My uncle brought this creamy 4 ingredient dish to our Sunday dinner and the whole family was begging for his secret

This slow cooker 4-ingredient ham and pea macaroni is the kind of creamy, comforting dish that shows up at a Sunday dinner and suddenly everyone is asking for the recipe. My uncle actually brought a version of this to our family table one weekend, and we were all shocked when he admitted it was just four simple ingredients and a slow cooker. It’s perfect for busy days when you want something warm and homemade without hovering over the stove, and it’s especially handy for feeding a hungry family or bringing to a potluck.

Serve this creamy ham and pea macaroni straight from the slow cooker with a simple green salad or steamed broccoli to balance out the richness. Warm dinner rolls or buttered toast soldiers are great for scooping up the extra cheese sauce. It also pairs nicely with sliced fresh fruit for the kids, like apple wedges or grapes, to round out the meal. If you’re hosting Sunday dinner, set the slow cooker on the table, keep it on warm, and let everyone scoop their own bowl alongside a crisp salad and maybe a pan of roasted carrots.

Servings: 6

3 cups uncooked elbow macaroni (about 12 ounces)

Lightly grease the inside of your slow cooker with cooking spray or a little butter to help prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.

Pour the uncooked elbow macaroni into the bottom of the slow cooker and spread it into an even layer.

Add the diced cooked ham and frozen peas on top of the macaroni. Gently toss everything together so the ham and peas are fairly evenly distributed through the pasta.

Pour the thick prepared cheese sauce over the macaroni, ham, and peas. Use a spatula to spread the sauce so it mostly covers the pasta. Do not add water or milk; the cheese sauce will create the creamy base as it heats.

Stir gently from the bottom to the top, making sure the macaroni is coated as much as possible in the cheese sauce. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but you want most of the pasta touching some sauce so it cooks evenly.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, or until the macaroni is tender. Avoid lifting the lid during the first 1 1/2 hours so the heat and steam stay trapped inside.

After about 2 hours, quickly lift the lid and give the mixture a good stir, scraping along the bottom and sides. If the sauce looks too thick, you can gently fold it together; the steam will continue to loosen it as it finishes cooking.

Check a piece of pasta for doneness. If it’s still a bit firm, cover and continue cooking on LOW for another 15–30 minutes, then check again.

Once the macaroni is tender and everything is hot and creamy, give it one last stir to bring up any extra sauce from the bottom and mix the ham and peas evenly throughout.

Switch the slow cooker to WARM and serve straight from the crock. The dish should look thick, velvety, and steamy, with the elbow macaroni coated in yellow cheese sauce, pink cubes of ham, and bright green peas throughout.

If your family prefers a looser, saucier macaroni, stir in 1/4 to 1/2 cup of warm milk or chicken broth at the end until it reaches your favorite consistency (this technically adds an ingredient, so keep it optional if you want to stay true to the original four). For extra cheesiness without changing the main recipe, you can sprinkle shredded cheddar on top just before serving and pop the slow cooker lid back on for 5–10 minutes to melt. For picky eaters who side-eye peas, try using smaller peas or lightly mashing some so they blend into the sauce, or swap peas for a mild veggie they like, such as finely chopped steamed broccoli or corn. If you need to stretch the dish to feed more people, serve it over baked potatoes or alongside garlic bread and a big salad. You can also use different shapes of small pasta, like small shells or mini penne, but cooking time may vary slightly, so start checking for doneness a bit earlier. To plan ahead, dice leftover holiday ham and freeze it in 2-cup portions so you can toss it straight into the slow cooker with the peas and pasta on busy weeknights.