Description
Creamy southern-style slow cooker mac & cheese brings comfort right to your dinner table. Cheesy, rich pasta layers meld together with classic Southern hospitality, promising a hearty meal you’ll savor to the last bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 2.5 cups (590 ml) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup (240 ml) shredded Colby Jack cheese
- 0.5 cups (120 ml) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 cups (480 ml) whole milk
- 1 (12 oz/340 g) can evaporated milk
- 0.5 cups (120 ml) sour cream
- 0.5 cups (113 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 16 oz (454 g) elbow macaroni (uncooked)
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 0.5 tsp paprika
- 0.5 tsp dry mustard (optional, for extra flavor)
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Parboil elbow macaroni until slightly firm, drain thoroughly, and set aside to prevent overcooking.
- Slow Cooker Setup: Grease the interior of the slow cooker with butter or nonstick spray to ensure effortless serving and cleanup.
- Cream Base Creation: Whisk together whole milk, evaporated milk, sour cream, melted butter, eggs, and seasonings until perfectly smooth and well-integrated within the slow cooker vessel.
- Cheese and Pasta Fusion: Gently fold the pre-cooked macaroni into the creamy liquid, then gradually incorporate shredded cheese varieties, stirring methodically to achieve uniform distribution and prevent clumping.
- Slow Cooking Process: Cover and set the slow cooker to low heat, occasionally stirring to promote even melting and prevent cheese from adhering to the sides. Allow the mixture to simmer and develop a luxurious, creamy consistency over 2-3 hours.
- Final Touch and Serving: Perform a final gentle stir to ensure complete cheese integration, confirming the mac and cheese has reached a velvety, indulgent texture before serving piping hot.
Notes
- Prevent Pasta Overcooking: Boil macaroni just until al dente to maintain a slight firmness, avoiding mushy texture in the final dish.
- Optimize Cheese Melting: Use room temperature cheeses and shred them freshly for smoother, more even melting throughout the mac and cheese.
- Control Moisture Carefully: Avoid adding extra liquid during cooking, as slow cookers naturally retain moisture and can make the dish too runny if overhydrated.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Substitute lactose-free milk and dairy-free cheese alternatives for those with dietary restrictions while maintaining the creamy Southern-style essence.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2-3 hours
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 660 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg