This crock pot mac and cheese with Velveeta recipe is cheesy and delicious, with such a creamy texture. This comfort food comes together quickly and easily, requiring only 6 ingredients and minimal prep time. It is a great recipe for a holiday meal or for a busy week night. It’ll get devoured by adults and kids alike!
Original post: 2014 | Updated: October 2023 and August 2024
Why This Recipe Works
There are about a million reasons why I adore this crock pot macaroni and cheese recipe made with Velveeta, but I’ll limit my list to just a few:
- You know those meals that can be made for nearly every holiday meal, no matter what time of the year it is? This slow cooker macaroni and cheese is it! I make it for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Fourth of July and so many other occasions in between.
- Dump only 6 ingredients into your slow cooker while saving oven and stove-top space for other recipes.
- It’s such an easy recipe that the whole family will love!
- This slow cooker mac and cheese recipe gets rave reviews without fail, no matter the season or time of year.
- Crockpot Velveeta mac requires very little attention while it cooks.
- It produces the creamiest macaroni and cheese every single time.
- Picky eaters adore this pasta dish!
- This classic recipe is a great family dinner any night of the week as well as the perfect party food for a large crowd.
- Any time your oven is being used (busy holidays) or when you don’t have an oven to use (potlucks) is a great opportunity to make this delicious crockpot recipe.
Recipe Ingredients for Crockpot Macaroni and Cheese
Elbow macaroni – If you opt to use uncooked elbow noodles, please be sure to watch it carefully while it cooks. Nobody likes mushy noodles! When removing the lid to stir the noodles, do this quickly in order to trap as much heat inside as possible.
Milk – Any variety of milk can be used, including whole milk, 2%, 1%, oat milk or almond milk. Replace a portion of the milk with heavy cream for an even creamier end result.
Evaporated milk can be used in place of regular milk when twice the amount is added.
Velveeta – Velveeta is the start of the show in this perfect mac n cheese recipe. Learn more about its shelf life and how long Velveeta lasts after being opened!
Butter – I love the salty flavor that salted butter adds to the already delicious recipe, but unsalted butter is a great option, too.
Shredded sharp cheddar cheese – Shredded sharp cheddar is my favorite variety to add to the mix, but feel free to replace with an equal amount of any of the following:
American cheese, pepper jack, mozzarella, colby jack, cream cheese (this will produce a sweeter homemade macaroni and cheese), provolone, monterey jack or any type of creamy cheese.
Use pre-shredded cheese for ease or shred a block yourself.
Parmesan cheese – Grated parmesan cheese sprinkled over the top adds fantastic flavor and texture! Consider using shredded parmesan instead if you have it on hand.
How To Make Crock Pot Mac and Cheese with Velveeta
Step 1
Add the following ingredients to your 7 quart crock pot to make this Velveeta crockpot mac and cheese:
- Elbow macaroni noodles that have been pre-cooked in a large pot 3 minutes shy of al dente (approximately 5 minutes total)
- Milk
- Velveeta cheese
- Butter
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Parmesan cheese
Step 2
Set the crock pot to low heat and set the cook time to 3 hours. Allow all of those yummy ingredients to cook and melt together!
Give the mixture a stir a couple times throughout with a wooden spoon, and start checking for doneness starting at the 2-hour mark for best results.
Depending on the crockpot, the dish will be done somewhere between 2-3 hours.
My crock pot produces perfect results after 2.5 hours of cooking time and with two good stirs in the middle.
Recipe Notes
- Give the crockpot a good coating of nonstick cooking spray or consider using a slow cooker liner to make cleanup easy peasy.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- This makes a large batch of mac and cheese! It will easily feed 8 hungry people as a main dish or 12 people as a side dish or party food. It is a great dish for pot lucks!
- Consider adding 1/2 cup sour cream to add even more creaminess to the dish.
- Add cooked ham or bacon bits to add flavor and protein when serving as a main dish. This is a great way to use up leftover ham!
- Sprinkle the mixture with salt and freshly ground black pepper just before serving!
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder or onion powder would be great additions to the cheese sauce.
- If you add uncooked dry pasta to the slow cooker without pre-cooking, give the mixture a good stir every 30 minutes or so and keep a close eye out for doneness.
- If the mixture is dry at any point during the cooking process, toss in a splash of milk and stir.
- Pre-shredded cheddar cheese makes the recipe extra easy! For added freshness, consider shredding your own.
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.
How Long Does Mac and Cheese Last
If you have leftovers and you are wondering whether to toss or eat, read this article for information about how long mac and cheese lasts.
How To Reheat Mac and Cheese
Macaroni and cheese leftovers are inevitable since most recipes make huge batches. Learn how to reheat mac n cheese, while retaining moisture and flavor!
Mac and Cheese Recipes for Thanksgiving – 13 Delicious Ideas!
Mac and cheese is a Thanksgiving staple! Read on for some scrumptious mac and cheese recipes for Thanksgiving that you can make this year! You’ll find a ton of options to choose from in this roundup.
Best Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
- Baked mac and cheese bites are a super fun finger food idea to serve to kids and adults.
- Instant Pot mac and cheese is a dream come true! Done in 20 minutes, this side or main dish cooks to absolute perfection every single time!
- Baked mac and cheese is a great holiday side or weekday main dish. Everyone will devour it!
- Add pumpkin to your next batch of mac n cheese so it’s even more delicious and more creamy. This pumpkin mac and cheese recipe is 100% kid-friendly and done in 30 minutes.
- This chili mac recipe is the perfect marriage of two of the most comforting comfort foods of all time. Delicious way to use up leftover chili!
What People Are Saying About This Recipe
“Made this tonight for new years! This is definitely gonna be my go to mac and cheese recipe from now on! Soooooo good!!” ~Leah
“Hi, I made this Mac and cheese. My family loved it !! I cooked my noodles let them cool. Then I followed the old recipe with 4 cups of milk and cream cheese. I used American cheese instead of Velveeta. Next time I want to try pepper jack cheese. I put every thing in my crockpot and mixed it. I covered it and cooked for 30 minutes on high. Then turned down to low for 1 1/2 hours stirring in between. All times vary according to your crockpot. “ ~Connie
“I made the original recipe, doubled the recipe and put in one big crock pot. It was filled to the brim but it did fit. Everyone who ate it LOVED it. Now I get asked to make it for every upcoming occasion. Thanks for sharing this simple, quick and tasty recipe. “ ~Sally
“I made this for a potluck at work and everyone absolutely LOVED it. I never even got to have any because they ate it all. At the second potluck we had, everyone begged me to make it again. I’m not the biggest fan of velveeta so I did switch that out for mozzarella but it’s still a fantastic recipe and it is my go-to Mac n cheese recipe now. “ ~Katie
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Crock Pot Mac and Cheese With Velveeta Recipe
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
- Give the crockpot a good coating of nonstick cooking spray or consider using a slow cooker liner to make cleanup easy peasy.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- This makes a large batch of mac and cheese! It will easily feed 8 hungry people as a main dish or 12 people as a side dish or party food. It is a great dish for pot lucks!
- Consider adding 1/2 cup sour cream to add even more creaminess to the dish.
- Add cooked ham or bacon bits to add flavor and protein when serving as a main dish. This is a great way to use up leftover ham!
- Sprinkle the mixture with salt and freshly ground black pepper just before serving!
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder or onion powder would be great additions to the cheese sauce.
- If you add uncooked dry pasta to the slow cooker without pre-cooking, give the mixture a good stir every 30 minutes or so and keep a close eye out for doneness.
- If the mixture is dry at any point during the cooking process, toss in a splash of milk and stir.
- Pre-shredded cheddar cheese makes the recipe extra easy! For added freshness, consider shredding your own.
HI Megan, I have a 6 qt crock pot. will a double batch be too much?
Hi Monica! A double batch for a 6-qt crockpot might be pushing the limits. I’d recommend a 1-1/2 batch just to be on the safe side. Enjoy!!
Megan
Question on the ORIGINAL recipe (the one with the cream cheese). Do you par-cook the pasta in that one like you do the newer version? Or do you put it in uncooked? Thanks.
Hi Jeannie! For best results, I’d recommend cooking the pasta for just a few minutes first, but it WILL work uncooked! If you go the uncooked route, be diligent about stirring and keep a close eye for signs of doneness. ENJOY!!
Megan
I haven’t tried your recipe yet but it sounds delicious! I normally make my mac n cheese in an electric pressure cooker but my husband knocked it off the counter and just like that my life was over. In the pressure cooker I didn’t really measure anything out but I used cavatappi (cork screw) noodles, heavy whipping cream, a giant glob of butter, half and half, and 2 bags of whatever shredded cheese I had on hand. Would this recipe be ok if I added heavy cream and half and half in place of milk?
First of all, what a HUGE bummer about your pressure cooker! 🙁 Second, mac and cheese in the pressure cooker…BRILLIANT! On my to-do list this week! Thanks so much for sharing that idea. And yes, cream/half and half would be a perfect replacement for milk.
Megan
I thought you weren’t supposed to put dairy in the pressure cooker. I hope I’m wrong as I LOVE my Instant Pot!
I didn’t mean to refer to the Instant Pot. I just meant I wouldn’t recommend doubling this batch in the same crockpot or pan.
I’m not familiar with the Instant Pot (yet!) for cooking many things.
Thanks for posting this, I am making several freezer meals for my college junior so he has at least one home cooked meal a week this semester. We mixed all of the cheeses and macaroni together, poured the milk evening over and baked it in five mini loaf pans so all he needs to do is pull a pan out of the freezer and re-bake for about 30 minutes….his own Stouffer’s thanks to your great recipe!! Chad’s Mom
Hi Chad’s mom! What a great idea! I love this. Chad’s a lucky guy!
Megan
I’m trying this for my daughter today, while she works. She recently had a kitchen fire which destroyed the stove. So while she’s at work I am boiling the macaroni and preparing everything in the Crock-Pot for her. Thank you for sharing your recipe I will let you know how everyone liked it, but by the picture I’m sure everyone will.
Haven’t tried your versions yet, but just wanted to say, when I make my homemade mac-n-cheese on the stovetop, I use a can of Campbell’s Cheddar Cheese Soup (it makes it extra creamy), and then add extra shredded cheeses (usually whatever is in the fridge). I am definitely going to try something with it in the crockpot now.
Hi Joyce! I LOVE the addition of cheddar cheese soup. Why haven’t I thought of that?! Adding this next time!!
Megan
When adding the Cambell’s Cheddar Cheese soup, would you substitute that for the some of the milk or add plus all other ingredients?
Hi Elizabeth! Great idea adding cheddar cheese soup! I’d use around half of the milk called for in the recipe in addition to the soup. Let me know how it turns out!
Megan
I have enjoyed reading all these comments and it is very helpful for me to figure out which recipe I will prefer. I especially like the additional seasoning ideas. I will probably try on stove top first and then try the crockpot when I have the taste down pat. Always try stuff BEFORE Thanksgiving!
"Always wing Thanksgiving" is my motto, ha! But your way is FAR safer and I love that you are testing things out beforehand. Please let me know what your favorite is and how it goes on stovetop AND crockpot! ENJOY!
Megan
This was very good. I used the new revised recipe with cream cheese instead of valveeta. It was as good if not better than the baked mac and cheese I have baked in the oven.
I am going to try this recipe. I like to cook and try new recipes. My husband is retired and we are newlyweds. We want to travel. I would love to visit Ireland or Australia. However that takes money. Lol
I love this recipe…so yummy and easy! Thanks for posting it! I was wondering how you would go about freezing the ingredients to throw in the crockpot at a later date? Thank you!
Hi Samantha! So happy you love this recipe. I’ve never tried freezing it since it’s so quick and easy to throw together last-minute. Once it’s cooked through you can try freezing, but pasta can taste mushy after freezing. Let me know what you try!
Megan
I want to make 2 batches. Will 2 fit in a large crockpot?
Hi Jayme! A double batch will fit snugly in a 6.5-quart or larger crockpot. Hope this helps!
Megan
Wanted to have this ready when I get home on Saturday. Does it have to be stirred while cooking???
Hi Terri! This recipe definitely requires stirring throughout. How long will you be away from home? I’d suggest leaving it for no more than 1.5 hours without stirring.
Megan
I usually bake my mac n cheese today would be my 1st time doing it in crockpot. I usually use 2 eggs. Is the eggs only used for baking to make it rise? I’m trying to see if i put eggs in the crockpot
Find it disappointing that the recipe calls for velvet when the picture does not show that as an ingredient. What is the truth?
Hi Gaffer! The photo toward the bottom is of the original recipe. The recipe within the grey box is the updated version. Hope this helps!
Megan
Do you think I could replace the Velveeta with sour cream? Or maybe sour cream + another kind of cheese…
Sour cream would be a great addition! I’d maybe combine it with another type of cheese instead of completely replacing the Velveeta with it. Sounds yummy!
Megan
Thank you for the response! 🙂
Can I substitute the velvetta with more shred cheese?
Yes, you can definitely substitute velveeta with extra shredded cheddar but it won’t be quite as creamy. It’ll still taste great!
Megan
My daughter made your crockpot mac and cheese for Christmas dinner. OMG. I couldnt get enough of it! I forgot there was turkey, ham, etc. Love this dish! thank you
hmmmm sounds good can’t wait to try this
I noticed that the picture has ingredients that are NOT in the recipe.
Hi Jan! You are probably looking at the photo of the original recipe. The updated recipe is correct as written in the grey box. I hope this helps!
Megan
Does anyone know how to read? ? I am seeing TONS of these comments… that is the OLD recipe for crying out loud.
Hi! Does anyone happen to know f two batches this will fit in an average size crockpot? Also, has anyone made this as a side for about 60 people? How many batches did you make?
Hi Rachel! I haven’t ever tried squeezing two batches into one crockpot, but you could do 1 1/2 in a 6.5-quart slow cooker for sure. As far as servings go, I made one batch as a side at Thanksgiving for 18 people and it was the perfect amount. I hope this helps! ENJOY!
Megan