My dad grew up on this cheap and filling dinner. The beef gets so tender and the peppers melt right into the sauce

This slow cooker 4-ingredient poor man’s pepper steak is the kind of cheap, filling dinner a lot of Midwestern families grew up on. It stretches a modest amount of beef with plenty of peppers and a rich, glossy brown gravy that soaks into rice or mashed potatoes. The long, gentle cooking turns inexpensive steak into something fork-tender, and the peppers soften so much they practically melt into the sauce. It’s a practical, no-fuss recipe that tastes like it simmered on the stove all day, but it’s mostly hands-off and easy enough for a weeknight.

Serve this pepper steak spooned over hot cooked white rice, brown rice, or buttered egg noodles so they can catch all the savory gravy. Mashed potatoes are another very homey option, especially if you like a thicker bed for the sauce. A simple side of steamed or roasted vegetables—like green beans, broccoli, or carrots—adds color and freshness. If you want to keep it very budget-friendly and old-school, add a slice of buttered white bread or a warm dinner roll on the side to swipe through the extra sauce.

Servings: 4

1 1/2 pounds inexpensive beef steak (such as round steak or chuck steak), cut into 1/2-inch-thick strips

Place the sliced bell peppers in an even layer on the bottom of a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. This creates a bed for the meat and helps the peppers soften until they almost melt into the sauce.

Lay the beef strips on top of the peppers, spreading them out as much as possible so they cook evenly and become tender.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the condensed cream of mushroom soup and the dry onion soup mix until smooth. The mixture will be thick; that’s what gives you a rich, glossy gravy as it cooks.

Pour the soup mixture evenly over the beef and peppers, using a spatula to scrape every bit out of the bowl. Do not add extra water; the beef and peppers will release enough liquid to thin the sauce into a spoonable gravy.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours, or on HIGH for 3 1/2 to 4 hours, until the beef is very tender and the peppers are soft and almost dissolving into the brown sauce.

Once cooked, gently stir the contents of the slow cooker to combine the beef, peppers, and gravy. Taste and adjust seasoning with a small pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper if needed, keeping in mind the onion soup mix is already salty.

Serve the pepper steak hot over rice, mashed potatoes, or egg noodles, spooning plenty of the peppers and glossy brown gravy over each portion.

To keep this recipe true to its four-ingredient, budget-friendly roots, the core pieces stay simple, but you can still adjust it to fit your kitchen. For a slightly lighter flavor, swap one can of cream of mushroom soup for cream of celery or cream of chicken. If you prefer more pronounced pepper flavor and a little color contrast, use all green peppers or add a yellow or orange pepper in place of the red. For a bit of heat without adding more ingredients, sprinkle in a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes from your pantry when you mix the soups. If you like a looser, more pourable gravy, stir in 1/4 to 1/3 cup of water or beef broth with the soup mixture before pouring it over the meat. For extra richness, stir in a tablespoon of butter at the end of cooking until melted and glossy. Food safety tips: Use fresh beef and keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to cook. Slice the beef and peppers on a clean cutting board, and wash your hands and any utensils that touch raw meat before handling other ingredients. Because this is a slow cooker recipe, avoid lifting the lid frequently; each time you do, you lose heat and extend cooking time, which can keep the food in the temperature “danger zone” longer than necessary. Make sure the dish reaches a safe internal temperature of at least 145°F for the beef, though in practice it will cook well past that as it becomes tender. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking, store them in a shallow, covered container, and use within 3 to 4 days. Reheat leftovers until steaming hot before serving.