3 Cheese Mac and Cheese (in Crock Pot)

If you love cheesy pasta, our crock pot recipe for 3 Cheese Mac and Cheese is calling you! The sauce includes cream cheese, for the creamiest, cheesiest dinner ever! This meal will definitely fuel any comfort food craving.

Spoon in a green bowl of 3 cheese mac and cheese with a Hamilton Beach crock pot in the background.

Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food dish that never goes out of style. But, if you have a busy schedule, you may not have time to stand over the stove to make a classic mac and cheese recipe.

This slow cooker recipe is the perfect solution for you, and it’s so simple to make!

Why We Love 3 Cheese Mac and Cheese

Ultra cheesy comfort food.
Using a variety of three cheeses creates extra flavor and a creamier texture. If you have never tried mac n cheese with cream cheese, prepare to be wowed!
Great dinner solution for busy families.
Making macaroni and cheese the traditional way can be a bit time-consuming. That’s where this crockpot mac and cheese recipe comes in handy.

Our recipe for Instant Pot chili mac and cheese is a quick dinner solution, but you still have to stay in the kitchen to make it.

With this slow cooker recipe, you can make a classic dish without spending hours in the kitchen.
Freezes well and reheats quickly for easy meal prep.

Serving of cheesy pasta in a green bowl.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Pasta
We like to use elbow macaroni for a traditional mac n cheese. Any small pasta shape such as rotini, shells, or ziti are great substitute for elbow mac.
Evaporated milk
Don’t confuse this ingredient with condensed milk, which is milk that’s been boiled down and sweetened. Evaporated milk is highly concentrated, shelf-stable cow’s milk.

Evaporated milk adds a creamy and rich flavor to this dish. It also helps to thicken the sauce and prevents it from separating.

The best substitutes for evaporated milk are Half and Half, or to cook down regular dairy milk for homemade evaporated milk. *See our Recipe Notes section below for instructions on how to make your own evaporated milk.
Cream cheese
Using full fat cream cheese creates the creamiest cheese sauce, but light cream cheese will also work. Avoid using fat free cream cheese.
Cheeses –
For our 3 cheese mac and cheese, we use the cream cheese, plus a blend of cheddar cheese and either Monterey Jack or Gruyere.
Dry mustard –
This spice is made by grinding mustard seeds. It can be found in the spice aisle of the grocery store.

Stone ground mustard or yellow mustard can be used as a substitute for dry mustard.

ingredients in glass bowls for Crock Pot Mac and Cheese.

Mac n Cheese Recipe Variations

Make it spicy. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the mix for a little heat.

If you like extra spicy pasta, you might enjoy our recipe for Instant Pot Chili Mac with Cheese.
Make it extra cheesy.
We make crock pot mac and cheese with cream cheese, plus two other cheeses. But if you want it cheesier, add an extra 1/2 cup of cheese to the top.
Add veggies.
Mix in some chopped broccoli, frozen peas, or spinach for an extra nutritional boost.
Use different cheeses.
Gruyere and cheddar are delicious, but you can use nearly any type of cheese that melts well. Great options include Colby Jack, Swiss, Provolone, American, or even Velveeta.

How to Make Evaporated Milk

To make your own evaporated milk, add 5 cups of whole or 2% dairy or non-dairy milk to a saucepan.
Bring the milk to a simmer over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium.
Gently cook/reduce until 3 cups of milk is left in the saucepan. Allow the mixture to cool before using.

rECIPE FAq

Is it better to make mac and cheese with milk or water?

Milk will make the sauce creamier, while water will thin it out. We use a mixture of evaporated milk and water for the perfect crock pot mac n cheese sauce.

How do I fix grainy mac and cheese?

If your crockpot mac and cheese is grainy, it is likely due to the cheese not melting completely. It is also possible that it cooked for too long, causing the sauce to separate.

To fix either of these problems, turn the crock pot to LOW heat and stir gently to recombine the sauce and/or help the cheese to melt completely.

Kitchen Tools Needed

Crock Pot or other brand of slow cooker

Mixing Bowl Set (Glass)

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Tips for making Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

Oil the crockpot, or use a slow cooker liner.
Spraying the insides of the slow cooker crock with cooking spray helps to prevent the macaroni and cheese from sticking. Another option is to use a slow cooker liner.

The bonus of using a liner is that in most cases, you won’t even need to wash the crockpot! After removing the mac n cheese from the pot, remove the liner and throw it away.

Cut the cheeses into small cubes or shred on a box grater.
This will help the cream cheese and other cheeses to melt completely.
Be sure to use hot (preferably boiling) water.
If you add cold water to the slow cooker, your pasta may be slightly undercooked.

hot water and elbow macaroni in a slow cooker

Stir after the first hour of cook time, if possible.
Stirring helps to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the crock pot. It will be fine if you aren’t home or able to stir it.

making mac and cheese with cream cheese in a slow cooker

Test the pasta for doneness.
After two hours of slow cooking time on HIGH power, the macaroni should be cooked completely.

stirring pasta after 1 hour of slow cooking.

If the pasta is still chewy, place the cover back on the slow cooker and continue cooking your mac and cheese on LOW power for 30 more minutes.

using a wooden spoon to stir 3 cheese mac and cheese in a crock pot.

Serving Suggestions

This dish is best served warm, straight from the slow cooker. Serve it as a main dish or a side dish.

It pairs well with just about anything, but we especially love it with ham (use your leftover holiday ham or chicken).

To serve macaroni n cheese as a side dish, we recommend our baked chicken tenderloins, cast iron skillet chicken, or oven-roasted turkey tenderloin as easy entrée ideas.

serving spoon in a pot full of cheesy pasta

Storing and Reheating

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

To reheat, cook it at 50% power in the microwave until warm. You can also reheat it in the Crock Pot on low for 30 minutes, or in a sauce pan on the stovetop over medium heat.

Freezing 3 Cheese Mac and Cheese

This meal holds up really well in the freezer, so it’s perfect for making quick and easy meals. Just thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating. However, the pasta may be a little bit mushy after being frozen and reheated.