My budget-savvy aunt taught me this trick. Just 3 ingredients for the most comforting, melt-in-your-mouth dinner you will ever make this spring.

My budget-savvy aunt Ruth first showed me this slow cooker trick back in the late 1970s, when money was tight and we were feeding big farm appetites every night. She swore you only needed three things to put a truly comforting, melt-in-your-mouth dinner on the table: a good hunk of pork, a pile of potatoes, and a packet of gravy mix. Everything goes into the slow cooker in the morning, and by suppertime you’ve got tender, golden brown pork tucked into creamy russet potatoes, all swimming in a rich brown gravy. It’s the kind of down-to-earth Midwestern cooking that stretches a dollar, fills the house with cozy smells, and makes everyone feel cared for after a long, chilly spring day.

This dish is a meal in itself, but I like to scoop it into shallow bowls so the gravy can pool around the pork and potatoes. A simple green side—steamed green beans, a tossed salad, or buttered peas—brightens the plate and cuts through the richness. Warm dinner rolls or a slice of crusty bread are handy for soaking up every last bit of that savory gravy. If you enjoy a little tang, set out a small bowl of applesauce or some pickled beets on the side, just like we did on the farm table when I was growing up.

Servings: 6

2 1/2 to 3 pounds boneless pork shoulder or pork butt, trimmed of excess hard fat

Lightly trim any thick, waxy layers of fat from the outside of the pork shoulder, leaving some marbling so it stays moist and tender as it cooks.

Peel the russet potatoes and cut them into large, even chunks about 2 inches in size so they hold their shape but still turn soft and creamy in the slow cooker.

Prepare the brown gravy according to the packet directions, using enough water to make about 3 cups of prepared gravy in total. Whisk until smooth so there are no dry lumps.

Spread the potato chunks in an even layer in the bottom of a 5- to 7-quart slow cooker, nestling them so there aren’t many gaps. This creates a bed for the pork and keeps it lifted in the gravy.

Place the pork shoulder directly on top of the potatoes in the center of the slow cooker. If the piece is very large or oddly shaped, you can cut it into two or three big chunks so it fits snugly.

Pour the prepared brown gravy slowly over the pork and potatoes, making sure to cover the top of the meat and let the gravy trickle down between the potatoes. The potatoes don’t need to be fully submerged; they will soften and soak up the gravy as it cooks.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for 8 to 9 hours, or on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours, until the pork is fork-tender and easily pulls apart and the potatoes are very soft when pierced with a fork.

Once cooked, carefully lift the pork onto a cutting board. Gently stir the potatoes and gravy together in the slow cooker so the edges of the potatoes break down a bit and the gravy turns thick and creamy around them.

Shred or slice the pork into large, rustic pieces, discarding any remaining pockets of fat. Return the pork to the slow cooker and nestle it down into the potatoes and gravy so every piece is coated.

Taste a spoonful of gravy-coated potatoes and adjust the seasoning only if needed with a small pinch of salt or pepper from your pantry, then ladle the pork, potatoes, and plenty of gravy into warm bowls and serve hot.

If you’d like to tweak this old-fashioned supper while keeping the spirit of the three-ingredient trick, you have a few easy options. For a slightly lighter feel, you can use a leaner cut like pork loin, but keep in mind it won’t be quite as meltingly tender as pork shoulder; check it a bit earlier so it doesn’t dry out. To stretch the meal for a few extra folks, add one more large potato and a splash of water to the gravy so everything stays saucy enough. If your gravy packets are on the mild side, choose a ‘roasted onion’ or ‘mushroom’ style brown gravy mix next time for deeper flavor without adding more ingredients. You can also play with texture: for a more stew-like dish, stir the potatoes vigorously at the end so they break down further into the gravy; for a chunkier feel, handle them gently. Leftovers reheat beautifully in a covered skillet over low heat with a spoonful of water to loosen the gravy, and they make a cozy next-day lunch spooned over toast or reheated and tucked into a warm roll for a hearty sandwich.