Cheese Lover's Crock Pot Shells - Recipes That Crock! (2024)

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February 24, 2016 By Aunt Lou

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Have you had a rough week? Want to treat yourself with an adult version of a childhood favorite? Then come with me my friends and try out this Cheese Lover’s Crock Pot Shells recipe.

Aunt Lou here.

It had been a rough week…actually a rough couple of weeks…around here. We had a loved one fall terribly ill and then pass away. So, of course, we also had a viewing and funeral to attend…and if you have ever tried to do that with a 3-yr-old and 1-yr-old in tow, you know how exhausting that is. We have also had family in for over a week staying with us (don’t get me wrong, they were the perfect house guests, and I know we will miss them now that they have left, but my momma raised me right…when you have guests, you take care of them!). And now Ryder is sick. So that being said, I felt like treating myself. And that is how this Cheese Lover’s Crock Pot Shells recipe has come to you!

When I told some people about this recipe, I got some raised eyebrows when I mentioned muenster cheese. I had to get it from the deli at Jay-C and shred it myself. If you do this, you will only need about an inch and a half block off of the big block of cheese. They will just cut it for you at the deli if you ask. (If you have never heard of it, it is the white cheese with the orange rind in the pic above. I found it in my middle-of-nowhere town, so I assume it is pretty much available just about anywhere! Just in case I am wrong, I looked up substitutes, it looks like most people agree that you can use Havarti or Monterey Jack if you can’t find muenster.)

Table of Contents

Cheese Lover’s Crock Pot Shells

I knew I wanted to throw together five cheesesfor these yummy Cheese Lover’s Crock Pot Shells…because I always hear of 5 cheese this and 5 cheese that, so I thought I’d follow that line of thinking with this recipe. I picked out some of my favorites…mild cheddar, colby, parmesan, mozzarella and muenster. Sound like a crazy combo? Give it a try. It isn’t ooey, gooey creamy. Think yummy texture of mac and cheese in a fancy restaurant. Just what this mama needed.

Now I know as soon as you take a glimpse at the recipe that you are going to gasp and say, “That is a LOT of cheese!” Yes, yes it is. However, I made this recipe twice. I LOVED the flavor the first time, but there just wasn’t enough cheese to get to all of the shells. So I decided to make it again and take it to my small group. With all the cheese that is in the recipe, it is AH-MAZING! Just give a try. I know you will love it as much as my small group did!

Cheese Lover’s Crock Pot Shells

Treat yourself with this delicious Cheesy Shells recipe!

5 from 23 votes

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Course: Side

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 -8 servings

Author: Aunt Lou

Ingredients

16 oz pasta shells cooked according to directions on box
1 c shredded Colby cheese a generous cup
2 c shredded mild cheddar
2 c fresh grated parmesan
2 c shredded mozzarella
2 c shredded muenster
1/3 c milk

Instructions

In a large bowl, mix all your cheeses together
Place your cooked pasta shells in your crock pot
Pour in 2/3 of your cheese mixture and mix well
Top with remaining cheese mixture
Pour your milk evenly across the top
Cover and cook on high for 1-2 hours until your cheese is melted and the edges are golden

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Slow Cooker Recommendation

My Casserole Crock Potwas perfect for these Cheese Lover’s Crock Pot Shells. I love how the top “bakes” up, so it spread them out so that there was more “top” to enjoy. If you do not have one yet or it is otherwise engaged, I would use a 5-6 quart slow cooker.

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Aunt Lou

I'm wife to Michael (not Mikey 😉 ) and mom to Mr. Ryder and Miss Iyla. I'm just walking through this life step by step focusing on enjoying the little things in life. I am in awe of the many blessings big and small I receive daily from a pretty amazing God who calls me His own. Sometimes life is crazy and messy, but I am loving every minute of it.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

Shelly says
May 15, 2017 at 7:24 pm

i JUST WONDER, USING COOKED PASTA AND THEN COOKING IT ALL FOR 1-2 HOURS MORE…DOESN’T THE PASTA GET MUSHY??
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- Aunt Lou says
  May 18, 2017 at 11:53 am
  
  Hi Shelly!
  It didn’t turn to mush for us! If you like your pasta more al dente, then you could just cook it that way before adding it to your crock pot. Enjoy!
  Aunt Lou
McKinzie says
March 17, 2017 at 2:41 am

Will this recipe work in a 4 qt crock pot or will I need to half it?
- Aunt Lou says
  March 18, 2017 at 3:55 pm
  
  Hi McKinzie!
  I would half it if using a 4 quart crock pot. Let me know how it goes! Enjoy!
  Aunt Lou
Rachel says
March 13, 2016 at 8:23 pm

Can you add meat to it and it still be good ?
- Aunt Lou says
  March 17, 2016 at 9:04 am
  
  Rachel,
  I haven’t tried it with this recipe, but have added browned ground beef to mac n’ cheese before and love it! If you give it a try, let me know how it turns out! Enjoy!
  Aunt Lou
Fayleen says
March 2, 2016 at 3:25 pm

My email on this recipe showed Mikey in a youtube video but video does not work….will there be a working video of this recipe?
- Aunt Lou says
  March 4, 2016 at 4:57 pm
  
  Hi Fayleen!
  So sorry for the confusion! There was a video in that email, but it was not for this recipe. It was for the Cinnamon Roll French Toast Casserole. Here is a link to that video: https://youtu.be/1-VGlkYyx8Q?list=PLl_jT_HWYkMln6No64_njJEpYSSzCmnx9
  As you might imagine, we have had lots of requests for videos of different recipes, so we will definitely keep this recipe in mind when we are trying to decide what to do next.
  Enjoy!
  Aunt Lou
lisa says
March 2, 2016 at 10:35 am

I will be trying this next week , will leave you know how it tastes. thanks
Bobette Larsen says
February 24, 2016 at 11:36 pm

Is 1/3 cup of milk correct? That is such a small amount for all that mach and cheese.
- Aunt Lou says
  February 29, 2016 at 12:10 am
  
  Hi Bobette!
  Yes, that is correct. It turned out great for me with that amount. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
  Aunt Lou
Gary says
February 24, 2016 at 1:43 pm

As far as I’m concerned, mac-n-cheese, especially homemade, is at the top of the food pyramid! I’m definitely going to make this one…..as I have several other of your cp recipes. Haven’t found a bad one yet.
- Aunt Lou says
  February 24, 2016 at 2:45 pm
  
  Hi Gary!
  Thank you so much! We love hearing that our readers are loving the recipes as much as we do! I am confident that you will not be disappointed in this one! Enjoy!
  Aunt Lou
pegell says
February 24, 2016 at 10:37 am

Aldi sells muenster slices
- Aunt Lou says
  February 24, 2016 at 1:18 pm
  
  Hi Pegell!
  Thanks for the info! Our Ruler sells them too. I hope everyone can find muenster. I love how it blends with all the other cheeses in this recipe! Enjoy!
  Aunt Lou
Donna says
February 24, 2016 at 10:23 am

I have never made homemade shells and cheese. By the looks of your picture I have been missing out! I am definately making this. Looks delicious! When I make this I will come back and rate it, although it looks like a big 5 to me!
- Aunt Lou says
  February 24, 2016 at 1:16 pm
  
  Hi Donna!
  Thank you! I hope you love it as much as we do! Enjoy!
  Aunt Lou

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[…] making up my own. Sometimes I am in the mood for a creamy mac ‘n cheese, other times I want a super cheesy one and other times I want one tastes like a baked mac ‘n cheese. So when I saw this Old […]

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