May Comfort: Just 4 ingredients. I make it when I need dinner handled hours ahead of our backyard gathering.

Out here in the country, when the lilacs start blooming and the lawn chairs come back out, I lean on a handful of recipes that practically cook themselves while I’m out in the yard. This 4-ingredient slow cooker tortellini feast is one of those comforts I turn to in May, when I need dinner handled hours ahead of a backyard gathering. It’s nothing fancy—just frozen cheese tortellini, a good jar of Alfredo, some broth, and a handful of shredded cheese—but it bubbles away into a creamy, velvety pot of plump pasta rings that remind me of every church potluck and graduation open house I’ve ever helped feed. It’s the kind of easy, cozy Midwestern cooking that lets you focus on the people instead of fussing over the stove.

Serve this creamy tortellini straight from the slow cooker with a big green salad and a basket of warm garlic bread or buttered dinner rolls to soak up the sauce. A simple side of steamed or roasted vegetables—like broccoli, green beans, or asparagus—adds a little color and crunch. For a backyard gathering, I like to set the slow cooker on the picnic table, keep it on warm, and let folks help themselves alongside a bowl of mixed pickles, a platter of sliced tomatoes, and a pitcher of iced tea or lemonade.

Servings: 6

1 (19–20 oz) bag frozen cheese tortellini

Lightly grease the inside of a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray or a thin swipe of oil to help prevent sticking.

Pour the jar of Alfredo sauce into the slow cooker. Add the chicken broth and whisk or stir until the sauce is smooth and well combined.

Add the frozen cheese tortellini straight from the bag; do not thaw. Gently stir to coat all the pasta with the creamy liquid, making sure most of the tortellini are submerged.

Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of the shredded Italian blend cheese evenly over the top. Do not stir it in; it will melt down into the sauce as it cooks.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid. Cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours, or until the tortellini are plump, tender, and the edges of the sauce are gently bubbling. Avoid opening the lid during the first 2 hours so the heat stays consistent.

Once the tortellini are tender, gently stir everything together to fully combine the melted cheese with the sauce. If the sauce seems a bit thin, leave the lid off and cook on LOW for another 10 to 15 minutes to thicken slightly.

Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheese over the top, cover again, and let sit on LOW or WARM for about 5 to 10 minutes, just until the cheese on top is melted and glossy.

Switch the slow cooker to WARM for serving. Stir before ladling into bowls, making sure each serving gets plenty of sauce. Serve directly from the slow cooker so it stays hot and creamy for your gathering.

You can tuck a lot of small changes into this simple base without losing its easygoing nature. For a little color and a nod to the herb gardens my mother always kept, you can stir in 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried Italian seasoning or a teaspoon of dried parsley along with the broth—this won’t change the ingredient count much in spirit, but it will add flecks of green like you see in many creamy potluck dishes. If you’d like more vegetables, you can add 1 to 2 cups of frozen peas or chopped frozen spinach during the last 30 to 45 minutes of cooking so they warm through without getting overdone. For a heartier version, stir in cooked, crumbled Italian sausage or diced rotisserie chicken right before serving; just keep in mind that adds ingredients beyond the original four. To keep the sauce from breaking or curdling, always cook this recipe on LOW, not HIGH, and avoid letting it sit on the WARM setting for more than 2 to 3 hours. For food safety, start with the tortellini fully frozen and keep them refrigerated or frozen until you’re ready to cook; do not let them sit out on the counter for long. Leftovers should be cooled within 2 hours, then stored in a shallow, covered container in the refrigerator and eaten within 3 to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of broth or milk to loosen the sauce, stirring now and then so it heats evenly and stays creamy.