My grandma used to make this incredibly soothing and humble dinner during chilly spring rainstorms. Toss 3 ingredients together to get a deeply savory and silky meal that stretches your grocery budget

This slow cooker 3-ingredient creamy celery noodles recipe is my pared-down version of the kind of soothing, humble dinners my grandma leaned on during chilly spring rainstorms. It’s the sort of meal that quietly simmers in the background, turning a few pantry staples into something deeply savory, silky, and filling. Cream of celery soup does the heavy lifting here, reducing down into a pale green, velvety sauce that clings to tender egg noodles with soft little flecks of celery throughout. With only three budget-friendly ingredients and a hands-off method, it’s perfect for nights when you want comfort food that stretches your grocery dollars without demanding much effort.

Serve these creamy celery noodles straight from the slow cooker into warm bowls, with plenty of black pepper on top if you like a bit of bite. A simple green salad with a bright vinaigrette or a plate of steamed or roasted vegetables (carrots, peas, or broccoli) helps balance the richness. If you want to keep the meal extra humble and homey, pair it with buttered toast, crusty bread, or saltine crackers for dipping into the sauce. A crisp apple or sliced oranges on the side make a fresh, inexpensive finish.

Servings: 4

3 cans (10.5 ounces each) condensed cream of celery soup

Lightly grease the insert of a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker with a bit of oil or nonstick spray to help prevent the noodles from sticking around the edges.

Pour the condensed cream of celery soup into the slow cooker. Add the chicken broth (or water). Whisk or stir well until the mixture is completely smooth and evenly combined. At this point the mixture will look thin; it will thicken as it cooks and reduces.

Cover the slow cooker and cook the soup mixture on HIGH for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or on LOW for about 3 hours, until it is hot, lightly bubbling around the edges, and slightly thickened. This step lets the flavors deepen and the sauce begin to reduce before the noodles go in.

Stir the hot soup mixture well, then add the uncooked egg noodles. Press the noodles down gently with a spoon so they are mostly submerged in the liquid. They don’t need to be perfectly covered, but tuck in any stubborn pieces so they can soften evenly.

Cover and cook on HIGH for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until the noodles are tender but not mushy. Slow cookers vary, so begin checking at the 15-minute mark after stirring; the sauce should be thick, creamy, and pale green, with soft flecks of celery throughout.

Once the noodles are cooked to your liking, give everything a final, thorough stir. The sauce will look quite loose when you first lift the lid, but it will cling to the noodles as you mix and will continue to thicken slightly as it stands.

Turn the slow cooker to WARM and let the noodles sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to settle into a silky, spoon-coating consistency. Taste and, if desired, season lightly with salt and black pepper, keeping in mind that condensed soup and broth already contain salt.

Serve the creamy celery noodles directly from the slow cooker into bowls. If the mixture thickens more than you’d like as it sits, stir in a splash of hot water or broth to loosen the sauce to your preferred texture.

Because this recipe is intentionally minimalist, think of variations as optional add-ons you can use when your pantry allows. For extra protein, stir in 1 to 2 cups of cooked, shredded chicken, turkey, or diced ham during the last 10 minutes of cooking so it can warm through without drying out. If you’d like more vegetables, fold in a cup of frozen peas, mixed vegetables, or chopped spinach right after the noodles are added; they’ll cook in roughly the same window. For a richer flavor, replace 1/2 to 1 cup of the broth with whole milk or half-and-half, stirring it in when you add the noodles so the dairy doesn’t overcook. You can also layer in simple seasonings—such as a pinch of garlic powder, onion powder, or dried thyme—when you whisk the soup and broth together, keeping the spirit of the original while nudging the flavor profile in different directions. Leftovers will thicken in the refrigerator; when reheating, add a splash of water or broth and warm gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, stirring often to bring the sauce back to a creamy, silky consistency.