Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese with Green Chiles

Make a big bowl of macaroni and cheese right in your slow cooker with this Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese with Green Chiles, a great recipe to use up hatch chiles in too! This twist on a classic meal adds just the right amount of mild heat without being too overwhelming!

The best thing about this Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese with Green Chiles is that it can easily be served as a side dish, used as the main meal, or taken to a potluck. It’s cozy, delicious, easy to make, and versatile! This version will start with cooked pasta, and then it’s all warmed up in the slow cooker while you get that evening homework done.

What you’ll love about Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese with Green Chiles:

• Quick Slow Cooker Recipe – This recipe is done in just over an hour, but only 15 minutes of it includes work on your part; the rest of the time, it’s easy to get housework done while you let dinner cook!
• Flavor Packed – It’s flavor-packed, but with mild green chiles, the flavor is not overpowering, so it keeps the meal very family-friendly.
• Creamy Texture – This meal is very creamy and has a great texture.
• Hatch Chiles – Use up your roasted hatch chiles for this recipe!

Ingredients for Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese Recipe:

• Elbow Macaroni (Penne, Rotini, or Bow Tie Pasta works too!)
• Milk
• Sour Cream
• Cheddar Cheese Soup
• Salt
• Garlic Powder
• Paprika
• Green Chiles or Hatch Green Chiles
• Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
• Shredded Colby Jack Cheese
• Grated Parmigiano Cheese

How do you make Green Chile Mac and Cheese in the Slow Cooker?

Find the full recipe card and instructions at the bottom of this post.

1. Cook pasta until al dente, about 3 minutes less than what is instructed on the box. Drain and set aside.
2. While the pasta is cooking add the milk, sour cream, cheddar cheese soup, salt, garlic powder, paprika, green chiles, 2 1/2 cup mozzarella, 1/2 cup colby jack and parmigiano to the slow cooker or crockpot.
3. Cover and cook on HIGH for 30 minutes or until all the cheese is melted and there is a cheese sauce created.
4. Add cooked pasta to the slow cooker and mix until the pasta is fully coated with the cheese sauce.
5. Cover and cook for 30-45 minutes until the pasta is cooked to your liking.
6. Sprinkle 1/2 cup remaining mozzarella and 1/2 cup colby jack to the top of the pasta. Cook on HIGH for 5 minutes or until melted.
7. Time to serve that cheesy goodness!

Tips for Making Hatch Green Chile Mac and Cheese:

The pasta will be cooked and prepared on the stovetop in a large pot, coming to a boil and cooked until al dente. While the pasta is cooking the remaining ingredients can be added into the Crockpot or Slow Cooker. After the pasta has cooked and the ingredients are melted, it will all be combined in the slow cooker, and the pasta will be coated with the cheese sauce.

• Cook pasta until al dente! This means that the pasta is a little bit undercooked because it’s going to warm and cook more in the slow cooker.
• Use blocks of cheese – This is so that it melts well, pre-shredded cheese does not melt like a block of cheese will.
• Add toppings before serving – Sprinkle with the remaining cheese just before serving and then cook on high for 5 minutes until it’s fully melted, this will make it similar to a mac and cheese casserole.

The full recipe instructions will be in the recipe card below. Be sure to follow them completely before making.

Can this recipe be made gluten-free?

This recipe can be made gluten-free with gluten-free pasta and gluten-free cheddar cheese soup. The gluten-free cheddar cheese soup will likely need to be made from scratch. This cheddar cheese soup is a good recipe for it.

Variations of Green Chile Mac and Cheese:

• Make it Spicy – Add some red pepper flakes, spicy cheese, or hot sauce to the cheese mixture before adding in the pasta.
• Make it Kid-Friendly – Top it with bacon bits!
• Make it Deluxe – Top it with bacon bits, green onions, or add a variation of Italian spices too.

How do you store leftovers?

Store leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days. When ready to reheat, heat on a microwave-safe plate in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until heated through.

This Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese with Green Chiles is the perfect way to use up those New Mexico Hatch Chiles or use your store-bought chiles, it works with either one! This is sure to please the whole family with it’s quick, creamy, and delicious taste and texture.