Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
View all Recipes2:30
Serves 4
Easy
Serve up pure comfort with our indulgent slow cooker mac and cheese.
Create a creamy sauce and tip all the ingredients into the slow cooker for this easy pasta dish that’s velvety smooth and full of cheesy goodness. Feel free to customise this mac and cheese recipe – you could add a dash of Worcestershire sauce or mix in a dollop of truffle pesto, for example.
What you'll need...
- 40g butter
- 40g plain flour
- 500ml semi-skimmed milk
- 250g dried macaroni pasta
- 200g grated cheddar cheese
- 250ml water
- ½ tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- ½ tsp mixed herbs
- 5 garlic cloves, crushed
- Handful breadcrumbs
Method
First, make the sauce. Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the flour. Cook for 2 mins on a medium heat, constantly stirring.
Add a fifth of the milk to the flour and butter mixture and whisk well until it’s fully incorporated and thickened up.
Add another splash of milk and whisk until mixed. Continue doing this until all the milk is used and the mixture is nice and thick. Leave it to simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
Once it’s thickened enough (you want it to be as thick as possible), prep the macaroni.
Time to cook the macaroni. Add the dry macaroni and cheese to the slow cooker. Pour over the white sauce along with the cold water. Add the herbs, spices and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Stir to ensure even coverage. Put on the lid and cook for 2 hours on a low heat, stirring occasionally to stop the pasta from sticking to the base.
If your slow cooker pot is ovenproof, sprinkle the breadcrumbs on top and cook under a preheated grill until golden and crispy. You may even wish to garnish with chives before serving!