Crock Pot Mac and Cheese with Velveeta (2024)

This crock pot mac and cheese with Velveeta is cheesy and delicious, with such a creamy texture. This comfort food comes together quickly and easily, requiring only 6 ingredients and minimal effort. 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

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 that fall in between.
• Dump only 6 ingredients into your slow cooker while saving oven and stove-top space for other recipes.
• 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.
• This classic recipe is a great family dinner any night of the week as well as the perfect party food for a larger gathering.
• 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 fantastic recipe.

Recipe Ingredients

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 so 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 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 recipe, but unsalted is a great option, as well.

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.

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
• 8 ounces Velveeta cheese, cut into chunks
• Butter, cut in pieces
• 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• Parmesan grated 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

• 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.
• Sprinkle the mixture with salt and freshly ground black pepper just before serving!
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder would be a great addition to the cheese sauce.
• If you add uncooked 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!
• Pre-shredded cheddar cheese is 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 pasta 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 bitesare 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!

Comfort Food Recipes

• This easy crab soup recipe requires only 5 ingredients and it is done in less than 30 minutes!
• Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole is a delicious combination of the tastiest flavors you will ever eat in a single bite.
• This is the best meatloaf recipe with crackers you’ll ever eat and it is such an easy classic dish. It’ll quickly become a favorite family meal!
• Runza Casserole is inspired by a world-famous sandwich made with ground beef and cabbage. This is a filling, delicious and affordable way to feed an entire family!

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

Will you help add value to Pip and Ebby?
If you make this recipe and love it, stop back and give it a 5-star rating⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a comment. THANK YOU!