When the August heat settles in and turning on the oven feels like a bad idea, a slow cooker dinner built from pantry staples can be a real relief. This simple four-ingredient dish uses frozen breaded pork patties, a bottled barbecue-style sauce, sliced onions, and a little broth or water to create a saucy, tender main dish with almost no effort. It is the kind of practical Midwestern weeknight recipe that values convenience without giving up comforting flavor.
Serve these saucy pork patties over mashed potatoes, rice, or buttered noodles to catch the extra sauce. They also work well on soft sandwich buns with coleslaw, or alongside green beans, corn, a cucumber salad, or simple sliced tomatoes for a cool contrast on a hot day.
4-Ingredient Slow Cooker August Heatwave Relief
Servings: 4
Ingredients
4 frozen breaded pork patties
1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce
1/4 cup chicken broth or water
Directions
1. Scatter half of the sliced onion in the bottom of the slow cooker, then place the frozen breaded pork patties in a single layer on top. Spread the remaining onion over the patties.
2. In a small bowl, stir together the barbecue sauce and broth or water until smooth, then pour the mixture evenly over the patties.
3. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours, until the patties are heated through and the onions are soft.
4. Spoon some of the sauce and onions over each patty before serving. Serve hot over mashed potatoes, rice, or on sandwich buns if desired.
Variations & Tips
Make it sweeter: If you like a sweeter sauce, use a honey barbecue sauce or stir 1 to 2 teaspoons of brown sugar into the sauce before pouring it over the patties.
Add a little tang: A spoonful of yellow mustard or apple cider vinegar mixed into the sauce brightens the flavor and keeps the dish from tasting too heavy.
Watch the salt: Because frozen breaded patties and bottled sauce can both be well seasoned, taste the finished sauce before adding any extra salt.
Keep the coating intact: The breading will soften in the slow cooker, which is expected in this style of recipe. For the neatest patties, avoid stirring during cooking and use a wide spatula when serving.
Turn it into sandwiches: Serve the patties on toasted buns with pickles or coleslaw for an easy supper that feels a little different from the plated version.