Archive for the ‘Pasta – Mac & Cheese – Slow Cooker’ Category
Ultra Creamy Mac & Cheese (Slow Cooker)
This is by far the best Mac & Cheese I have ever made, and actually, a low cost meal as well. This is a slow cooker recipe. Link to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 2 cups dry macaroni, any bite size pasta works here
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup, Shortcut
- ½ cup sour cream, Shortcut
- ½ cup mayo
- ½ teaspoon course ground black pepper
- 4 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded, (500 g / 1 lb)
Instructions
- In a pot of boiling water, cook the macaroni until just near tender, do not over cook, basically under cook it by a minute or so. Drain and rinse under cold water, the cold water will stop the cooking process. Add the pasta to your slow cooker.
- Add the onion powder, mustard, soup, sour cream, mayo, and black pepper to the slow cooker.
- Give the slow cooker a stir to mix everything together.
- Add the cheese and mix that in.
- For a Variant, I added to the slow cooker about 500 grams (1 lb) of cheese stuffed smoked sausage that I had sliced.
- Mix the sausage in. Cook on Low setting for 3 hours.
- Stir once or twice during the cooking but quickly so not all the heat is let out of the cooker.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
High cost per serving, but well worth it. The cheese is the costly part here, 180 Baht/250 gram block, two blocks are needed at 360 Baht. For 6 servings, this is about 1.88 cents per serving.
Shortcuts: Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup, Sour Cream.
Variant: 1. Add cubed ham or smoked sausage, highly recommended!
Best Slow Cooker Macaroni & Cheese
This is excellent mac & cheese, and the can of cheese soup is the key ingredient, and you can make that from a Shortcut on the site! Keep in mind, use block cheese you shred yourself, as packaged shredded cheese will not melt as well due to packaging to keep the shred separated. I made this on On 21 Mar 2021 and the entire family loved this! I used a variant and the steps/photos will reflect that. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 can condensed Cheddar cheese soup, (10½ oz / 298 g), Shortcut
- 2¾ cup half and half, or evaporated milk
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 500 grams uncooked elbow macaroni, (1 lb)
- 2 cups Sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded, (8 oz / 226 g)
- 1 cup Colby or Edam cheese, shredded, (4 oz / 113 g)
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
Instructions
- To your slow cooker, add the half and half (or evaporated milk), cheddar cheese soup, paprika, and black pepper, and whisk mix until the mixture is smooth.
- Into your slow cooker, add the uncooked macaroni, half of the shredded cheeses, and butter. Stir together.
- I added a variant and added 1 can of smoked spam that I diced, and I had some leftover cocktail sausages so I chopped those and added them as well.
- Mix the meats or other variants into the mixture.
- Top the mixture with the rest of the shredded cheeses. Put the lid on and cook on Low setting for 3 hours.
- At the 3 hour mark, turn slow cooker off, remove lid and give the mac and cheese a stir. If the mixture is too thick, stir in a spoon or two milk.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
The Cheddar cheese would run about 180 Baht, the Colby or Edam, another 90 Baht, the condensed soup about 90 Baht, same for making yourself but you will know what is in it. For 10 servings, this is about $1.06 per serving.
Shortcut: Condensed Cheddar Cheese Soup.
Variants: 1. Add chopped broccoli, chopped ham, chopped smoked sausage, chopped hot dogs, chopped smoked cocktail sausages (Little Smokies), cooked cubed chicken, diced Spam.
Mac & Cheese, Slow Cooker Style II
Another version of slow cooker mac & cheese, sounds good.
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1½ cups milk
- 1½ cups evaporated milk
- 250 grams dry elbow macaroni, (8 oz)
- 4 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In your slow cooker, and the eggs and beat lightly, then add the milks, salt and pepper and mix well, stir in the macaroni, then stir in 3 cups of cheese. Stir to combine.
- Sprinkle the last 1 cup of cheese on the top, cover and cook without stirring for 5-6 hours on Low setting. Serve.
Notes
Most expensive part is the cheese, 4 cups of cheese would be about 1½ blocks, of 250 grams each. 180 Baht/250 grams, this comes out to about $1.32 per serving for 6 servings, overall, not a bad value for the meal.
Mac & Cheese, Slow Cooker Style I
I like Mac & Cheese, it was a staple when I was growing up, very cheap, easy to prepare, and often had a can of diced spam or hot dogs in it. This was made from a box, a very regular meal for a quick inexpensive meal. This meal however is not boxed and not inexpensive but has a lot of potential. Think of adding cubed ham, sliced grilled Kielbasa sausage or even Italian sausage, or even cooked cubed chicken. Or serving as a side with those dishes and a side of green beans, yummy!
Ingredients
- 500 grams elbow macaroni, uncooked, (1 lb)
- 1 can evaporated milk, standard can, (about 12 oz / 354 g)
- 2½ cups milk
- 226 grams Cream cheese, cut into large cubes and softened, (8 oz)
- 3 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded, (1½, 250 gram blocks / 12 oz)
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Add everything to a slow cooker, stir to mix, season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Cover and turn on the slow cooker to Low setting for 2½ hours, do not open the lid, this is very important.
- At the 2 hour mark, open the lid and give a quick stir. If the sauce seems took thick, add a bit of milk and another stir to get the right consistency, then cover and cook for the remaining 30 minutes.
Notes
Pasta will run about 55 Baht/500 grams. Cream cheese is about 120 Baht/250 gram block. Cheddar cheese is about 185 Baht/250 gram block, you will need about 1½ of these. For this meal the cost of the pasta and cheese alone (the milk is minimal) is 545 Baht. For a dish for 6 people, this would be about 91 Baht per person, or about $2.68 per person, not a cheap meal.
Now to extend this meal, serve as a side dish with a meat, like sausage or chicken, you will get more servings from this and lower the cost.
