Crockpot Mac and Cheese with Cream Cheese
Mac and Cheese with Cream Cheese is made in a slow cooker with THREE cheeses! This recipe makes the cheesiest comfort food meal ever! This creamy macaroni is an easy recipe that makes the best homemade mac! You’ll love the creamy texture!!
I swear, this is the perfect comfort food. There are so many boxed versions out there, but I’m so over the flavor of those!
What I love about this homemade macaroni is that there are many different types of cheeses. You’ll love this new family favorite that shows how easy mac can be.
This recipe can be a side dish or the main star of the dinner table for your family gatherings. I think that this is a main course – why not?
When it comes to comfort food dishes, you can’t top this. It literally has the best flavor, and every bite is loaded with each kind of cheese.
This is a must at family dinners moving forward, without a doubt. To make this crazy good mac n cheese recipe, follow the simple tips on the recipe card below!
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Mac and Cheese with Cream Cheese
If macaroni and cheese is one of your favorite meals, you’re in the right place, because it is one of our favorite comfort foods too!
One pot meals are always a winner in my book, and using a crock pot just takes that to the next level.
Every ooey, gooey bite of this homemade mac and cheese with cream cheese creates an explosion of flavor in your mouth!
When life is hectic, there’s nothing better than tossing a handful of ingredients into a pot.
Flip a switch and come back a few hours later to a hot, delicious meal, ready to eat.
This is our daughter’s favorite recipe, and she has been making it herself since she was 7 years old.
I guess this is the best testimonial you could have — crock pot mac and cheese with cream cheese is a kid-friendly favorite, and the recipe is easy enough for a picky 7 year old to make!
Macaroni and Cheese with Cream Cheese
Cream cheese and white cheddar are a bit tangy, while freshly grated Pepper Jack adds enough heat to make it interesting.
Plus, because it cooks right in the creamy sauce, corkscrew pasta soaks up all of that fantastic cheesy, saucy goodness!
The best thing about this macaroni and cheese with cream cheese recipe is the short prep time – it takes just 5 minutes!
Oh, and it cooks to creamy, heavenly goodness in only 2 hours!!
I’ve got another easy crock pot macaroni and cheese recipe made with Gruyere and mozzarella, plus a few extra spices for plenty of bold flavor.
Or, try another one — homemade mac and cheese with cream cheese, PLUS bacon and fresh chiles!
I think that dish tastes just like a jalapeño popper! Or try our smoked cream cheese that is always a hit!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Cream cheese – Using cream cheese in mac and cheese helps add another layer of flavor to the cheese sauce.
Also, it acts as a thickener, helping the sauce stick to the ridges of the noodles.
You can also use my smoked cream cheese in this recipe to really amp up the flavor. - Other cheeses
This macaroni and cheese with cream cheese also has 2 other cheeses — medium sharp white cheddar and Pepper Jack.
When I make it for a potluck dish or when I know kids will be eating with us, I often swap the Pepper Jack out and use Colby Jack instead.
You could also easily use Monterey Jack Cheeses or mature cheddar cheese for a fun flavor. Any type of melty cheese will work!
- Pasta – We use cellentani, otherwise known as corkscrew pasta, for this creamy mac and cheese.
If you want a substitute, any type of small pasta with ridges on it works well. Good options are penne, ziti, rigatoni, or even elbow macaroni would be fine.
- Cayenne pepper – There is only a pinch of cayenne in this dish, just enough spicy heat to wake up your taste buds.
If you’re sensitive to spicy foods, feel free to leave it out.
Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Cook to al dente.
The initial cooking time will vary based on the type of noodle you use. If possible, start checking the noodles at the 1 hour mark.
When the pasta is no longer crunchy and has a slight bite to it, you’re ready for the next step.
- How to keep it creamy.
The three cheese sauce does thicken as it cools, which can sometimes make it a bit dry and difficult to scoop.
If you plan on keeping the crockpot mac n cheese in the slow cooker, use the “warm” setting, and stir in a little extra milk before everyone digs in.
Crock Pot Mac and Cheese with Cream Cheese FAQs
First, be sure that you’ve added all of the ingredients in the correct amounts. The cream cheese will melt as the other liquids heat up.
Also, it helps to stir the ingredients really well when you first add them to the crock pot. If you would like, you can even stir the macaroni and cheese once or twice during the cooking time.
It can be tricky to convert crockpot recipes to an electric pressure cooker.
We haven’t tried making this crock pot macaroni and cheese recipe in the IP, but you are more than welcome to experiment.
If you do, please let us know how it turns out!
For a recipe that definitely works, I recommend my Instant Pot Mac and Cheese. It is very rich and creamy, and it’s ready in under 15 minutes.
A lot depends on your flavor preference, but it helps to use cheeses that melt well.
Cheddar, pepper jack, and cream cheese are perfect in a creamy mac and cheese recipe, and the combination tastes scrumptious.
If you want a different flavor altogether, try cheeses like Gruyere, smoked gouda, or Fontina! All of them melt really well and add a more sophisticated flavor.
The recipe card below proves that this dish can be flexible. It’s not called the ultimate comfort food for nothing!
You can add garlic powder, black powder, mustard powder, dijon mustard, hot sauce, onion powder, or even chili powder for the best results.
This is one of my favorite dishes to make because of all the different cheeses and tender elbow pasta. It’s one of the first things that I make when I’m craving creamy pastas!
Adding a little bit of sour cream, whole milk, or melted butter can help thin out the sauce. You don’t need much – just a splash of milk or a tiny amount of the others is what you need. Start by adding a small amount and see what you think. You can always add more as needed to thin out the cheesy sauce.
This makes the best macaroni recipe without the need for toppings – but if you want to add some, go for it. You could try parmesan cheese, other types of grated cheese, or even a mix of cheeses right on top.
The best part of this recipe is that you have wiggle room to play with the outcome!
Prep Ahead Instructions
There’s not much to do in advance for this recipe, except maybe grate the cheeses. (You can also buy pre-shredded cheese to save on time!)
However, we do sometimes make 3 cheese mac and cheese to portion out for lunches during the week.
KITCHEN HACK – Reheating Mac and Cheese
I have a hack that makes reheating even easier, especially if you’re taking lunch on the go!
Before transferring to storage containers, stir additional milk into the mac n cheese to thin out the sauce.
This way, it will be easier to scoop when it’s cold from the fridge, and you won’t need to add any additional liquid when you reheat it.
Storing and Reheating Cream Cheese Mac and Cheese
Once cool, you can refrigerate the leftovers for 3 to 5 days in an airtight container. (You can also cover it with plastic wrap until the next time you eat it)
Use the same trick of adding extra milk as noted above, or simply add the liquid before reheating.
Or, for individual portions, reheat in the microwave or on the stove top until creamy and warmed through.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
