Who doesn’t love macaroni and cheese? In this recipe we’re going to mix a comfort food favorite with some garden fresh sugar snap peas! It’s the perfect combo of creamy and crunchy!
Lately I’ve been wearing 2 winter coats at the same time, it’s that cold. Last night I was standing in the shower and was unsure if I was still freezing or the water was so hot it was burning me. It’s that cold. When I get home from work I grab all the cats at once, hold them against me and don’t’ release them until I am warm. Ok, it doesn’t matter if I’m cold, I always do that.
The storm last week in NYC wasn’t as bad as expected but we are expecting a little more snow today. 4 inches or 10 inches? Who knows. What I know is that all I want is warm food all the time during the Winter. It’s soup for lunch. It’s a warmed up brownie for a late afternoon snack. It’s tea nonstop. And it’s this Slow Cooker Macaroni and Cheese With Sugar Snap Peas for dinner.
The garden right now is dreary with greenhouses that have seen better days, fabric that’s been ripped off of plants and containers that are wrapped with tarps. When I think of the garden I like to imagine green lush plants, baskets of tomatoes and tomatillos, radishes bursting through the soil and tall sugar snap pea plants like we grew last year.
We’re in the process of preparing for the upcoming Spring season with hours of debate of what are we going to grow this year. The conversation always gets heated when pumpkins and corn are brought up, but it’s always smooth when we talk about sugar snap peas. We both agree – grow more sugar snap peas! During the Summer we love having them in fresh pasta dishes and bringing them to the studio for a snack. I love the versatility of how they can transition from a healthy harvest meal to something more comforting like this macaroni and cheese.
Because sugar snap peas are a garden favorite I wanted to incorporate them into one of my favorite dishes, macaroni and cheese. When I make mac and cheese, it’s goal is to be one thing. Ok 2 things. Cheesy. And delicious. When I’m craving a cheesy dish, I’m not really thinking about my figure or how to keep it healthy. Actually I think the words “healthy” and “macaroni and cheese” together should be a warning sign to stay away. I want it cheesy. Real cheesy. I want it overflowing with cheese. Make it rain cheese!
And this dish totally delivers on the cheesy side. Most people don’t turn to their slow cooker when it comes to mac and cheese, but I’m here to tell you it can make one heck of a creamy comfort food. By slow cooking it the noodles are going to soak up all that cheesy goodness, and the cheese on top is going to get a little crisp. Don’t you love the crisp pieces? Me too. I will fight for them! Also in the Winter we all need to use our slow cooker more. It’s a great way to make dinner easy by saving us time standing in the kitchen. All you have to do is throw everything in, set the timer and then you’re basically done. More time for watching The Good Wife (currently obsessed).
So go ahead and try this Slow Cooker Macaroni and Cheese With Sugar Snap Peas recipe. I’ll see you on the cheesy side!
Slow Cooker Macaroni and Cheese With Sugar Snap Peas
PrintIngredients
- 1 egg
- 3 cups whole milk
- 16 oz box of medium shells uncooked
- 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
- 2 cups sugar snap peas - cut into thirds
Instructions
- Spray the inside of your slow cooker with nonstick spray.
- In a bowl mix eggs and milk. Pour this mixture into your slow cooker.
- Add uncooked shells, 3 cups cheddar cheese, salt, pepper and dry mustard.
- Mix everything so combined.
- Sprinkle remaining 1 cup of cheese on top.
- Cook on low for 3 hours.
- With 30 minutes remaining stir in sugar snap peas. Continue to cook.
- Serve and enjoy.
Kate @ framed Cooks says
This mac and cheese not only looks scrumptious but healthy (and festive) with the green snap peas – definitely adding this to my Mac and Cheese repetoire!
Jess @ whatjessicabakednext says
This mac n cheese looks so good, Pamela! Love the addition of sugar snap peas!
[email protected] says
I never thought to add sugar snap peas to mac and cheese. Love it!
Sarah says
You grow your own snap peas? I AM SO IMPRESSED! That’s amazing. This mac and cheese looks delish – I like that it’s made in a slow cooker. Plus there are snap peas in there for some greens, which makes this healthy in my book!
Emma @ Bake Then Eat says
I really must give slow cooker mac and cheese a go this looks so good, its my ultimate go to comfort food. Love the addition of sugar snap peas!
Ruby Red Apron says
Yummy this looks so perfectly cheesy! What a great idea to add sugar snap peas!
Christina| A Soulful Twist says
Yes, Yes, and Yes! Make it rain cheese!
Monica says
It really is hard to keep warm these days, Pamela…and I keep seeing more snow for us in the coming days. It’s time to dig out the slow cooker and time to load up on some creamy cheesy goodness! I love the addition of the fresh sugar snap peas right at the end. More textures, more colors = better food. : )
Susan says
What a perfect way to add some healthy crunch to mac n cheese! This wouldn’t be a bad way to get my grandsons to eat their veggies either 🙂
Samina | The Cupcake Confession says
Hah! So jealous that it’s cold there! It’s crazy hot in here and somehow this year just does not feel like winters! (Not that it feels otherwise, but comparatively, much hotter) 😛 But that’s not going to stop me from eating this bowl of deliciousness! LOVE. it!
grace says
i’m becoming quite obsessed with my slow cooker, and who doesn’t love a batch of mac and cheese? the snap peas are a fabulous addition of color, crunch, and nutrients. 🙂
Trend-mixblog says
These all look amazing! Your posts always make me so hungry! Yum! 🙂
http://trend-mixblog.com/
Juliana says
Wow, mac and cheese in the slow cooker and yes, I like the idea of green in it…gooey cheese and crispy peas.
Hope you are enjoying your week Pamela 🙂
Amy (Savory Moments) says
I love a good mac n’ cheese – these fresh and bright peas look delicious in this one! I’ve been drinking tea non-stop these days lately as well 🙂
Heathers Looking Glass says
I love mac and cheese! Pinning this!
[email protected] Riffs says
Yup, I’m one of those people who have never made mac ‘n cheese in the slow cooker. Love the idea, though — I’ll have to try it. With sugar snap peas, of course. And thanks for reminding me — we should grow some in our garden this year (we didn’t last year for some reason).
Angela Donava says
I must try this! Nice post !
Have a nice day!
Angela Donava
http://www.lookbooks.fr/
The Squishy Monster says
I’m happy to hear that the sugar snap peas are a bonding talking point. More sugar snap peas for me, too! i know that the greenhouse will be in supermodel condition soon and I can’t wait to see it!
Koko says
This looks incredible! I didn’t know you could do Mac n cheese in a slow cooker! Look at those gorgeous snap peas…perfect pop of green!
Annie @ Annie's Noms says
This looks so delicious – I adore my slow cooker at the moment! It’s barely been away in the last few weeks! 🙂
Jennifer Farley says
That is some delicious looking comfort food!
glamdevils says
This looks so delicious! Sadly I don’t have a slow cooker but I think I need one too!
xx
Emilia says
It looks so great, it must be a very tasteful dish 🙂
Bam's Kitchen says
Great textures in the comfort food mac and cheese a little crunchy with the creamy is a good thing and maybe we can get kids and hubbys to eat their veggies. Your snow peas in your garden are so big, wow! I had no idea that snow peas and their vines got so tall