Toss frozen potato nuggets in the crock with 4 other pantry staples and watch your family clean their plates twice over

This little slow cooker casserole is the kind of thrifty, stick-to-your-ribs dish that would’ve fit right in at a 1970s church potluck. It leans on a bag of frozen potato nuggets and four other pantry staples to make a creamy, cheesy, crowd-pleasing supper with almost no effort. You just scatter the nuggets in the crock, whisk together a simple sauce, pour, top with cheese, and let the slow cooker do its work. It’s the sort of recipe busy farm wives used to pass across kitchen tables, and it still earns clean plates today.

Serve this casserole hot right out of the slow cooker with a bright, crisp side to balance the richness—think a simple green salad with a tangy vinaigrette or steamed green beans. Buttered peas or a dish of applesauce feel very old-fashioned and homey alongside it. If you’d like to stretch the meal, add warm dinner rolls or slices of buttered bread for sopping up the creamy sauce, and a dish of pickles for a little bite and crunch.

Servings: 6

1 (32-ounce) bag frozen potato nuggets

Lightly grease the insert of a slow cooker with a bit of oil or nonstick spray if you like, just to keep the edges from sticking.

Scatter the frozen potato nuggets evenly over the bottom of the slow cooker insert in a single, fairly even layer. They should be frozen, not thawed.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the condensed cream of mushroom soup, evaporated milk, and garlic powder until smooth and well combined.

Stir in 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese into the soup mixture, reserving the remaining 1 cup of cheese for topping.

Pour the cheesy soup mixture evenly over the frozen potato nuggets in the slow cooker, gently shaking the insert or nudging with a spoon so the sauce seeps down between the nuggets without breaking them up too much.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours, or on HIGH for about 2 to 3 hours, until the potato nuggets are tender all the way through and the edges are bubbling.

Once the potatoes are tender, sprinkle the remaining 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the casserole.

Cover again and cook on HIGH for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, just until the cheese on top is melted and gooey.

Turn the slow cooker to WARM and let the casserole sit, covered, for about 5 to 10 minutes to set slightly before serving. Spoon into bowls or onto plates and serve hot.

For a more vintage church-supper feel, you can swap the cream of mushroom soup for cream of chicken or cream of celery—use the same amount. If you like a little onion flavor, add 1 teaspoon dried minced onion or onion powder along with the garlic powder. For extra richness, use half evaporated milk and half sour cream in place of the full cup of milk, stirring well so it blends smoothly. You can also change up the cheese: Colby-Jack or a mild blend melts nicely, and a little grated Parmesan on top adds a savory edge. If you want some protein, stir in 1 to 2 cups of cooked, diced ham or cooked ground beef with the potato nuggets before pouring on the sauce, keeping total volume similar so it still cooks evenly. Food safety tips: Always start with fully frozen potato nuggets; do not let them sit out at room temperature for long before cooking to avoid partial thawing and uneven heating. Keep the slow cooker covered while cooking so the temperature stays safely high. Check that the casserole is piping hot in the center before serving; it should reach at least 165°F. If you add any meat, be sure it is fully cooked before it goes into the slow cooker, since this recipe is designed only to reheat and hold meat at a safe temperature, not to cook it from raw. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours, in shallow containers, and reheat only once until steaming hot.