Put a frozen block of imitation crab in the crockpot and 4 pantry staples to get a dinner so incredible your husband will be begging for more.

This 5-ingredient slow cooker crab macaroni and cheese is exactly the kind of weeknight dinner I lean on when work runs late and I still want something cozy and a little bit special. You literally drop a frozen block of imitation crab in the crockpot with four pantry staples, walk away, and come back to a creamy, cheesy pasta that tastes like you put in way more effort than you actually did. It’s a Midwest-style comfort dish with a fun seafood twist, and it feels fancy enough for date night while still being practical for a busy Tuesday.

Serve this slow cooker crab mac and cheese straight from the crockpot with a simple green salad or steamed broccoli to balance the richness. Garlic bread or warm dinner rolls are great for scooping up the extra cheesy sauce. If you like a little heat, pass crushed red pepper flakes or hot sauce at the table. A crisp white wine, sparkling water with lemon, or iced tea pairs nicely with the creamy, slightly sweet crab flavor.

Servings: 4

1 (16-ounce) frozen block imitation crab, unthawed

Place the frozen block of imitation crab in the bottom of a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker so it sits flat against the insert. This should look like a solid block of crab pieces nestled right on the bottom.

Pour the uncooked elbow macaroni evenly around and over the frozen crab, letting some fall down the sides so the pasta surrounds the crab block.

Sprinkle the salt evenly over the dry pasta and crab. Pour the milk over everything, making sure most of the pasta is submerged in the liquid. Do not stir; just gently press down any pasta that is sitting completely dry on top so it touches the milk.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on HIGH for 1 hour 30 minutes. At about the 1-hour mark, quickly lift the lid and give the mixture a gentle stir, breaking up the thawing crab into bite-sized pieces and loosening any pasta from the sides. Replace the lid promptly to keep the heat in.

After 1 hour 30 minutes, open the lid and stir again. The pasta should be mostly tender and the crab fully thawed and flaky. Add the shredded cheddar cheese in 2 or 3 handfuls, stirring after each addition until the cheese is melted and the sauce looks smooth and creamy.

Cover and cook on HIGH for an additional 10 to 20 minutes, just until the sauce thickens slightly and the pasta is fully cooked but not mushy. Stir once more, taste, and adjust the salt if needed.

Turn the slow cooker to WARM and serve the crab mac and cheese straight from the crock, scooping down to get plenty of crab in each serving. If the sauce thickens as it sits, stir in a splash of extra milk to loosen it back up.

For a bit of extra flavor without adding more ingredients, you can use seasoned imitation crab (often labeled as crab-flavored seafood) and sharp or extra-sharp cheddar for a stronger cheesy taste. If you have them on hand and don’t mind going beyond five ingredients, stir in 1 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper with the salt, or top each bowl with a sprinkle of smoked paprika or hot sauce. You can also swap half the cheddar for mozzarella or Monterey Jack for a milder, stretchier cheese pull. To make it feel more like a crab bake, transfer the finished mac and cheese to a baking dish, top with buttered breadcrumbs, and broil for a few minutes until golden and crisp. For a lighter version, you can use 2% milk and reduce the cheese slightly, but the sauce will be a bit thinner. Food safety tips: Always start with properly frozen imitation crab and keep it frozen until you’re ready to cook; do not thaw it on the counter. Make sure the dish is heated until piping hot and the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F before serving. Once cooked, do not leave the crab mac and cheese at room temperature for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour if your kitchen is very warm). Cool leftovers quickly, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and eat within 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of milk if needed to loosen the sauce.