Dump kidney beans over ground beef, plus 3 other ingredients, into slow cooker for a hearty meal that’s the one everyone asks for

This slow cooker 5-ingredient Amish-style shipwreck casserole is the kind of cozy, no-fuss meal that feels like it came straight from a church potluck table. Everything goes right into the slow cooker—starting with raw ground beef on the bottom and a generous layer of kidney beans dumped over the top—so it’s perfect for busy days when you still want something hearty and homemade. Around here, this is the one everyone asks for when the weather turns chilly or when we’re feeding a crowd on a budget.

Serve this casserole hot right out of the slow cooker with a simple green salad or steamed green beans to balance the richness. Warm dinner rolls, cornbread, or buttered toast are great for soaking up the saucy juices at the bottom. A little shredded cheddar or a spoonful of sour cream on top makes it extra comforting, and if your family likes a bit of crunch, add some crushed saltine crackers or tortilla chips at the table.

Servings: 6

1 1/2 pounds ground beef, raw

Lightly grease the inside of a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray or a thin swipe of oil to help with cleanup.

Place the raw ground beef in an even layer on the bottom of the slow cooker. Gently break it up with your fingers or a spoon, but do not cook it first. This is your base layer.

Spread the thinly sliced onion evenly over the raw ground beef, covering it as much as possible. This helps flavor the meat as it cooks.

Arrange the thinly sliced potatoes in an even layer over the onions. It’s fine if they overlap a bit; just try to keep the layer fairly even so everything cooks through.

Dump the drained kidney beans over the potatoes, spreading them out lightly with your hand or a spoon so they form a loose, even layer. This is the step that gives the casserole its signature hearty feel.

In a small bowl, stir the condensed tomato soup with 1/2 cup of water until smooth. Pour this mixture evenly over everything in the slow cooker, making sure to cover as much of the top as you can. Do not stir the layers.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours, or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, until the potatoes are tender and the ground beef is cooked through.

Once cooked, gently stir from the bottom to mix some of the layers together, being careful not to mash the potatoes too much. Taste and season with salt and black pepper as needed.

Spoon the casserole into bowls and serve warm. If you like, top with shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream, or chopped fresh parsley right before serving.

For picky eaters, you can peel the potatoes so they look more like classic mashed or scalloped potatoes once everything is stirred together, and chop the onions very small so they blend into the sauce. If your family prefers milder beans, swap the kidney beans for pinto or black beans—just keep the same amount and still dump them right over the raw ground beef layer. To stretch the meal for a bigger family, add an extra potato or two and a second can of kidney beans, then increase the tomato soup to 2 cans and add an extra 1/2 cup of water. For a slightly sweeter, more old-fashioned Amish-style taste, stir 1 to 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and a splash of cider vinegar into the tomato soup before pouring. You can also lean into a cheesier version by sprinkling 1 to 2 cups of shredded cheddar or Colby Jack over the top during the last 10 to 15 minutes of cooking so it melts without drying out. If you need to prep ahead, slice the potatoes and onions the night before and store them in the fridge (potatoes covered in water, then drained before layering) so in the morning all you have to do is layer the raw beef, dump on the kidney beans, add the veggies, and pour the soup mixture over before heading out the door.