April Showers Comfort: Just 4 simple ingredients. I make it when I want a hearty dinner handled hours ahead with absolutely zero fuss on a rainy day!

When the sky turns pewter and the rain settles in for the day, I like to put supper on early and let the house fill up with good smells while I go about my business. This 4-ingredient slow cooker poor man’s chicken fettuccine is the kind of recipe my Midwestern neighbors and I have leaned on for decades—simple pantry ingredients, no fancy steps, and a creamy, stick-to-your-ribs sauce that hugs every thick, flat ribbon of pasta. It’s a cousin to the old church-potluck casseroles, just updated for the slow cooker so the work is done hours ahead with absolutely no fuss.

This is a full, hearty bowl all by itself, but I like to scoop it into warm bowls and pass a simple green salad or some buttered peas alongside to brighten things up. A basket of warm dinner rolls or thick slices of buttered white bread is very true to our Midwestern tables and perfect for sopping up the extra creamy sauce. If you enjoy a little color, sprinkle on some chopped fresh parsley or a good grind of black pepper just before serving.

Servings: 4–6

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts)

Lightly grease the inside of a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker with a little oil or nonstick spray so the creamy sauce doesn’t stick too much.

Lay the boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts) in a single layer on the bottom of the slow cooker.

In a bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the condensed cream of chicken soup and the chicken broth until fairly smooth. It doesn’t have to be perfect; just break up most of the lumps.

Pour the soup-and-broth mixture evenly over the chicken, making sure the pieces are mostly submerged in the creamy liquid.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for about 4 to 5 hours, or on HIGH for about 2½ to 3 hours, until the chicken is very tender and easily shreds with a fork.

Once the chicken is tender, use two forks right in the slow cooker to gently shred it into bite-sized pieces, stirring so it’s well mixed into the hot, creamy sauce.

Break the dry fettuccine (or other thick flat ribbon pasta) in half so it fits more easily into the slow cooker. Nestle the broken pasta down into the sauce, turning and pressing gently with a spoon so that all the strands are coated and mostly submerged in the creamy mixture.

Cover again and cook on HIGH for 25 to 40 minutes, stirring once or twice during cooking, until the pasta is tender but not mushy. The sauce will look very creamy and glossy, and it will bubble a bit around the edges as it thickens and clings to the ribbons.

Once the pasta is cooked to your liking and the sauce is thick and velvety, taste and adjust with a pinch of salt and pepper if you like (optional, not counted in the 4 ingredients). If the sauce seems too thick, you can splash in a little extra hot water or broth and stir until it loosens slightly.

Spoon the creamy chicken fettuccine into warm bowls straight from the slow cooker, making sure everyone gets plenty of those tender, sauce-coated flat ribbons, and serve hot.

If you’d like a little more flavor without adding to the fuss, you can sprinkle in a teaspoon of garlic powder, onion powder, or Italian seasoning along with the soup and broth. To keep with the 4-ingredient spirit, think of these as optional pantry helpers rather than must-haves. If you prefer white meat, boneless, skinless chicken breasts work just fine, though thighs stay a bit juicier after the long simmer. For a richer dish, stir in a small splash of cream, half-and-half, or a handful of shredded cheese right at the end until melted and glossy. You can also stretch this meal for a bigger family by adding an extra cup of broth and a few more ounces of pasta, watching the noodles closely so they don’t overcook. If you’re cooking for two, make the full batch and portion leftovers into containers; the pasta will soak up more sauce in the fridge, so add a spoonful of water or broth when reheating on the stovetop over low heat. For a little color and vegetable goodness, you can stir in a cup of thawed frozen peas or mixed vegetables during the last 10 minutes of cooking, just until heated through. And if you don’t have fettuccine, any thick flat ribbon pasta—like tagliatelle or wide egg noodles—will give you that same cozy, creamy, rainy-day comfort in a bowl.