My grandmother made this every Sunday during hard times and we never felt poor eating it. Still the most comforting thing I know how to make.

This oven baked 3-ingredient creamed pork and potatoes is the kind of dish that makes a hard day feel softer. It comes from the way my grandmother cooked during lean years in our small Midwestern town—stretching a little meat, a few potatoes, and a can of cream soup into something that felt like a Sunday feast. The pork turns tender, the potatoes soak up a thick, creamy white gravy, and the whole thing bubbles up golden around the edges in a heavy brown casserole dish. It’s simple, budget-friendly, and deeply comforting—exactly the kind of meal you make when you want your family to feel cared for without fuss or fancy ingredients.

Serve this creamed pork and potatoes straight from the casserole dish with a big spoon, letting everyone dig into the tender pork, soft potatoes, and thick gravy. It’s lovely with something bright and crunchy on the side, like steamed green beans, buttered peas, or a simple salad with vinegar dressing to cut through the richness. Warm dinner rolls or slices of buttered bread are perfect for mopping up the creamy sauce. If you want to stretch it even further, spoon it over plain egg noodles or white rice so that gravy has something extra to cling to.

Servings: 4–6

1 1/2 to 2 pounds boneless pork (pork shoulder, country-style ribs, or pork loin), cut into bite-sized pieces

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 2 1/2- to 3-quart brown stoneware casserole dish or any deep baking dish.

Peel the potatoes and slice them into thin rounds, about 1/4 inch thick. Try to keep the slices even so they cook at the same rate.

Cut the pork into small, bite-sized pieces. Trim off any large pieces of fat, but don’t worry about a little marbling—that helps keep the meat tender.

Spread half of the sliced potatoes in an even layer on the bottom of the casserole dish, overlapping them slightly like shingles.

Scatter half of the pork pieces evenly over the potatoes, tucking some pieces down between the slices so every bite gets a bit of meat.

Spoon one can of cream soup over the pork and potatoes. Use the back of the spoon to gently spread it so it roughly covers the layer. It doesn’t need to be perfect; it will loosen and spread as it bakes.

Repeat the layers: add the remaining sliced potatoes in an even layer, then the rest of the pork scattered over the top.

Spoon the second can of cream soup over everything, again spreading it gently so most of the top is coated. You want a fairly solid blanket of soup so it turns into a thick, creamy white gravy as it cooks.

Cover the casserole dish tightly with a lid or a layer of foil. This traps the steam so the pork turns tender and the potatoes soften all the way through.

Bake covered at 350°F (175°C) for 1 hour 15 minutes. At this point, carefully remove the lid or foil, watching out for hot steam.

Check doneness by sliding a knife into the center; the potatoes should be very tender and the pork cooked through. If the potatoes still feel firm, re-cover and bake another 15–20 minutes before uncovering.

Once the potatoes are tender, return the dish to the oven uncovered and bake for another 15–20 minutes, or until the edges are bubbling and turning golden and the top looks set and creamy. This uncovered time helps the gravy thicken and gives you those browned, comforting edges.

Let the casserole rest for 10–15 minutes before serving. The gravy will thicken as it cools slightly, and the layers will hold together better when you scoop it out.

Serve warm, spooning down through the layers so each serving has tender pork, soft potatoes, and plenty of thick, creamy gravy.

To keep this true to its three-ingredient, hard-times roots, any extras are optional, but they can help you tailor it to your family. For picky eaters, use cream of chicken soup for a milder flavor and cut the pork into very small pieces so it blends right into the potatoes. If your family likes a bit more seasoning and you don’t mind stretching past the three basics, you can sprinkle salt, pepper, and a little garlic powder over each layer before adding the soup. A handful of shredded cheese over the top for the last 10–15 minutes of baking makes it extra cozy and kid-friendly. To bulk it up, you can tuck a handful of frozen peas or corn between the layers of pork and potatoes; they’ll cook right in the gravy. If you prefer a lighter version, use lean pork loin and one can of cream soup thinned with 1/2 cup of milk or water, knowing the sauce will be a bit looser. Leftovers reheat well in the oven or microwave—add a splash of milk or water if the gravy has thickened too much overnight. And if you ever need to feed a crowd, double the recipe in a larger roasting pan and add 10–15 minutes to the covered baking time, checking that the potatoes are tender before uncovering to brown.