Set this before the morning parade and came home to something so buttery and tender my husband asked if I'd been cooking all day.

This is the kind of set-it-and-forget-it potato dish that fits right into a busy holiday morning or any long day away from home. I put these thick-cut russet wedges in the slow cooker before our little town’s parade, and by the time we got back, the whole house smelled like I’d been tending pots all day. The potatoes turn out buttery and herb-flecked, tender clear through with just enough structure to pick up with your fingers. It’s a simple three-ingredient recipe in the spirit of old Midwestern farmhouse cooking: hearty, practical, and meant to feed a hungry crowd without fuss.

Serve these herb butter potato wedges straight from the slow cooker or piled onto a warm, rustic platter so the melted butter can pool around them. They’re lovely beside roast chicken, meatloaf, baked ham, or a skillet of pork chops. I like to add a crisp green salad or buttered peas for color, and a pan of dinner rolls to mop up every last bit of herby butter. They’re also right at home on a game-day spread with sour cream or ranch for dipping.

Servings: 6

3 pounds russet potatoes, scrubbed and cut into thick wedges (about 8 wedges per potato)

Prepare the potatoes: Scrub the russet potatoes well and pat them dry. Cut each potato lengthwise into thick wedges, about 8 wedges per potato. Thick wedges hold up better to long, slow cooking and stay pleasantly chunky instead of falling apart.

Butter and season: In a small bowl or measuring cup, melt the butter. Stir the dried Italian herb blend into the melted butter until the herbs are evenly moistened. If using, stir in the salt and black pepper so the seasoning is dispersed throughout.

Layer in the slow cooker: Lightly grease the bottom and sides of a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker with a bit of the herb butter or a quick swipe of oil. Arrange the potato wedges in the slow cooker in overlapping layers, like shingles on a roof, so they cook evenly and soak up the butter.

Pour on the herb butter: Slowly pour the melted herb butter mixture over the layered potatoes, making sure to drizzle it between the wedges as best you can. Use a spoon or clean hands to gently turn the top layer once or twice so everything gets a good coat of butter and herbs.

Cook low and slow: Cover the slow cooker with the lid. Cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours, or until the potatoes are very tender when pierced with a fork but still hold their wedge shape. If you’re in more of a hurry, you can cook on HIGH for about 3 to 3 1/2 hours, but the low-and-slow method gives that “cooked all day” texture and flavor.

Gently toss before serving: Once the potatoes are done, remove the lid and let some of the steam escape for a minute. Use a wide spatula or wooden spoon to gently lift and turn the wedges from the bottom so they’re all bathed in the buttery herb mixture. Be careful not to mash them; they’ll be very tender.

Serve warm and buttery: Transfer the wedges to a warm, rustic platter, letting the herb butter drizzle over the top so it pools around the potatoes. Serve immediately while they’re steaming hot and glossy, or keep them on the WARM setting in the slow cooker for up to an hour until you’re ready to eat.

For garlic lovers, stir 1 to 2 teaspoons of garlic powder into the melted butter along with the dried herbs, or add a few smashed garlic cloves to the slow cooker so they perfume the potatoes as they cook. If you prefer fresh herbs, keep the dried herbs for cooking, then finish the hot potatoes with a handful of chopped fresh parsley or chives right before serving for a bright, green flecked look. To get a lightly crisped edge while keeping the slow-cooked tenderness, spread the finished wedges on a baking sheet and broil for 3 to 5 minutes just before serving. For a cheesier version, sprinkle grated Parmesan or shredded cheddar over the potatoes in the last 15 minutes of slow cooking so it melts into the butter. You can also swap in Yukon Gold potatoes for a creamier texture, or use a salted herb butter and reduce or omit the added salt. If cooking for a smaller household, halve the recipe but use the same cooking time, checking a bit earlier, and choose a smaller slow cooker so the potatoes don’t dry out.