done 🙂
As for travelling, I live in northern New York. Not Syracuse or Albany, I live in TRUE northern NY(Massena to be precise lol) where I can practically spit across the Can-Am border as we call it. So I make regular jaunts to Canada to go shopping or just to hang out at the bars or go to museums. Their museum of natural history in Montreal is mindblowing!!!!! I have been to and/lived in Massachusetts, Arizona, Illinois, California(Born there), Georgia, Maryland, Florida, South Carolina, Nevada(Viva Las Vegas!!), Michigan, Texas, and Missouri 🙂 I may have forgotten a few since I was younger and I don't know.if Washington D.C. counts separately haha
As for where I WANT to go, I would LOVE to visit Greece, England(I have friends there I want to meet!), or Austrailia(again friends I want to meet there too!)
I think if I could go anywhere in the world I would really like to stay in the United States of America and go to Flordia to visit my mother. My mother was told she was dying and I would really love to see her one more time. I haven't seen her in 5 years.
I'd love to go to Ireland because it's beautiful country! I'd love to see their landscape and enjoy their culture. I love the movie "Quiet Man" with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. It was a great movie and it was filmed in Ireland and was beautiful.
I would love to go to Ireland….I love everything about Ireland. …especially their accents it drives me crazy
What the heck do theses comments have to do with the macaroni? Really……try it for God sake….mm it's actually pretty good!
I would love to go Ireland, England, Australia, Hawaii and Alaska.
If I had to pick one place it would be Alaska. It's probably the last
of the frontier. It looks so beautiful.
I need it to cook longer. Can I just put the noodles in without cooking them?
The place in the world that I would most like to travel to would be Ireland. My ancestors (Carroll) came from County Offaly in Ireland. I have purchased books and read about and viewed many pictures of Ireland. Rich in history, STUNNING to the eyes!
WANT TO GO TO BELIZE, HAWAII AND AUSTRALIA…..NOT NECESSARILY IN THAT ORDER!
I would love to go to Italy and be able to see the town where my great grandparents are from. I also want to go to Ireland and the UK.
This recipe looks so good. My husband will love it as will I. There are so many places I would like to see. I think I would like to visit Greece. The history and beauty are so intriguing and the food. Oh my goodness, the food. [email protected]
I have 12 States left to see: Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Alaska, Connecticut. Plus Canada, Mexico and Ecuador (loved the mountains ). Want to also see Norway, New Zealand and Great Britain.
Hello! In regresa to The crock pot Mac-n-cheese recipe, can I substitute the velveeta for actual cheddar? Not a velveeta fan.
Now, in regards to vacation spots, Phuket is a great family spot for us. Also, south of France, coast of Italy and Istanbul are amazing places.
My soul will not be settled until I walk El Camino de Santiago in Spain, starts in France. Someday. Soon.