Best Paula Deen’s Crockpot Mac And Cheese Recipe

Are you curious about the ways to make Paula Deen’s crockpot mac and cheese? If yes, you definitely want to check the recipe in this post, which can help you save your time and money. Why? Because it requires some simple ingredients and preparations.

Most regular versions of mac and cheese are baked, which might take around 30 minutes. Therefore, with this crock pot idea, you might question why you have to spend hours for preparing it.

Relax! After you read this post, you will understand why this recipe works like a charm. The first thing to notice is its simplicity, which is suitable for most people. So, it’s time to become a professional chef and make this yummy food to serve your family members.

What Is Crockpot Mac And Cheese?

Mac and cheese or macaroni and cheese is a well-known recipe in many countries such as the US, UK, and Italy. It is a clever combination of cooked macaroni pasta, cheese sauce (most commonly cheddar), and a few other components like meat or breadcrumbs.

Traditionally, people usually bake this delicacy in the oven with the help of a baking tray. However, the version I recommend here will be made in the crockpot.

With a few easy-to-find ingredients, you’ll have an incredible holiday dish. Compared to the traditional method, this technique will be more accessible and give awe-inspiring food.

You just only need to “set and go” without worrying about the result as all the cooking will be taken care of by your cookware.

Also, the rich and enticing flavors of the mac and cheese will blow your mind away. It’s hard to resist the cheesy and creamy texture of the sauce blended with soft macaroni pasta in this dish. So let’s see what you should prepare to make this addictive food. Keep reading!

Ingredients:

Check the list of essential ingredients you have to prepare to make wonderful Paula Deen’s crockpot mac and cheese:

• Grated sharp cheddar cheese: It is one of the star components you must have in this cooking idea. Cheese is essential to add a creamy texture and sharp flavor with an earthy hint.  

• Uncooked elbow macaroni: You won’t be able to complete the dish without elbow macaroni. That’s why it is called mac and cheese. It brings an eye-catching golden color and perfect softness to the recipe.
• Condensed cheddar cheese soup: This ingredient will boost the rich and cheesy flavor. You can purchase canned products at any grocery store or supermarket.

• Eggs: Using eggs is an effective way to bring thickness and creaminess to the sauce.

• Sour cream: Diversify the flavor with the tart and tangy taste of the dense and creamy sour cream.

• Whole milk: Enhance the creaminess and smoothness of the dish by using whole milk. Also, it adds a gentle fragrance to the food.
• Butter: To provide a buttery and slightly sweet flavor to the food.

• Pepper: Add a bit of spiciness to stimulate your taste buds.
• Dry mustard and salt: The simple way to season this recipe is to use salt and dry mustard.

Best Cheeses For This Delicacy

The list of suitable cheese for Paula Deen’s crockpot mac and cheese is diverse. There’s no fixed rule in choosing them. In fact, your choice depends on the texture and flavor you want to achieve.

Apart from the cheddar cheese, you can opt for gruyere, monterey, gouda, or Swiss cheese as they can bring a perfect dish with extra gooey flavor.

Cottage cheese is another option that guarantees a creamy and rich taste to the sauce. Alternatively, you can add parmesan cheese if you search for a topping with a nutty and crispy surface.

On the other hand, why don’t you try using mozzarella cheese or blue cheese? The mozzarella brings a stretchy recipe, while the dish will have a characteristic moldy flavor that other cheeses do not have.

Follow The Instructions To Make Yummy Crockpot Mac And Cheese

Let’s go to the kitchen to make delicious Paula Deen’s mac and cheese in a crockpot right now! There is no complexity or difficulty in making this dish. You just need to follow the directions step by step to get good results.

Step 1: Soften the macaroni

Put water in a 2-quart saucepan and boil the uncooked macaroni for about 7 minutes until you get tender macaroni.

After softening the macaroni, you must drain this ingredient before mixing it with other components.

Step 2: Mix cheese and butter

Prepare a medium saucepan and put the cheese and butter in the pan. Proceed to stir the mix until the cheese melts and blends well with butter.

Step 3: Mix all ingredients in a crockpot

After preparing the mix of cheese and butter, you’ll put this mixture into the crockpot along with the cheddar cheese soup, sour cream, and other components. Stir them gently to blend these ingredients together.

The next thing you have to do is to add beaten eggs and drained macaroni to the mixture in the crockpot and continue to stir.

Step 4: Cook and wait

I recommend cooking this dish on a low setting, so be sure to choose this mode. You will cook this recipe in about 3 hours, and remember to stir the mix occasionally so the mixture will not stick on the surface of your cookware. Finally, serve and enjoy your food!

No Crockpot? No Problem As You Can Prepare It In The Oven

In case the crockpot is not available in your kitchen, you can make this dish with the oven. This method makes the interior crispier and saves you time. Please have a look!

Step 1: Starting with preheating the oven (350 degrees F). In the meantime, you can boil the macaroni in around 5 to 6 minutes, then drain it.

Step 2: Melt butter and cheese in a saucepan over the medium-high heat.

Step 3: Add soup, sour cream, milk, macaroni, and other spices in the pan and cook over lower heat until you get a combined mixture.

Step 4: Transfer the mixture in a saucepan to a baking tray, then place it in the oven to bake for about 30 minutes.

Step 5: Take the pan out of the oven and enjoy your meal!

Important note: If you want to enhance the crispness of the food, you can add parmesan cheese and bread crumbs on top of your dish after 20 minutes of baking. Continue to bake additional 10 minutes before serving.

Tricks And Serving Ideas

It is simple to make delectable crockpot mac and cheese, isn’t it? But there are so many ways to make it more appetizing with some nifty tricks. Grab a note and write these tips down!

Tips For Preparing The Tastier Mac And Cheese

• In order to create a smooth and creamy consistency, it is better to use milk, eggs, and cheese at room temperature because they will blend well.
• I recommend rinsing the macaroni with cold water after the boiling process to get better results. This action helps discard the extra starches and prevents the macaroni from cooking further.
• You must remember that grated cheese works more effectively in this recipe. Furthermore, do not worry about overcooking the macaroni, please cover it with butter to keep it from cooking further and absorbing liquid.
• Because you have to cook the macaroni in the crockpot for a long time, you should not boil it for too long. It gets the best texture when boiled for no more than 7 minutes. Plus, it is better to use the elbow macaroni noodles in large sizes.
• To save the cleaning time, you should cover the crockpot with baking spray to stop the cheese and mac from sticking to the slow cooker.
• In particular, it is acceptable to omit the eggs if you are allergic to this ingredient while making this recipe. And you can enjoy a mouth-watering mac and cheese without eggs.
• After preparing the mix of melted butter and cheese, please let this blend cool before adding the eggs. In case you use an old crockpot for cooking this dish, you have to cut down the cooking time.
• While making this food, you have to try this food to check the flavor and adjust the number of seasonings depending on your preference. You can add your favorite spices and herbs to enhance the overall flavor.

How To Keep The Creaminess Of Your Meal Effectively?

As I mentioned, I use eggs to make the recipe extra creamy and thick. Nevertheless, if you do not like eggs, let me show you another ingredient that can replace eggs perfectly. And the answer is roux.

Making a roux is the intelligent suggestion you can apply to thicken the sauce. Roux is a fusion of flour, fat, and liquid (milk). You must cook flour and melted butter until you get a dense paste. Whisk the mix with the liquid (milk) until the blend thickens.

Alternatively, you can try cooking the macaroni in evaporated milk instead of water to create a thick coating due to the milk’s reaction with the starch in the macaroni. Using a cream to replace milk is another ideal option.

Add Some Twists To Your Meal With These Yummy Variations

New experiences play an essential role in life since they help stimulate your curiosity and excitement. You should not be limited to a specific recipe, please learn how to make significant variations for mac and cheese.

• It is time to add protein and meaty touch to the recipe by adding bacon and ham to this beautiful dish. Moreover, let’s try Mac and Cheese with the addition of onions, bell peppers, and various veggies.
• If you are a fan of spicy food, adding chili flakes, sriracha sauce, or jalapenos is an excellent idea you can try.
• To enhance its aesthetic with a crispy golden crust, feel free to add a blend of 2 tsp melted butter and 1 cup of crushed Ritz crackers on top in the last 10 minutes of the cooking process.
• What will you do if you do not have macaroni on hand? Yeah, making the food with other types of pasta and enjoying it is what you will do. You can also have a premium dish with cylindrical or hollow noodles.

How To Serve Paula Deen’s Crockpot Mac And Cheese?

Apart from consuming this wonderful dish on its own, you can combine it with other delicious recipes to enhance the quality of your meal, like:

• Veggie salad with vinaigrette dressing
• Shrimp or fish dishes
• Pork chops
• Steaks
• Pigs in a blanket
• Burgers
• Hot dogs

Paula Deen’s Crockpot Mac And Cheese Recipe

Paula Deen’s crockpot mac and cheese is a flavorful dish you can make with a crockpot. This excellent food is packed in creamy, rich, and cheesy components. It is a comfort dish to chill with your family.

Let’s Celebrate Your Weekend With This Mighty Mac and Cheese!

It is not complicated to make delectable food with cookware like a crockpot as you do not spend too much effort getting an excellent meal, like this mac and cheese in Paula Deen version.

So, if this device is available in your kitchen, go and grab the mentioned ingredients, then turn them into a wonderful treat!

I hope you will get a good result with the specific instructions in this post. If you find it useful for your next meal (or party), do not forget to share it with others so they can have the same fun in cooking as you.

Lastly, please tell me your feelings after trying in the comment part. I hope you will have the best time with your family with this meal. Thanks a lot and have a nice day!