Pour golden mushroom soup over beef sirloin, along with 2 other ingredients, into slow cooker for a hearty meal that I plan my whole week around

This slow cooker golden mushroom beef pasta is the kind of simple, stick-to-your-ribs supper that has seen many a Midwestern family through busy weeks and cold winters. It starts exactly the way my mother used to do it on the farm: raw beef sirloin laid right into the slow cooker, then a can of golden mushroom soup poured over the top in one rich, velvety blanket. Add just two more pantry staples, switch on the slow cooker, and by evening you’ve got tender beef and a creamy sauce ready to toss with pasta. It’s the sort of hearty, no-fuss meal you can plan your whole week around—especially when you’re cooking for folks who like tradition and comfort on their plates.

Serve the golden mushroom beef spooned generously over hot buttered egg noodles or your favorite short pasta, with a sprinkle of black pepper and maybe a little chopped parsley if you have it. A simple green side salad or steamed green beans balances the richness nicely, and a slice of crusty bread or a warm dinner roll is perfect for mopping up the extra sauce. This dish keeps well, so pack leftovers into containers for easy lunches; it reheats beautifully in a low oven or microwave with a splash of water or broth to loosen the sauce.

Servings: 6

2 pounds beef sirloin, cut into 1-inch strips or chunks

Place the raw beef sirloin strips or chunks in an even layer on the bottom of a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. This should look just like that close-up moment at your counter, with the beef nestled in the crock and ready for its blanket of soup.

In a bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the condensed golden mushroom soup and the water until fairly smooth. You’re just loosening the soup so it will pour and coat the meat evenly.

Pour the golden mushroom soup mixture slowly and evenly over the raw beef sirloin in the slow cooker, making sure all of the meat is covered in that golden sauce.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours, or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, until the beef is very tender and the sauce is bubbling around the edges.

About 20 minutes before serving, cook the egg noodles or pasta according to the package directions in a large pot of salted boiling water until just tender. Drain well.

Taste the golden mushroom beef mixture and adjust seasoning if desired with a little salt and pepper. (The soup is salty, so taste before adding anything.)

Add the drained hot pasta to the slow cooker, gently folding it into the golden mushroom beef and sauce until everything is well coated. If the mixture seems very thick, you can splash in a bit more hot water to loosen it.

Let the pasta and beef sit together in the slow cooker on WARM for 5 to 10 minutes so the flavors can settle and the sauce clings to the noodles, then serve hot straight from the crock.

For a creamier version, stir in 1/2 to 1 cup of sour cream or plain Greek yogurt right at the end, after the beef has cooked and just before you add the pasta; do not boil once dairy is added or it may curdle. If you like a bit more depth, add 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce or a splash of soy sauce to the soup and water mixture before pouring it over the beef. You can also tuck in 1 cup of sliced mushrooms or 1 cup of sliced onions on top of the beef before you pour on the soup, though that will technically add more ingredients beyond the basic four. For a lighter version, use whole-wheat pasta and trim any visible fat from the sirloin before cooking. Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days; reheat gently with a splash of water or broth. For food safety, keep raw beef refrigerated until you’re ready to assemble the slow cooker, and wash your hands, cutting board, and knife thoroughly after handling the raw meat. Make sure the beef mixture reaches a safe temperature (at least 145°F, though it will usually go higher in the slow cooker) and do not leave cooked pasta and beef at room temperature for more than 2 hours. If you cook on LOW, avoid starting with frozen beef; always use fully thawed meat so it moves quickly through the temperature danger zone.