Pour dry mafalda pasta in the slow cooker and 3 other ingredients to serve up a dish so tasty your friends will be begging for more!

This 4-ingredient slow cooker mafalda feast is the kind of set-it-and-forget-it comfort food that makes busy weeknights feel special. You literally pour dry mafalda pasta straight into the slow cooker, add three simple pantry-friendly ingredients, and let it turn into a rich, saucy, cheesy pasta bake that tastes like it took all afternoon. Mafalda’s ruffled edges soak up the sauce beautifully, giving you that cozy, Midwestern potluck vibe with almost no effort.

Serve this slow cooker mafalda with a simple green salad (bagged salad is just fine) and some warm garlic bread or buttered rolls to scoop up the extra sauce. A side of steamed green beans or roasted broccoli rounds out the plate nicely. For casual get-togethers, I like to set the slow cooker right on warm and let everyone scoop their own, then offer a little bowl of extra shredded mozzarella or Parmesan on the side for those who like things extra cheesy.

Servings: 6

12 oz dry mafalda pasta (uncooked)

Lightly coat the inside of a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray to help prevent sticking.

Spread the dry mafalda pasta evenly over the very bottom of the slow cooker in a single layer so the ruffled edges are visible and well distributed.

In a large bowl or measuring pitcher, whisk together the marinara sauce and chicken broth (or vegetable broth) until fully combined. This extra liquid helps the dry pasta cook evenly and stay saucy.

Slowly pour the sauce-and-broth mixture over the dry mafalda pasta in the slow cooker, making sure to cover all the noodles as evenly as possible. Gently press down any pasta that is sticking up so it’s mostly submerged in liquid.

Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the saucy pasta mixture. Do not stir; keeping the pasta on the bottom and cheese on top helps it cook into a layered, lasagna-style dish.

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, until the pasta is tender but not mushy. Around the 1 1/2-hour mark on HIGH (or 3-hour mark on LOW), carefully lift the lid away from you to avoid steam, and check a noodle for doneness.

Once the pasta is just tender, gently stir from the bottom to mix the cheese, sauce, and pasta together into a creamy, ruffled casserole. If it looks a bit loose, let it sit covered on WARM or with the heat off for 5 to 10 minutes; the pasta will continue to absorb some liquid.

Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella over the top, cover, and let it sit for another 5 to 10 minutes on WARM until the cheese melts and gets gooey.

Taste and adjust seasoning at the table with a pinch of salt, black pepper, or a sprinkle of dried Italian herbs if you like. Serve straight from the slow cooker while warm.

For a meatier version, stir 1 pound of fully cooked and well-drained ground beef or Italian sausage into the sauce-and-broth mixture before pouring it over the dry pasta, but be aware this technically adds a fifth ingredient. You can also fold in 1 cup of small-curd cottage cheese or ricotta right after the pasta is tender for a creamier, lasagna-like texture. For picky eaters, choose a very smooth marinara and avoid chunky vegetable sauces; if your kids like extra cheese, offer more shredded mozzarella or Parmesan at the table. To keep this vegetarian, use vegetable broth and a meatless marinara. If you need to reduce sodium, choose low-sodium broth and sauce, and taste before adding any extra salt. Food safety tips: Always start with clean hands, utensils, and a clean slow cooker. Make sure any meat you choose to add is fully cooked and hot before mixing into the sauce, as this recipe is designed for cooking pasta, not raw meat. Avoid leaving the finished pasta at room temperature for more than 2 hours; switch the slow cooker to WARM for serving and refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours in shallow containers. Reheat leftovers to at least 165°F before serving, adding a splash of broth or water if the pasta has thickened too much.