Slow Cooker Bacon Mac and Cheese- Creamy, cheesy macaroni made in the slow cooker with bits of salty, smoky bacon flavor. It’s the ultimate comfort food and so easy to make. No need to cook the pasta first. How awesome is that?
I had never made mac and cheese in a slow cooker before I tried Trisha Yearwood’s Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese. I liked it so much I’ve been playing around with other crockpot mac and cheese recipes.
And the only way mac and cheese gets better is with bacon right? This Slow Cooker Bacon Mac and Cheese has so much smoky, bacon flavor.
I actually added jalapeno too to jazz it up even more but the jalapeno is totally optional. I find it’s best to cook the bacon first. Otherwise it will have an unappealing texture and color. It does lose its crispiness if you put it in the crockpot to cook with the macaroni, but it really helps get that bacon flavor we all love so much into the mac and cheese.
(These are newer pictures made using elbow macaroni and no jalapenos)
Alternately you could just reserve the bacon and sprinkle it on top of the cooked macaroni. I sautéed some diced jalapeno just briefly in the bacon fat and then added it to the crockpot along with uncooked fusilli, cheddar and monterey jack cheese, 2 eggs, whole milk, evaporated milk, a little butter, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
I turned the heat to HIGH for 30 minutes and then to LOW for 2 1/2 hours. I find that if you keep it at HIGH too long, it burns around the edges. But cooking it on HIGH for a little while really helps shorten the cooking time.
At the end of the cooking time, the pasta is cooked just right and it has absorbed most of the liquid creating a thick, rich macaroni and cheese.
Slow Cooker Bacon Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon
- 1-2 jalapenos seeded and minced, optional
- 8 ounces fusilli pasta or elbow macaroni, uncooked
- 12 ounces sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 4 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook bacon in a nonstick skillet. Place on paper towel-lined plate to cool and then crumble the bacon.
- Discard all but 1 tablespoon bacon fat. Saute jalapeno in bacon fat until soft. Remove from heat.
- Spray a crockpot with cooking spray. (My crockpot is about 6 quarts.) Use a slotted spoon to remove jalapenos from skillet and place in crockpot.
- Combine all remaining ingredients, including bacon in crockpot and stir well.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 30 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low and continue to cook for 2 1/2 hours.
Nutrition
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This post was originally published August 25, 2014
Yum!! I love mac and cheese, it’s a classic that will never get old! Especially with bacon! Love that idea! 🙂
I am loving this Christin! I especially love the addition of the jalapeno (which you know I’m a huge fan of!). And the tip about the bacon is a great one ~ so thanks for that! Pinned!
I love homemade mac and cheese and the fact that you made this in the crockpot is fantastic! I love the bacon in this too, bacon makes everything better. Pinning this one!
I need this.
Wow, this looks completely amazing!! I love the bacon and jalapenos together!
I’m not a little in love with this – I’m VERY in love with them! Totally pinning to add to my Fall menu!
Now this is something that needs to happen soon! Mac and cheese is a favorite of ours, and this sounds beyond easy to make. And bacon makes everything better!
Why did I miss the memo about mac and cheese in the slow cooker?! I’ll have to try this over the long Labor Day weekend because it sounds awesome and so easy. I love crock pot meals, so much less effort and mess. 😀
Yum, bacon and mac and cheese sound so delicious! I love the idea of making this in a slow cooker. Our week is so busy more slow cooker meals are a blessing. Thanks!
Omg, this looks so good! What a perfect comfort food recipe! I haven’t tried mac and cheese in a slow cooker yet, but I’ve been meaning to. Love the addition of bacon and jalapenos! 🙂
I really need to take out my slow cooker more often. I don’t think I could resist the cheesy goodness of this mac and cheese. Love the addition of the jalapenos!
This recipe is just ridiculous. In the best way 😉
You had me at bacon, and mac and cheese!
Now, this is what I call mac & cheese! And I love how easy to make it is! Genius use of that crockpot 🙂
Wow, I love that you made this in a slow cooker, Christin! Especially since you don’t have to cook the pasta first! Sounds amazing with the jalapeno and bacon!
Slow cooker mac and cheese? say whaaaat??? Thanks so much for sharing your version of Trisha’s recipe – I love the jalapenos added in and I know my daughter will love the bacon part!
You had me at bacon mac ‘n cheese! What a fabulous idea to make this in the slow cooker. My husband will go nuts over this! Pinned!
My slow-cooker is my best friend throughout the fall months when life is so hectic and busy. I will definitely have to try this awesome mac! My family will eat just about any mac, but I’m pretty sure they would inhale it if I snuck bacon in there! Looks awesome, Christin. 🙂
I love making all kinds of mac n’ cheese and this one looks delicious! I love the addition of the jalapenos for a little spice and kick!
I have seen Mac Cheese recipes so many times but somehow never tried it in my kitchen even once despite knowing that my daughter is going to love it.