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Slow Cooker Beer Mac & Cheese

Mac and Cheese is amazing on it’s own, but when you add your favorite beer you end up with a grown-up comfort food you’ll want to make again and again. Even better? Slow Cooker Beer Mac & Cheese!

Overhead photo of Slow Cooker Beer Mac & Cheese on a grey towelAttention grown-ups!! You never have to eat mac and cheese from a box again! Why? Because using your slow cooker to make delicious homemade mac and cheese, and more specifically Slow Cooker Beer Mac & Cheese, is so easy that once you try it you will never go back! Plus, what packaged mac and cheese that you know of comes with beer? Beer mac and cheese. A real thing. A real good thing.

Overhead shot of Slow Cooker Beer Mac & Cheese

Did I mention how simple this is to make? Just 5 ingredients into the slow cooker will get you started! Some nice lean stew meat makes this a delicious beefy meal that will be plenty filling even for hearty appetites! A simple seasoning blend makes for an all in one option that makes prep even that much quicker. Could this recipe possibly get any better??

Overhead photo of ingredients to make Slow Cooker Beer Mac & Cheese

Yes it can! Let’s add some beer!! I used an oatmeal stout and that’s what I would recommend for this recipe. That’s not to say another beer wouldn’t work, but I haven’t tried it. It can be easy to go wrong when adding beer to recipes and they can give off a flavor that doesn’t work with your food, so if you get daring and try something else and love it, be sure to let me know!!
Pouring the cheese sauce into the noodles and beef to make Slow Cooker Beer Mac & Cheese
Once your meat is all cooked you will add the pasta to the slow cooker. That takes anywhere from 20-45 minutes to cook depending on the type of pasta you use. I like the Pronto! pasta from Barilla, it cooks up quicker and stays more firm in the slow cooker. While that’s happening, you can move over to the stove to whip up a quick homemade beer cheese sauce. Stay with me here… homemade cheese sauce is much easier than it sounds, I promise!
Piping hot Slow Cooker Beer Mac & Cheese in the slow cooker
 Stir it all together at the end for the most delicious mac and cheese your grown up mouth has ever tasted!
If you love Mac & Cheese check out some of my other recipes!
Slow Cooker Beer Mac and Cheese

Slow Cooker Beer Mac & Cheese

Jennifer Draper
Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese is amazing on it's own, but when you add your favorite beer you end up with a grown-up comfort food you'll want to make again and again.
3.78 from 31 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 10 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 531 kcal

Ingredients
  

For pasta:

  • 1 pound beef stew meat
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 cup stout beer
  • 1 tablespoon worcestershire pub burger seasoning
  • 14.5 oz can fire-roasted tomatoes
  • 8 oz pasta noodles for later (see note)

For cheese sauce:

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1/2 cup stout beer
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 cups shredded cheese

Instructions
 

  • Add all pasta ingredients except for noodles to slow cooker
  • Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 until meat is cooked through
  • Stir in pasta noodles and return slow cooker to high for 15-45 minutes (see note) until liquid is absorbed and noodles are al dente (add more liquid 1/4 cup at a time if needed)
  • In the meantime, melt butter in saucepan over medium high heat
  • Whisk in flour until smooth
  • Slowly whisk in beer (keep whisking so you don't get lumps) and let simmer for 2-3 minutes
  • Slowly stir in milk while continuing to whisk and then let simmer while whisking occasionally until thickened (about 4-6 minutes)
  • Stir in cheese and remove from heat
  • Add salt and pepper to taste if desired
  • Stir cheese sauce into finished pasta and serve

Notes

Note about pasta: use an elbow noodle for best results. I recommend the Barilla Pronto! noodles for the best result in the slow cooker.
Cooking notes: I cooked this on low for 7 hours then on high for 25 minutes with the pasta noodles

Nutrition

Calories: 531kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 37gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 109mgSodium: 632mgPotassium: 434mgFiber: 1gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 780IUVitamin C: 1.7mgCalcium: 323mgIron: 3.2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @slowcookergourmet or tag #slowcookergourmet!
Important nutritional disclaimer

 

 

Mac & Cheese in the Slow Cooker is amazing! Try out these other delicious recipes too!!

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese with Garlic Chicken

Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

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38 Comments

  1. This was AMAZING! I actually had to adapt it a little because, I viewed the recipe still in pinterest and you cant see that theres a specific pasta. Or a note to a specific pasta. Anyhow, i cooked the meat, beer, stock, seasoning and tomatoes as i was supposed to. I wish I would have done it on low (pregnant brain forgot about it. I eventually drained 90% of the juice into a pan and added extra broth and cooked the noodles seperate. They absorbed most of the liquid. I added about half cup of extra cheese, and beer to the cheese mixture. It turned out really well. I bet it would be good with a polish sausage.

  2. i made this today for a potluck christmas party lunch and was extremely disappointed. my dish looked nothing like the pictures. in fact, it looked more like a brownish soup. the macaroni disintegrated in the crock pot, and there was entirely too much cheese sauce mixture. i even cooked the noodles less than recommended when i noticed them falling apart. the flavors were excellent, other than slightly starchy…..than not sure what i did wrong, but it turned out nothing like i expected. bummer!

    1. oh no Mary!! That’s awful and I’m so sorry! Sounds like somehow there may have been too much liquid left in the slow cooker but I’m not sure how. Did the cheese sauce thicken enough for you? What kind of beef did you use? Did you use the Pronto noodles or another kind?

  3. 4 stars
    I loved the idea of this!!! I didn’t want to make another stop today with my little one, so I used what I had in the fridge… hard apple cider!! I figured that cheddar and apples go well together, so why not?! It turned out perfect! I also didn’t used tomatoes, because my family doesn’t like them and instead of the burger seasoning I used onion powder, garlic powder, pepper and seasoned salt. So good! Thanks for the receipe. And you’re totally right about the noodles, I used the pronto! to avoid them getting soggy.

    1. Isn’t it amazing how creative we can get when we have a little one with us and don’t want to stop at the store?! I love it!! Your changes sound amazing, I think I will have to try them soon!

    1. Hi Betsy! Best bet would be to head to your local liquor store and ask for a recommendation. Tell them what you are making and they will help you pick out something perfect!

  4. Made this tonight! Turned out really well! I used tricolor rotini and they needed about 20 minutes to cook and I added a half cup of water to the pasta as it cooked.

    1. I’m so glad you liked it Courtney!! I just made another mac & cheese recipe using pulled pork on Friday, and I will be sharing it soon. I think you will like it too, so stay tuned!

    1. Hi Juli! I used a block of sharp cheddar and grated it myself. We love sharp cheddar at our house, but you could also use mild cheddar or a cheddar jack blend.

    1. FYI the pub burger seasoning said it was discontinued this summer 🙁 what should I use instead since I couldn’t find it today

3.78 from 31 votes (24 ratings without comment)

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