If you need a dish to throw together for a family meal, potluck or
special event...this is the one!
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I teased about this recipe on social media a couple times last week and it was hit with a flood of emotions.
Holy cheese!
Cheese, much?
I want this, NOW!
It became certain that people are either a cheese lover or hater. Obviously I am a cheese lover. Always have been, always will be.
Dear Lord, please don't ever let me become lactose intolerant.
Even though I made this last week, yesterday I wanted to make it again and dive head first into the crock pot with just a fork in tow.
I'm about up to my ears with sickness in this house and after Day 7 of the little one having a fever, snotty nose and temperament of a raging lion, I wanted to take a crock pot of this cheesy goodness and just hide in a closet.
As she was laying on my chest yesterday, twisting around, being restless, my mind was escaping to my pantry thinking if I had the ingredients for another batch. Then I thought of how I could possibly throw the darn dish together with her pulling on my leg the whole time wanting to be held.
In the end I had a boring cheese quesadilla for dinner while the husband worked late. Boring!
Let me just say, if you've had a bad day this is the dish for you. You can drain your sorrows in the cheese. Yesterday I wanted this dish as bad as I wanted a new van last month {I got that, by the way}.
With count them, 4 CHEESES, plus other artery clogging ingredients, I think it is safe to say that any macaroni and cheese lovers in your house will faint and collapse for this one.
And guess what? It just takes a measly two hours in the crock pot! I know, you are thinking, why use the crock pot for a dish that isn't an all day set-it-and-forget-it dish? Well, sometimes you just need something different.
Throw everything together after the kids wake up from nap and it will be ready for dinner. Put it all in for a family gathering or potluck shortly before you leave. Plug it in in the morning before work, set the timer on one of those fancy dancy crock pots {I need one} and it can be checked on by the kids or husband, whomever gets home first.
And if you don't have one of those fancy crock pots, HERE is the one I use faithfully, the Cook'N Carry 6 Quart Crock-Pot. It's awesome and has never failed me.
The creaminess of this macaroni and cheese is top notch. I mean, really how could it not be? My kids went bonkers when I served it to them and I silently prayed that they would stop eating so much of it so we'd have extra leftovers the next day.
We did.
Thank god.
We ate it for lunch again the following day and it tasted fabulous, reheating up really well. Have I convinced you to give this a try?
One pointer. Do not forget about this dish in the crock pot like you can some dishes. It cooks fast {just at 2 hours}. I would hate for you to have your heart set on it, get busy and come back to an overcooked, burnt mess. Set a timer. Then set a back-up timer. Okay?
Also, if it's looking dry around the 1 hour mark {all crockpots cook differently}, simply add some milk and give it a stir.
Are you a 5 year old like me?
Here are some more of my favorite macaroni dishes I've served over the years. All a bit different, but all incredibly delicious!
Yield: 10-12 servings
Crock Pot Mac-n-Cheese
prep time: 15 MINScook time: 2 hourtotal time: 2 hours and 15 mins
This is the mac-n-cheese recipe that all my friends request. And it's done in the crock pot! Super creamy with four different cheeses, it is defintely a dish you will not forget.
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 c. dry elbow macaroni, cooked al dente
- 2 c. cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 c. provolone cheese, shredded
- 1/4 c. Parmesan cheese, shredded
- 1/2 c. sour cream
- 1/2 c. mayo
- 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 14 oz. can evaporated milk
- 1 t. salt
- 1 t. pepper
- 1/2 t. dry mustard
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Spray a large 5-6 quart crock pot with cooking spray.
- In a pot cook the two cups dry elbow macaroni according to directions, leaving al dente, about 3-4 minutes shy of being done. Drain and rinse with cold water. Place the macaroni in the crock pot.
- Add in the cheeses, sour cream, cream cheese, mayo and seasonings, stirring to combine.
- Pour the evaporated milk over top the mixture.
- Cook on low for 2 hours, stirring once half way through.
- Serve hot.
notes
*If you check on this halfway and it's looking a bit dry (all crockpots cook differently), simply add a splash of milk and stir!
*I have also made this in the oven. Place the macaroni mixture in a greased 9x13 pan and bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, stirring half way through or until all cheeses are melted.
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