Trisha Yearwood Creamy Mac and Cheese Recipe
Trisha Yearwood’s Creamy Mac Cheese is a luscious, comforting dish featuring tender elbow macaroni cooked in a rich blend of evaporated milk, whole milk, butter, eggs, and sharp Cheddar cheese. Slow-cooked to perfection, this mac and cheese delivers a creamy texture with a savory cheesy topping seasoned with a hint of paprika for a classic Southern-inspired comfort food experience.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni, cooked halfway, drained
Dairy
- 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 bricks (10 ounces each) sharp Cheddar cheese, grated (about 5 cups), divided
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon paprika, for topping
Eggs
- 2 large eggs, beaten
Instructions
- Whisk Eggs: In a small bowl, whisk the eggs until smooth and well combined, preparing them to add richness to the cheese sauce.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, blend together the evaporated milk, whole milk, beaten eggs, melted butter, salt, black pepper, and grated Cheddar cheese, keeping back half a cup of cheese to sprinkle on top later.
- Cook Macaroni: Boil the elbow macaroni in salted water for half the recommended cooking time until partially cooked but still firm. Drain thoroughly to avoid sogginess during slow cooking.
- Combine in Slow Cooker: Transfer the partially cooked macaroni into the slow cooker, pour the dairy and cheese mixture over the pasta, gently folding to coat all the macaroni evenly without breaking it.
- Add Topping and Cook: Sprinkle the reserved 1/2 cup of Cheddar cheese and paprika evenly over the top. Cover and cook on low heat for 50 minutes, or until the cheese melts and the macaroni becomes creamy and tender.
- Serve: Dish out the creamy mac and cheese hot directly from the slow cooker for a hearty, comforting meal.
Notes
- For additional flavor, add a pinch of garlic powder or onion powder to the cheese mixture.
- Alternative cheeses such as Gruyere, Monterey Jack, or Colby Jack may be substituted for Cheddar.
- To achieve a crispy topping, place the slow cooker insert under the broiler for several minutes after cooking.
- Lightly coat the slow cooker interior with nonstick spray to prevent sticking.
- For heat, include a pinch of cayenne pepper or finely chopped jalapenos.
Keywords: Trisha Yearwood, Creamy Mac Cheese, slow cooker mac and cheese, comfort food, cheesy pasta, slow cooked mac and cheese
