My dad says this savory dinner is the best way to celebrate. Just 4 ingredients for a rich, hearty meal

My dad always said the best way to celebrate anything—a birthday, a good harvest, or just making it through a long week—was with a big plate of something hot, hearty, and simple. This slow cooker 4-ingredient beef and beer noodles fit that bill perfectly. It’s a true Midwestern comfort dish: tender chunks of beef simmered all day in a dark stout until the beer cooks down into a rich, glossy gravy that clings to wide egg noodles. I came up with this pared-down version years ago when money and time were both tight, and it quickly became Dad’s favorite “special” supper. With only four ingredients and a slow cooker doing the work, it’s the kind of practical, stick-to-your-ribs meal farm families like mine have leaned on for generations.

Serve these beef and beer noodles piled high on warm dinner plates, with something bright and crisp on the side to balance the richness—think a simple green salad with a tangy vinaigrette or some buttered peas and carrots. A slice of crusty bread or a warm dinner roll is handy for mopping up every last bit of that dark, savory gravy. If you like, pour a small glass of the same stout you used in the recipe, or offer iced tea or cold milk for a more old-fashioned farmhouse feel.

Servings: 6

2 1/2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1- to 1 1/2-inch chunks

Add the beef stew meat to the bottom of a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker, spreading it out in an even layer so it cooks evenly.

Pour the stout beer over the beef, then add the condensed beef gravy. Stir gently to coat all the meat and to combine the beer and gravy into one mixture.

Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours, or on HIGH for 3 1/2 to 4 hours, until the beef is very tender and the sauce is thickened and glossy. Avoid lifting the lid too often so the heat and moisture stay inside.

About 20 minutes before serving, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil on the stovetop. Add the wide egg noodles and cook according to the package directions until just tender.

Drain the noodles well, then return them to the warm pot. Ladle some of the hot beef and beer gravy from the slow cooker over the noodles and toss gently until the noodles are well coated.

Spoon the coated noodles onto plates, then top with generous scoops of the tender beef and more of the rich, dark gravy. Serve hot, while the noodles are steaming and the sauce is still glossy.

For a slightly creamier version, stir 1/2 to 3/4 cup sour cream into the hot beef and gravy in the slow cooker right before serving; it will mellow the stout and give the sauce a stroganoff-style feel. If you prefer a stronger beer flavor, choose an extra-stout or a malty porter; for something milder, use a smoother brown ale. You can also swap the wide egg noodles for another sturdy pasta, like pappardelle or rotini, or even serve the beef and beer gravy over mashed potatoes or buttered rice instead of noodles. If your gravy seems thinner than you’d like, remove the lid during the last 30 minutes of cooking on HIGH to let it reduce, or stir in a slurry of 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon cold water and cook a bit longer until thickened. Leftovers reheat nicely on the stovetop with a splash of water or broth to loosen the sauce, making this a good make-ahead meal for busy weeks.