Description
Slow cooker pasta blends Italian comfort with easy preparation. Hearty ingredients meld together, creating a rich meal you’ll savor with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups elbow pasta (uncooked)
- 2 cups cheddar cheese (shredded)
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 (10 ¾ oz) can cheddar cheese soup
- 1 ¼ cups milk
- 3 ½ tbsps butter
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp mustard powder
- ½ tsp paprika
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Cook elbow pasta to al dente perfection, drain thoroughly, and set aside for later incorporation.
- Cheese Sauce Foundation: Melt unsalted butter in a skillet over medium heat, then seamlessly blend shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheeses until achieving a silky, uniform sauce.
- Slow Cooker Assembly: Pour the molten cheese mixture into the slow cooker, creating a luxurious base. Add cooked pasta, sour cream, cheddar cheese soup, whole milk, salt, mustard powder, and paprika, stirring gently to ensure comprehensive flavor melding.
- Flavor Infusion: Set slow cooker to low heat, allowing the pasta to simmer and absorb the rich, creamy essence for approximately 2 hours. Occasionally stir to prevent cheese from clumping and maintain a consistent, velvety texture.
- Serving: Once the pasta reaches a decadent, bubbling consistency, serve immediately, relishing the indulgent, cheese-laden masterpiece straight from the slow cooker.
Notes
- Pasta Perfection: Cook pasta just until al dente to prevent mushiness during slow cooking, ensuring a perfectly textured final dish.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Slowly melt butter and cheese over medium heat, stirring constantly to achieve a smooth, lump-free sauce that blends seamlessly.
- Stirring Strategy: Gently mix ingredients every 30 minutes during slow cooking to prevent cheese from sticking and distribute flavors evenly throughout the pasta.
- Temperature Control: Use low heat setting to prevent scorching and allow flavors to meld gradually, creating a rich, creamy texture without burning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 740 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 19 g
- Cholesterol: 64 mg