Slow Cooker 3-Ingredient Baked Bean Macaroni

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the elbow macaroni for 2 to 3 minutes less than the package instructions (al dente). Drain thoroughly. Pre-boiling slightly keeps the pasta from becoming mushy during the slow-cooking process.

Pour the canned baked beans (with their sauce), drained macaroni, and BBQ sauce directly into the insert of a 4-to-6-quart slow cooker. Stir well until the pasta is evenly coated in the rich bean sauce.

Cover and cook on LOW for 1.5 to 2 hours (or HIGH for 45 to 60 minutes), stirring once halfway through, until hot, bubbly, and the pasta has absorbed the rich barbecue bean flavors.

Give the dish a gentle stir. Serve warm right out of the pot as a main dish or alongside grilled chicken, burgers, or pork chops.