Sprinkle dry cornmeal around raw chicken legs, together with 2 ingredients, into slow cooker for a filling meal that's always a yes in my house

This slow cooker 4-ingredient chicken and cornmeal mush is one of those cozy, low-effort dinners that I throw together on the busiest workdays. It starts exactly how the headline promises: you lay raw chicken legs in the slow cooker and simply sprinkle dry cornmeal all around them, then add just two more pantry ingredients. As it cooks, the cornmeal drinks up the broth and juices from the chicken and turns into a savory, spoonable mush that feels like a big warm hug in a bowl. It reminds me of a shortcut take on old-fashioned chicken and dumplings or chicken and polenta, but with almost no hands-on time, which is why it’s always a yes in my house.

Ladle the chicken and cornmeal mush into shallow bowls and top with a little extra black pepper or a drizzle of olive oil if you like. I usually add a simple green side, like steamed broccoli, roasted green beans, or a quick salad with vinaigrette to balance the richness. Warm dinner rolls or buttered toast are great for scooping up the soft mush. If you want to stretch the meal, serve it over a handful of baby spinach in each bowl—the heat wilts the greens just enough and adds some color without any extra cooking.

Servings: 4

2 pounds chicken legs (drumsticks, about 6–8 pieces)

Lightly spray the inside of your slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray or rub it with a little oil to help prevent sticking.

Arrange the raw chicken legs in a single layer on the bottom of the slow cooker. It’s okay if they overlap slightly, but try to keep most of the meat in contact with the bottom for even cooking.

Sprinkle the dry cornmeal evenly all around and between the chicken legs, letting it fall into the gaps and around the sides. You want the cornmeal surrounding the chicken, not piled just on top.

Pour the chicken broth gently over the chicken and cornmeal, trying not to dislodge the cornmeal too much from around the legs. The broth should mostly cover the chicken; if your slow cooker is very wide, you can add up to 1/2 cup more broth.

Sprinkle the salt evenly over the top. Do not stir—the cornmeal will hydrate and thicken as it cooks, using the broth and chicken juices.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for 6–7 hours, or on HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the chicken is very tender and the cornmeal has thickened into a soft, spoonable mush.

Once cooked, use tongs to gently pull the chicken legs up through the cornmeal mush. If you like, you can remove the meat from the bones and stir the shredded chicken back into the mush for easier serving.

Stir the cornmeal mush well to combine any liquid on top with the thicker mixture underneath. Taste and adjust the salt if needed. If the mush is thicker than you like, stir in a splash of hot water or extra broth until it reaches your preferred consistency.

Serve hot in bowls, making sure everyone gets plenty of chicken and a generous scoop of the cornmeal mush.

For more flavor without adding extra ingredients, brown the chicken legs in a skillet before adding them to the slow cooker; the browned bits add a deeper, roasty taste to the final mush. If you have a few extra pantry staples on hand and want to dress this up, stir in 1 teaspoon of dried Italian seasoning or a big pinch of garlic powder with the salt. For a creamier, richer mush, stir in 2–3 tablespoons of butter or a splash of cream right before serving. You can also add vegetables: scatter 1–2 cups of frozen mixed vegetables or corn kernels over the chicken before sprinkling on the cornmeal (this technically adds ingredients, but it’s a nice way to make it a full one-pot meal). If you prefer white meat, swap the legs for bone-in chicken thighs, which stay juicy and shred beautifully. Leftovers reheat well on the stove with an extra splash of broth or water to loosen the mush; it thickens as it cools, so don’t be afraid to thin it back out. For a kid-friendly twist, top each bowl with a little shredded cheese you already have in the fridge and let it melt into the hot cornmeal mush.