My grandmother made this every Sunday after church and we'd fight over the last scoop. The creamiest, cheesiest comfort food that practically makes itself.

This slow cooker 4-ingredient Amish cheddar noodle dish is the kind of creamy, cheesy comfort food that waits patiently for you after church, just like my grandmother’s did every Sunday. She’d slide the crock onto the table, lift the lid, and that warm cheddar steam would fog her glasses while we all elbowed in for the last scoop. It’s a simple Midwestern church-supper classic at heart: wide egg noodles, plenty of sharp orange cheddar, good butter, and rich evaporated milk, left to melt together into a glossy, stick-to-your-ribs casserole right in the slow cooker. It practically makes itself while you visit, nap, or sit on the porch, and it’s exactly the kind of humble, no-fuss recipe that has quietly fed farm families around here for generations.

Serve these Amish cheddar noodles straight from the slow cooker with a big spoon and a humble spirit. They’re rich and filling, so I like to pair them with something simple and fresh: sliced garden tomatoes with a sprinkle of salt, a crisp green salad with a tangy vinaigrette, or steamed green beans with a squeeze of lemon to cut through the creaminess. For a Sunday-style spread, set them alongside roast chicken, meatloaf, or ham, plus a pan of buttered corn or peas. Leftovers reheat well and make a cozy side dish for grilled pork chops or a bowl-meal all on their own with just a bit of black pepper on top.

Servings: 6

12 oz wide egg noodles (dried, not frozen)

Spray the inside of a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker lightly with nonstick cooking spray or rub with a bit of butter to help keep the noodles from sticking.

Spread the uncooked wide egg noodles evenly in the bottom of the slow cooker. They will look dry at this point, but they will soften and soak up the sauce as they cook.

Scatter the shredded sharp cheddar cheese evenly over the noodles, making sure to cover as much of the surface as you can. Don’t pack the cheese down too tightly; you want it to melt into all the nooks and crannies.

Lay the slices of butter over the top of the cheese, spacing them out so they’ll melt and coat the noodles and cheese as evenly as possible.

Pour the evaporated milk slowly over everything, trying to moisten as many of the noodles as you can. Gently press down with the back of a spoon just enough to help the milk seep through the layers, but do not stir yet.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Every slow cooker runs a little differently, so begin checking at the 2-hour mark. The noodles should be tender, the cheese fully melted, and the sauce thick and creamy around the edges.

At about 1 1/2 hours, quickly lift the lid and give the noodles a gentle but thorough stir from the bottom up, making sure any dry noodles are pushed down into the cheesy milk mixture. If the mixture looks very dry or the noodles seem stiff, drizzle in up to 1/2 cup water, a little at a time, stirring gently. Replace the lid promptly so you don’t lose too much heat.

Continue cooking on LOW, checking every 20 minutes until the noodles are tender but not mushy and the sauce is glossy and creamy. The edges may look slightly golden and you may see small pools of melted cheese—that’s perfect.

Once done, taste and add a small pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper if you like. Stir well to coat all the noodles in the cheese sauce. Switch the slow cooker to WARM, put the lid back on, and let it sit 10 to 15 minutes before serving to thicken slightly and set up, just like a good Sunday casserole.

Serve straight from the slow cooker, scooping from the bottom so everyone gets plenty of sauce. The noodles will continue to thicken as they sit, so if reheating later, stir in a splash of milk to loosen before warming gently.

For extra creaminess, you can replace half of the evaporated milk with heavy cream, but keep in mind this will make the dish even richer. If you prefer a milder flavor, use medium cheddar instead of sharp, or mix half sharp cheddar with half Monterey Jack. To stretch the recipe for a crowd, you can add up to 4 more ounces of noodles and an extra 1/2 cup evaporated milk, but watch closely so they don’t dry out; add a little water or milk if needed. For a bit of color and a nod to church potlucks, stir in 1 to 2 cups of thawed peas or mixed vegetables during the last 30 minutes of cooking so they warm through without getting mushy. If your family likes a little crunch, transfer the finished noodles to a buttered casserole dish, sprinkle with buttered breadcrumbs or crushed crackers, and broil for a couple of minutes until golden, watching carefully. Food safety tips: Keep the slow cooker on LOW or WARM once the noodles are done and serve within 2 hours; after that, refrigerate leftovers promptly in shallow containers. Reheat leftovers to steaming hot (165°F) before serving, adding a splash of milk to loosen the sauce. Do not leave the cooked noodles sitting at room temperature for more than 2 hours, and never reheat in the slow cooker from cold—use the stovetop or microwave and then transfer to the slow cooker on WARM if you need to hold them for serving.