My nana made this every single week when money was tight. The potatoes cook right in the gravy and it tastes like pure comfort!

This slow cooker 3-ingredient poor man's potato and gravy is the kind of simple, stick-to-your-ribs comfort food my nana leaned on when money was tight. The potatoes cook right in the rich brown gravy, soaking up every bit of flavor until they’re tender and creamy inside. It’s made from pantry basics, takes just a few minutes to toss together, and quietly bubbles away in the slow cooker while you go about your day. This is the kind of humble, cozy dish that makes the house smell amazing and brings everyone to the table without fuss.

Serve these gravy-smothered potatoes on a warm plate with a side of steamed or roasted vegetables to add color and freshness—green beans, peas, or carrots all work nicely. They’re also wonderful spooned over toasted bread, leftover rice, or egg noodles if you want to stretch the meal a bit further. A simple side salad with a tangy dressing helps cut through the richness, and if you have it, a sprinkle of black pepper on top right before serving adds a nice finishing touch.

Servings: 4

3 pounds russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks

Lightly grease the inside of a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker with a little cooking spray or oil to help prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.

Peel the potatoes and cut them into roughly 1-inch chunks so they cook evenly and get tender without falling apart. Add all the potato pieces directly into the slow cooker crock.

In a medium bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the condensed gravy and the broth until the mixture is smooth and pourable. This will be your cooking liquid and final gravy.

Pour the gravy mixture evenly over the potatoes in the slow cooker, gently stirring to coat all the potato pieces so they’re mostly submerged in the liquid. It’s okay if a few peek out on top.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours, or on HIGH for about 3 to 4 hours, until the potatoes are very tender when pierced with a fork. Avoid lifting the lid too often so the potatoes cook evenly.

Once the potatoes are tender, gently stir them into the gravy. The starch from the potatoes will thicken the gravy into a glossy, rich sauce. If the gravy seems too thin, let the potatoes sit on WARM or LOW for another 15 to 20 minutes with the lid off, stirring once or twice, until it thickens to your liking.

Taste the gravy and add a pinch of salt and black pepper if needed, keeping in mind that canned gravy and broth already contain salt. Spoon the tender potatoes and thick brown gravy onto plates and serve hot.

For a meatless version, use mushroom or vegetarian brown gravy and vegetable broth instead of beef. If your family likes extra flavor, you can add a teaspoon of dried onion flakes or garlic powder when you whisk the gravy and broth together, though this will technically add more ingredients. To stretch the meal, stir in a drained can of peas or green beans during the last 30 minutes of cooking so they warm through without getting mushy. For picky eaters who prefer smoother textures, cut the potatoes a bit smaller and cook on LOW so they get very soft and almost mash into the gravy—kids often like it this way over toast. If you need it thicker, whisk 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water and stir it into the hot gravy and potatoes, then cover and cook on HIGH for about 10 minutes until glossy and thick. Food safety tips: Keep potatoes fully covered in gravy as much as possible to help them cook evenly and safely. Do not leave the slow cooker on the WARM setting for more than 2 hours after cooking is finished. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours in shallow containers, and reheat thoroughly until steaming hot before serving. Discard any leftovers that have been left at room temperature for longer than 2 hours.