Crock Pot MacNCheese

[WDWAurora]

Well, I made my 3 hour crock pot macaroni today...It turned out ok, but for some reason it just doesn't have flavor like I think it should....Any ideas? Should I be putting salt and pepper in it?

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

I'd think you'd need to put whatever seasonings in that you would an oven version.

Having said that I've never heard of doing Mac n/ Cheese in a crockpot...could you post the recipe please?

Thanks!
Deb

 

[WDWAurora]

I'll post when I get back from class...What seasonings do you use in the oven version? I've never made that either...This is my great aunt's recipe from somewhere, she made it for my grandparents and they raved about it, so I tried it. Will post when I get back.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Well generally salt and pepper, although I like white pepper since it doesn't leave "dirty specs" in the dish. Although sometimes I'll use Mrs Dash or Lawry's salt. DH almost always adds Lawry's at the table anyway so I tend to spice it up.

Somehow the kids don't mind the reddish specs but the black pepper isn't all that pleasing to the eye.

I also have used sharper cheeses to give it a bit of a kick. It is a bit trickier to use a hard, sharp cheddar for instance but if I'm going to use that rather than say Velveeta I'll make the cheese sauce first and pour it over the noodles.

Deb

 

[WDWAurora]

Ok, here's the recipe (and the white pepper sounds like a good idea, maybe some Lawry's also...hmm...)

Crockpot Macaroni and Cheese

8oz. box of macaroni-cooked and drained
3 cups shredded Mild cheddar cheese (I used sharp this time)
1 cup shredded Mozzerella cheese
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
3/4 stick margarine
1 large can evaporated milk
Salt and Pepper

Melt margarine in crock pot.
Layer macaroni and cheese.
Beat eggs and add both milks.
Pour into crockpot over macaroni and cheese.
Top with remaining cheese.
Turn crockpot on low and cook 3 hours.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Thanks! This looks good - I think I'd probably stir the spices into the milk mixture so they mix in throughout. What a great dinner to start and forget so one can spend more time doing important things on say a Sat. afternoon...like scrapping!

Deb

 

[castlegazer]

Thank you - this does look really good. I would go with the seasoning mixed into the milk too. I sometimes put cayanne pepper and hot sauce into my oven one.

 

[WDWAurora]

Thanks for the ideas guys, I'll make sure to try that next time.

 

[hockeymom7691]

I have a question, if it cooks more than 3 hours does it turn to mush?

 

[WDWAurora]

Not really, it just burns on the bottom. I actually cooked it on high this time and that was the only problem I had...but it's cheese so it kind of peels off, so it's not too hard to clean.

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

The recipe looks good. I think I'll try it this week.

I find that pasta recipes need a little extra salt and pepper sometimes. They can taste bland and I think it's because the pasta soaks up the flavors.

 

[piratesmate]

Thanks for sharing the recipe! I've never heard of doing it this way - and I'm all for time savers.

I agree about pasta needing salt. We use very little salt around here, but I always salt the water when making pasta.

Sometimes when I make it in the oven, I'll add chopped ham - either baked or I'll buy the ends of deli ham for cheap. Then I usually also add some dry mustard to the white sauce.

 

[Zandy595]

This recipe has dry mustard, paprika, onion and a bay leaf to give it some extra flavor. I haven't tried it yet, but have been meaning to.

Alton Brown's (Good Eats) Baked Macaroni & Cheese

1/2 pound elbow macaroni
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon powdered mustard
3 cups milk
1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 large egg
12 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Fresh black pepper
Topping:
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup panko bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta to al dente.

While the pasta is cooking, in a separate pot, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and mustard and keep it moving for about five minutes. Make sure it's free of lumps. Stir in the milk, onion, bay leaf, and paprika. Simmer for ten minutes and remove the bay leaf.

Temper in the egg. Stir in 3/4 of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the macaroni into the mix and pour into a 2-quart casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese.

Melt the butter in a saute pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat. Top the macaroni with the bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and rest for five minutes before serving.

 

[vhoffman]

I use any basic recipie and add about 1/2 tsp. dried mustard powder and about 1 tablespoon Worshestchesire sauce. I also use sharp cheddar cheese--never Velveeta!

 

[vhoffman]

Oh, and spray the pot or pan with Pam. It makes clean up easier--cheese is sticky!

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Ok, I tried this recipe out (with some minor modifications) on Sat. It was a major hit with a request from everyone to NOT lose that recipe. It has been known to happen.

The modifications I made were to use a full 12 oz box of noodles. Also since I wasn't completely sure about the margarine I poured it over the noodles in the pan after they were drained and rinsed. Also added ham cubes. Because I was using more noodles I increased the milk (used 1/2%) by a tiny bit but left the evaporated milk the same. Used 3 eggs. I stirred about a teaspoon and a half each of white pepper and Lawry's salt into the milk egg mixture before pouring it over the layered noodles and cheese.

Deb

 

[MerryPoppins]

I never tried making mac and cheese in my crockpot. I may have to give these a shot.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Do try it! It was really yummy and given my schedule on Sat. an absolute lifesaver.

I was able to put it together around 2 and get it into the crock pot while watching the football game on the tube. Then I had to get in the car and drive an hour plus north (and of course return) to pick DD up from a horseback outing she was on. DS just had to flip the switch on the crockpot (when I called to remind him via cellphone) and when everyone walked in about 5:30 starving from a long day it was ready to put on the table!

Deb

 

[Lezah]

I have only tried to make Mac n cheese in the crockpot once and didn't like it all. I think it was the eggs because it tasted more like an omelet egg type recipe than creamy mac n cheese like we're used to. My DH and DS loved it though. I'm just in the process now of trying to find a recipe without eggs in it. I've found 2 on recipezaar.com, but haven't tried it yet.

 

[WDWAurora]

This is not too eggy-it's a lot like the kind you make in the oven.