My great-aunt fed her whole family on this for just pennies. She called it her lucky pot and made it every payday without fail.

This slow cooker 4-ingredient potato and canned peas recipe is the kind of humble, comforting food my great-aunt would have called a “lucky pot.” She used to stretch payday dollars by filling the slow cooker with simple pantry staples and letting them bubble away into something cozy and satisfying. It’s not fancy, but it’s warm, filling, and gentle on the budget—perfect for feeding a hungry family on a busy night with almost no effort.

Serve these buttery potatoes and peas in shallow white plates or bowls so you can really see the soft yellow potato cubes and bright green peas. They’re lovely as a simple main dish with sliced bread or biscuits for soaking up the light sauce. You can also spoon them alongside baked chicken, pork chops, or a couple of fried eggs to make it a full meal. A simple green salad or sliced fresh tomatoes on the side adds a bit of freshness to balance the cozy, starchy comfort of the dish.

Servings: 4

2 pounds russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes

Peel the potatoes and cut them into roughly 1-inch cubes so they cook evenly and get that soft, pale yellow color without falling apart.

Lightly grease the inside of a small slow cooker (3- to 4-quart works well) with a bit of butter or cooking spray to help keep the potatoes from sticking.

Add the potato cubes to the slow cooker and spread them into an even layer so they cook at the same rate.

Pour the broth over the potatoes. The liquid should just barely cover most of the potatoes; this helps them turn tender and creates a light, brothy sauce.

Dot the butter pieces evenly over the top of the potatoes so they melt down into the broth as everything cooks.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours, or on HIGH for about 3 hours, until the potatoes are very tender when pierced with a fork but still hold their shape.

Once the potatoes are soft, gently stir in the drained and rinsed canned peas. The peas should look bright green against the pale yellow potatoes.

Cover again and cook on LOW for another 15 to 20 minutes, just until the peas are heated through and everything is coated in a light, buttery sauce.

Taste and, if desired, add a small pinch of salt or pepper, keeping in mind that the broth and butter may already have salt. Stir gently so you don’t mash the potatoes.

Serve the potatoes and peas hot, spooned into shallow white plates or bowls, making sure to ladle some of the buttery broth over the top for that cozy, homestyle feel.

To stretch this meal the way my great-aunt did, you can serve it over buttered toast, rice, or egg noodles so the potatoes and peas feed more people without much extra cost. For picky eaters who like things creamier, stir in a splash of milk or a spoonful of sour cream right before serving to make the sauce richer. If your family prefers stronger flavors, you can add a small pinch of garlic powder or dried thyme with the broth at the beginning, or finish with a sprinkle of shredded cheddar cheese on each plate. For a vegetarian version, be sure to use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. If you need to watch sodium, choose low-sodium broth and no-salt-added canned peas, and taste before adding extra salt. Food safety tips: Always rinse canned peas to remove excess sodium and any canning liquid. Keep potatoes fully covered and cooking in the slow cooker; avoid lifting the lid too often, as that lowers the temperature and can affect cooking time. Do not leave the cooked dish on the warm setting for more than 2 hours; refrigerate leftovers in shallow containers within 2 hours of cooking and use within 3 to 4 days, reheating until steaming hot before serving.