During the depression my great-grandmother made potatoes taste like a luxury with just one pantry staple. This creamy dish got her family through the hardest winters.

This slow cooker 3-ingredient potato and evaporated milk dish is my nod to the kind of cooking that got families through the Great Depression: humble ingredients treated with care until they felt like a luxury. The story goes that my great-grandmother could turn a sack of potatoes and a single pantry staple—evaporated milk—into something rich, creamy, and deeply comforting. Long, gentle cooking coaxes the starches from the potatoes and the sugars from the milk, giving you velvety, ivory-colored potatoes with glossy, slightly caramelized edges. It’s the kind of dish you make when you want maximum comfort from the bare minimum of ingredients and effort.

Serve these creamy potatoes as a centerpiece side with simple roasted or pan-seared meats, sautéed greens, or a crisp salad to cut through the richness. They’re especially good spooned into a shallow bowl and topped with a soft-fried or poached egg, or alongside roasted root vegetables for a meatless plate. A grind of black pepper, a sprinkle of chopped fresh herbs, or a little grated hard cheese on top right before serving can dress them up further without straying from their humble roots.

Servings: 4

2 pounds russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/4-inch thick

Prepare the slow cooker: Lightly grease the inside of a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker with a small amount of neutral oil or butter, or line it with a slow-cooker liner if you use them. This helps prevent sticking and encourages those lightly caramelized edges.

Slice the potatoes: Peel the potatoes and slice them into even 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Try to keep the slices uniform so they cook at the same rate and become tender at the same time.

Layer the potatoes: Spread one-third of the sliced potatoes over the bottom of the slow cooker in an even layer. Sprinkle with about one-third of the salt. Repeat with two more layers of potatoes, sprinkling each layer with a portion of the remaining salt. This simple seasoning is important; it draws out the potato flavor and balances the richness of the milk.

Add the evaporated milk: Shake the can of evaporated milk well, then pour it evenly over the layered potatoes. The milk won’t fully cover the potatoes, and that’s fine—this allows the top edges to concentrate and caramelize slightly as they cook.

Cook low and slow: Cover the slow cooker with the lid. Cook on LOW for 5 to 7 hours, or on HIGH for 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours, until the potatoes are very tender when pierced with a fork. Avoid lifting the lid during the first couple of hours so the heat and moisture stay consistent.

Gently stir for creaminess: Once the potatoes are fully tender, use a broad spoon or spatula to gently stir and fold the potatoes from the edges toward the center. Some slices will break down, thickening the evaporated milk into a velvety, glossy sauce that clings to the remaining pieces. If the mixture seems too loose, cover and cook for another 15 to 30 minutes on HIGH, then stir again.

Taste and adjust seasoning: Taste a spoonful of potatoes and sauce. Add a pinch more salt if needed. If you like a bit of pepper, you can add it now, but it’s entirely optional and not necessary for the basic three-ingredient version.

Rest and serve: Turn off the slow cooker and let the potatoes rest, covered, for 10 to 15 minutes. This short rest helps the sauce thicken further. Serve the potatoes straight from the slow cooker while hot, making sure to scoop from the bottom to get plenty of the creamy sauce with each portion.

To stay true to the spirit of the original Depression-era dish, keep the base to potatoes, evaporated milk, and salt, then build from there only if you want to. For extra richness, you can swap part of the evaporated milk for a second can and cook a larger batch, or use Yukon Gold potatoes for a naturally buttery flavor. If you’re not strictly limiting ingredients, a small knob of butter dotted over the top before cooking will deepen the caramelized flavor, and a clove of finely minced garlic or a pinch of dried thyme can be sprinkled between layers for a subtle aromatic note. For a slightly thicker, more gratin-like texture, mash a few of the potato slices against the side of the slow cooker with a spoon near the end of cooking and stir them back in. If you prefer a looser, more soup-like consistency, stir in a splash of hot water or additional evaporated milk right before serving. Leftovers reheat well over low heat on the stovetop or in the microwave; add a spoonful of water or milk and cover to keep them from drying out. Food safety tips: Keep the potatoes and evaporated milk refrigerated until you’re ready to cook, and don’t leave the finished dish at room temperature for more than 2 hours (1 hour if your kitchen is very warm). Cool leftovers quickly by transferring them to shallow containers before refrigerating, and use within 3 to 4 days. Reheat only the portion you plan to eat, and heat until steaming hot throughout.