Toss frozen pork steaks in the slow cooker and 4 other basic ingredients to get a meal so delicious your family will be begging for more.

This 5-ingredient slow cooker pork steak recipe is exactly the kind of no-fuss, high-reward meal I lean on for busy family days like Father’s Day. You literally toss frozen pork steaks into the slow cooker, add four pantry-friendly ingredients, and let low, slow heat do all the work. The result is tender, saucy pork with a sweet-savory barbecue flavor that tastes like you hovered over the stove all afternoon, even though you barely lifted a finger. It’s a very Midwestern approach: simple ingredients, big flavor, and plenty of comfort on the plate.

Serve the pork steaks with their sauce spooned over creamy mashed potatoes, rice, or buttered egg noodles to soak up every bit of the juices. On Father’s Day, I like to add a simple green side—steamed green beans, a tossed salad, or grilled asparagus—to balance the richness. Warm dinner rolls or cornbread are also wonderful for sopping up the extra sauce. If you have leftovers, they make excellent pulled pork-style sandwiches on soft buns with a little extra barbecue sauce and a crisp coleslaw on the side.

Servings: 4

2 to 2 1/2 pounds frozen pork shoulder steaks (about 4 medium steaks)

Place the frozen pork shoulder steaks in the bottom of a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker, arranging them in an even layer as much as possible. They can overlap slightly, but try to keep them mostly in a single layer so they cook evenly.

In a medium bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the barbecue sauce, chicken broth, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce until the sugar is mostly dissolved and the mixture is smooth.

Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the frozen pork steaks, lifting or nudging the steaks gently with a spoon or tongs so some of the sauce runs underneath them as well. The pork should be mostly coated, though it does not need to be fully submerged.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours, or on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours, until the pork steaks are very tender and easily pull apart with a fork. Avoid opening the lid frequently, as that releases heat and can increase cooking time.

Once the pork is tender, taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if you like by adding a pinch of salt, more barbecue sauce for tang, or a bit more brown sugar for sweetness. Gently stir or turn the pork steaks in the sauce so they are well coated, being careful not to break them up too much unless you prefer a pulled-pork texture.

Serve the pork steaks hot, spooning plenty of the sauce over the top. If the sauce seems too thin, you can transfer it to a small saucepan and simmer on the stovetop for 5 to 10 minutes to reduce slightly, then pour it back over the pork before serving.

For a smokier flavor, use a smoked or hickory-style barbecue sauce and add 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika to the sauce mixture before pouring it over the pork. To introduce a bit of heat, stir in 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce. If you prefer a tangier, less sweet profile, reduce the brown sugar to 2 tablespoons and add 1 to 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar. You can also add sliced onions on top of the frozen pork steaks before pouring on the sauce for extra sweetness and body, though this technically adds a sixth ingredient. For a slightly leaner dish, trim any very thick external fat from the pork steaks before freezing or cooking, but leave some marbling for tenderness and flavor. Food safety tips: Always start with pork that was properly handled and frozen; the USDA considers it safe to cook meat from frozen in a slow cooker as long as it reaches a safe internal temperature of 145°F (63°C) with a rest, though for pulled-style tenderness I aim for 190°F (88°C) or higher. Use a food thermometer to check the thickest part of the meat, and ensure the slow cooker is set to HIGH or LOW immediately (never on a keep-warm setting) so the pork moves through the temperature danger zone promptly. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking and reheat them to at least 165°F (74°C) before serving again.