My frugal aunt taught me this secret. Just 3 ingredients for the most flavorful, tender dinner you will ever make this April on a tight budget.

This slow cooker 3-ingredient pork and beans is exactly the kind of frugal magic my aunt swore by: a single pot, almost no effort, and a surprisingly deep, molasses-rich flavor that tastes like it took all day on the stove. It leans on an old Midwestern pantry trick—using a good, dark molasses barbecue sauce to do double duty as seasoning and glaze—so the pork turns out fork-tender and the navy beans soak up every bit of that savory-sweet sauce. If you’re watching your budget this April but still want a comforting, stick-to-your-ribs dinner, this is the kind of recipe you can put on in the morning and come home to with zero stress.

Serve the pork and beans straight from the slow cooker into shallow bowls, making sure everyone gets both tender chunks of pork and plenty of saucy beans. A simple green side—like a crisp salad with a tangy vinaigrette or steamed green beans—helps balance the richness. Cornbread, crusty bread, or even buttered toast are perfect for soaking up the sticky, molasses-dark glaze. If you want to stretch the meal further, spoon the mixture over plain white rice or baked potatoes, and finish with a little sharpness on the side, such as dill pickles or a spoonful of coleslaw, to cut through the sweetness.

Servings: 6

3 pounds boneless pork shoulder, trimmed and cut into large chunks

Lightly trim excess surface fat from the pork shoulder, then cut it into large chunks, about 2 to 3 inches each. Keeping the pieces relatively big helps them stay juicy and shred beautifully after a long, slow cook.

Spread the drained navy beans evenly over the bottom of a 5- to 7-quart slow cooker. The beans form a bed that soaks up flavor and keeps them from drying out.

Nestle the pork chunks on top of the beans in an even layer, leaving a little space between pieces so the sauce can flow around them.

Pour the molasses-style barbecue sauce evenly over the pork and beans, making sure all the meat is coated. Use the back of a spoon or a spatula to gently nudge the sauce down between the pieces so it reaches the beans.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours, or on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours, until the pork is very tender and easily pulls apart with a fork. Avoid lifting the lid too often, as that extends the cooking time.

Once the pork is tender, use two forks to gently break the chunks into large, rustic pieces right in the slow cooker, turning them through the beans and sauce so everything is coated in the dark, glossy glaze.

Taste a spoonful of the beans and sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, stir in a splash of hot water, a tablespoon at a time, until it reaches a rich, spoonable consistency. If you’d like it stickier, leave the lid off and cook on HIGH for another 15 to 20 minutes to reduce slightly.

Switch the slow cooker to WARM and let the pork and beans sit for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. This short rest allows the beans to absorb more of the molasses-rich sauce and gives the surface that shiny, clinging glaze you want.

Serve the pork and beans hot, straight from the slow cooker, making sure each portion includes tender pieces of pork, plenty of soft navy beans, and a generous spoonful of the dark, sticky sauce.

Because this recipe is intentionally pared down to three ingredients, the main variation is in what you choose for that all-important barbecue sauce. A smoky, molasses-forward sauce will give you the deep, dark glaze shown in the photo; a spicier sauce will add more heat, while a brown sugar–style sauce will lean sweeter. If you prefer very soft beans, use canned navy beans and place them on the bottom as directed. For a slightly firmer texture, stir in the beans during the last 1 to 2 hours of cooking instead of at the beginning. You can also change the cut of pork: pork butt or picnic shoulder both work well, as long as you keep some marbling for tenderness. To stretch this on a tight budget, serve the pork and beans over rice or polenta so a smaller amount of meat feeds more people. Leftovers reheat nicely on the stovetop over low heat with a splash of water; the flavors deepen overnight, making this an excellent make-ahead meal for busy weeks.