Slow Cooker Sweet Pea Macaroni

Slow Cooker Sweet Pea Macaroni

A cozy, budget-friendly comfort dish where pasta cooks right in the slow cooker with butter and sweet green peas. Creamy, simple, and surprisingly flavorful with very little effort.

Servings: 4–6
Cook Time: about 1 hour 15 minutes (HIGH)

Ingredients

• 12 oz (about 3 cups) dry elbow macaroni
• 3 cups very hot water (just boiled)
• 1 cup unsalted butter, cut into small chunks
• 2 cups frozen sweet green peas
• 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• ½ teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)

Optional add-ins (if you want to upgrade it):

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

1. Prepare the slow cooker
   Lightly grease the inside of your slow cooker with butter or cooking spray to prevent sticking.
2. Add the pasta and water
   Pour the dry elbow macaroni into the slow cooker. Carefully add the hot water and the salt. Give it a quick stir so most of the pasta is submerged.
3. Add the butter
   Scatter the chunks of butter evenly over the top. Do not stir at this stage. The butter will melt slowly and create a rich coating for the pasta.
4. First cooking stage
   Cover with the lid and cook on HIGH for 45 minutes.
5. Stir and add peas
   Open the lid and stir the pasta well from the bottom to prevent clumping. Add the frozen peas and mix them through the pasta.
6. Finish cooking
   Cover again and cook on HIGH for another 20–30 minutes, or until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
7. Final seasoning
   Taste and adjust with more salt and black pepper if needed.
8. Optional creamy upgrade
   If you want it creamier, stir in cheddar cheese, Parmesan, and a splash of milk or cream during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Let it melt before serving.

Tips for Best Results

• Keep the lid closed as much as possible to maintain heat.
• If the pasta looks dry before it finishes cooking, add 2–3 tablespoons of hot water and stir.
• Add the peas halfway through cooking so they stay bright green and slightly sweet.
• Stir well at least once to avoid pasta sticking to the bottom.

Serving Ideas

Serve this macaroni hot as:

• A simple vegetarian main dish
• A side dish for grilled chicken or meat
• A base where you can add cooked bacon, shredded chicken, or sautéed mushrooms

This recipe is all about comfort, simplicity, and using pantry staples to make something warm and satisfying with almost no effort.