A simple custard-style crock pot macaroni and cheese that's made ridiculously easy without a stove. It's even easier than the boxed kind since you don't even have to boil the pasta!
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I went from exactly zero slow cookers to two slow cookers in the space of one year. I just didn't get them. You know?
I was really pretty sure that slow cookers made everything into a single, mushy consistency. If you wanted some texture to your food, well slow cookers were just not the way to go.
Along with this ridiculously easy, cheesy, slow cooker gluten free macaroni and cheese, I'm eatin' some crow. Long live the slow cooker!
What is this mac and cheese like?
I have made this recipe many, many times at this point. I was sold after the first, nearly-failed attempt, though, since I simply could taste its potential. And my family adored failure after failure.
This is not a smooth, stove-top-style macaroni and cheese. It's a custard-style gluten free macaroni and cheese, and it happens in the most effortless way possible.
Simply whisk together the bit of flour and the spices into the milk, then pile everything into the slow cooker and let it do its thing. No boiling the pasta ahead of time—that would just be ridiculous.
This meal is so easy, in fact, that it rivals the boxed kind. Frankly I never really thought the boxed kind was easier than doing it yourself since you still have to boil the pasta.
The cooking time will vary from slow cooker to slow cooker, and sometimes they have hot spots. The larger the slow cooker you use, the more quickly the dish will cook as the ingredients are more exposed to the heat source.
Once the pasta has noticeably swelled, it's most likely tender enough for the dish to be done. The first time you make it, get a visual on it after an hour, and then after 2 hours.
You'll know when it's ready! And be sure to use a good-quality gluten free pasta, like Barilla gluten free or Delallo gluten free, or your mac and cheese won't have the texture it should.
And keep in mind that slow cookers vary in their power and how quickly they cook. The cooking time provided is a range for just that reason!
Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese
Equipment
- Slow cooker
Ingredients
- 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
- 2 tablespoons (18 g) superfine sweet white rice flour (or cornstarch)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground mustard powder (optional)
- 1 teaspoon smoked Spanish paprika (optional)
- 1 (50 g (weighed out of shell)) egg at room temperature
- 3 cups (24 fluid ounces) milk at room temperature
- 1 pound dried gluten free elbow macaroni (I use Barilla gluten free pasta)
- 3 cups (8 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Grease the liner of a 4, 5 or 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray and set it aside.
- In a measuring cup with at least a 3 cup capacity, pour the evaporated milk. Add the flour, salt, optional mustard powder, and optional paprika, and whisk to combine until all of the powders are fully incorporated into the liquid (especially the flour). Add the egg, and beat to combine.
- Pour the mixture into the greased slow cooker liner, add the milk and whisk to combine. Add the elbow macaroni and then 2 1/2 cups of the shredded cheese, and mix to combine. Scatter the remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheese on top of the mixture in an even layer.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook the macaroni and cheese for 2 to 3 hours on low temperature, or until the macaroni has swelled and is tender. Cooking times will vary from slow cooker to slow cooker. Serve immediately.
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Thanks for stopping by!
Hi, I’m Nicole. I create gluten free recipes that really work and taste as good as you remember. No more making separate meals when someone is GF, or buying packaged foods that aren’t good enough to justify the price. At Gluten Free on a Shoestring, “good, for gluten free” just isn’t good enough! Come visit my bio!
Sam says
So good… thank you for inspiring our awesome dinner tonight!!