Put raw whole russet potatoes straight into the slow cooker alongside 2 everyday items to unlock a magical dinner side your husband won't stop raving about.

This simple slow cooker potato dish reminds me of the kind of food our mothers and grandmothers leaned on when there was a crowd coming and not much time to fuss. You take whole raw russet potatoes, tuck them straight into the slow cooker with just butter and ranch seasoning, and let low heat work its quiet magic. The skins stay on, the insides turn fluffy, and the butter and herbs seep right into every crack. It feels like the kind of cookout side you’d find at a church picnic out here in the Midwest—humble ingredients, big flavor, and the kind of thing a husband will go back for until the pot is scraped clean.

Serve these buttery ranch potatoes right in the slow cooker to keep them warm on the buffet table. They’re perfect alongside grilled burgers, brats, pork chops, or barbecued chicken. Add a simple green salad, sliced garden tomatoes, and maybe a pan of baked beans to round out a cookout spread. At the table, offer salt, pepper, and a little extra butter for those who like things richer, and let folks split their potatoes open and mash the insides right on their plates.

Servings: 6

3 pounds small to medium whole russet potatoes, scrubbed and left unpeeled

Scrub the whole russet potatoes under cool running water with a brush or clean cloth to remove any dirt. Do not peel or cut them; leave them completely whole. Pat dry with a towel so excess water doesn’t pool in the slow cooker.

Place the raw whole potatoes in a single tight layer in the bottom of a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. It’s fine if they’re nestled snugly together, as long as the lid will close securely.

Scatter the pieces of butter evenly over and around the potatoes so they can melt down between them as they cook.

Sprinkle the dry ranch seasoning mix evenly over the top of the potatoes and butter. If any seasoning lands on the sides of the slow cooker, gently tap or shake the pot so it falls back down over the potatoes.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid. Cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours, or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, until the potatoes are very tender when pierced with a fork all the way to the center.

Once the potatoes are done, carefully tilt the slow cooker slightly with an oven mitt to let the melted butter and ranch mixture run underneath the potatoes, then gently roll or turn the potatoes with tongs so they’re coated all over. Be gentle so they don’t split open unless you want them to.

Taste one potato and add a pinch of extra salt and pepper if needed, remembering that ranch seasoning already contains salt. Serve the potatoes whole, straight from the slow cooker, letting everyone split them open on their plates to spoon over the buttery ranch juices from the bottom of the pot.

If you like a little heat, add 1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes with the ranch seasoning. For a cheesier version, sprinkle 1/2 to 1 cup of shredded cheddar or Colby Jack over the potatoes during the last 15 minutes of cooking, then cover again just until melted. You can also tuck a few peeled garlic cloves in with the raw whole potatoes before cooking for a gentle garlic flavor. If you prefer less richness, reduce the butter to 6 tablespoons and add a splash (2 to 3 tablespoons) of chicken broth for extra moisture. For a more dressed-up cookout, finish the cooked potatoes with a sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley or sliced green onions right before serving. FOOD SAFETY TIP: Always scrub russet potatoes well to remove soil and any surface bacteria before placing them whole in the slow cooker. Make sure they fit in a single layer so they cook evenly, and use a standard slow cooker (not a warming pot) so the potatoes reach a safe internal temperature of at least 200°F for tenderness and well above 165°F for safety. Do not leave cooked potatoes sitting at room temperature for more than 2 hours; keep them on the WARM setting in the slow cooker or refrigerate leftovers promptly. Reheat leftovers thoroughly until steaming hot before serving.