This post is sponsored by Crystal Farms Cheese but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
Comfort food doesn’t have to be difficult to make. This Slow Cooker Italian Mac and Cheese is the feel good food you need this winter.
The first major snow fell over the weekend and ever since, I’ve just wanted to curl up on the couch and watch Christmas movies. Snuggled up under a fuzzy blanket, watching the snow cover the trees and the brown ground with a glistening white blanket.
Add in some comfort food and my weekend is golden.
With Christmas quickly approaching, we’re finalizing our menu this week. We haven’t fully decided on the main course, but we’ve got the side dishes down. And the one I’m most excited about is the recipe I’m sharing with you today.
Slow Cooker Italian Mac and Cheese.
Slow cooker mac and cheese is pretty much the greatest thing since sliced bread. Cheesy, gooey comfort food that you can set and forget? Let me just add this to my weekly meal plan real quick because that is my kind of dish in the winter.
Once you boil some noodles and then mix everything together, it’s ready in just a few hours. Plenty of time to cook your main dish, relax and then enjoy a mouthwatering meal that warms your whole body up.
But this mac and cheese isn’t your normal mac and cheese, either.
Related Reading: Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
Think your normal mac and cheese, but waaay better. Elevated mac and cheese, maybe. With all of the cheese and the seasonings, this rich luxurious dish is to die for. And it’s perfect as a side dish because of how decadent it is.
One of the reasons it’s so delicious and unique is the new Crystal Farms® Pesto Jack cheese. As if I couldn’t love cheese anymore.
This cheese is good. Like “eat handfuls of it at a time with no shame” good.
Related Reading: Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
But it is exactly what makes this Italian Mac and Cheese recipe so delicious. Well, that and the other three cheeses I added.
We love Crystal Farms cheese because they’re Wisconsin based and have a wide variety of cheeses available. We used a mix of shredded and block cheese for this recipe, including: Pesto Jack (x2), Mozzarella, Muenster, and Pepperjack.
All of these cheeses combined with the seasonings in this slow cooker mac and cheese = little bites of heaven that make any snow day incredible.
- 16 oz Box Noodles Cooked
- 1 Stick Butter Melted
- 2 Cans Evaporated Milk
- 3 Cups Milk
- 2 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 2 Tbsp Italian Seasoning
- 1 1/2 Tbsp Salt
- 1 Tbsp Fresh Basil Chopped
- 4 Eggs Beaten
- 2 7oz Bags Crystal Farms® Pesto Jack Shredded Cheese
- 1 8oz Block Crystal Farms® Muenster Cheese Shredded
- 1 8oz Block Crystal Farms® Pepperjack Cheese Shredded
- 1 7oz Bag Crystal Farms® Mozzarella Shredded Cheese
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Cook the noodles to desired doneness (al dente recommended.) They will cook more in the slow cooker so do not overcook them.
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Spray your slow cooker with cooking spray and combine all ingredients in the slow cooker.
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Stir to thoroughly combine.
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Cook on low for 2 1/2-3 hours, stirring occasionally while it's cooking.
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When done cooking, serve hot. Top with fresh basil (optional.)
If you’re wanting to grab your own cheese that’s made by cheese lovers themselves, head to the refrigerated dairy section. Crystal Farms can easily be found there. You’ll be able to find delicious cheeses rich in calcium that are gluten-free.
Or you can enter the giveaway! Check out the Crystal Farms products and comment below to let me know which cheese you’re most interested in trying! One winner will be randomly selected to win 3 product coupons for cheese!
Related Reading: Slow Cooker White Bean Turkey Chili Recipe
Giveaway ends on 12/18/17 at 11:59pm CST. Winner will be selected by Random.org and be notified by email. Winner have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. Please note that Hello Nature is not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. I have represented each sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner. I will contact the sponsor regarding your prize(s). The sponsors, in most cases, are shipping their items to you directly. I will make every effort to assist you obtaining your prize. If there is an issue with a sponsor, please notify me within 30 days for assistance, after that I may be unable to assist you. The product offered for the giveaway is free of charge, no purchase necessary. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and Google+ are in no way associated with this giveaway. By providing your information in the comments, you are providing your information to me and me alone. I do not share or sell information and will use any information only for the purpose of contacting the winner.