My sister throws together this hearty budget dinner whenever she needs to feed a crowd on a dime. Just 4 ingredients create a wildly delicious and thick savory coating over tender noodles that tastes

This slow cooker 4-ingredient refried bean pasta is exactly the kind of hearty, budget-friendly dinner I lean on when I need to feed a crowd without fuss. It has all the cozy flavors of a cheesy bean burrito—creamy refried beans, taco-style seasoning, and melty cheddar—wrapped around tender rotini noodles. Everything cooks low and slow in the crockpot, then gets spread onto a foil-lined baking sheet so the sauce thickens into a rich, savory coating that clings to every spiral. It’s simple pantry cooking at its best, and no one ever guesses it only took four ingredients.

Serve this pasta hot, straight from the foil-lined baking sheet, with a simple green salad or some steamed corn on the side to brighten up the plate. A bowl of tortilla chips is fun for scooping up the extra sauce, and a little sour cream or plain yogurt on top can cool things down if anyone is sensitive to spice. If you have them on hand, set out sliced green onions, jarred jalapeños, or a squeeze bottle of hot sauce so everyone can doctor their own serving. A pitcher of iced tea or lemonade rounds out this easy, crowd-pleasing meal.

Servings: 8

1 pound (16 ounces) dry rotini pasta

Line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, making sure the foil comes up the sides a bit to catch any sauce. Set aside for later.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk or stir together the refried beans and chicken or vegetable broth until fairly smooth. It will look loose at first, but this is what allows the pasta to cook and the sauce to thicken in the slow cooker.

Pour the bean-broth mixture into a large slow cooker (5–6 quarts or bigger). Stir in the dry rotini pasta, making sure all the noodles are coated and mostly submerged in the sauce. Use the back of a spoon to gently press any dry pieces down into the liquid.

Sprinkle 2 cups of the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the pasta and sauce in the slow cooker, but do not stir it in. This cheese will melt down into the mixture as it cooks and help create that thick, burrito-like coating.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on HIGH for 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours, or on LOW for 3 to 4 hours. About halfway through the cooking time, give the pasta a gentle stir, scraping along the bottom and sides to make sure nothing is sticking and all the noodles are cooking evenly. Replace the lid quickly to keep the heat in.

The pasta is done when the rotini is tender but still holds its shape, and the sauce is thick and creamy. If the mixture seems too loose, continue cooking in 15-minute increments, stirring gently, until the sauce clings heavily to the noodles. If it seems too thick before the pasta is fully tender, stir in a splash of hot water or additional broth.

Once the pasta is cooked and the sauce is rich and dense, carefully transfer the hot mixture to the foil-lined baking sheet. Use a spatula or large spoon to spread it into an even layer all the way to the edges. This step helps it cool slightly and lets the sauce set into that hearty, burrito-style coating over every spiral.

Immediately sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the top of the hot pasta in an even layer. The residual heat will melt the cheese into bright orange streaks across the surface. If you want it extra melty and bubbly, you can slide the baking sheet under a hot broiler for 1 to 2 minutes, watching closely so the cheese doesn’t burn.

Let the pasta sit on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes so it thickens up a bit more and is easier to scoop. Serve straight from the foil-lined pan, scooping generous portions so everyone gets plenty of that cheesy refried bean coating.

Refrigerate leftovers in a shallow, covered container within 2 hours of cooking. To reheat, warm in the oven, covered with foil, at 325°F until hot, or microwave individual portions with a splash of water or broth, stirring halfway through so the sauce loosens back up.

For a vegetarian version, simply use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. If your family likes a little extra kick, stir 1–2 teaspoons of chili powder or taco seasoning into the bean and broth mixture before adding the pasta; this keeps the ingredient list simple while giving the sauce more of that classic burrito flavor. For picky eaters who prefer things extra cheesy, add another 1/2–1 cup of cheddar on top when you spread the pasta onto the baking sheet. You can also swap the rotini for any short, sturdy pasta shape you have on hand, like penne or shells—just keep an eye on the cooking time, as different shapes can soften a bit faster or slower. If you need the dish to stretch even further, serve it spooned into warm tortillas for a fun “pasta burrito” twist, or over plain white rice. For a creamier texture, you can stir in a few spoonfuls of sour cream or plain Greek yogurt after cooking, but do this off the heat so the dairy doesn’t curdle. Food safety tips: Make sure the pasta and bean mixture reaches a safe, steamy temperature throughout before serving; slow cookers can vary, so check that the center is piping hot. Do not leave the finished dish out at room temperature for more than 2 hours (1 hour if your kitchen is very warm). Cool leftovers quickly in shallow containers and refrigerate promptly. Reheat leftovers to steaming hot before serving, and discard any portions that have been left out too long or reheated more than once.