Some nights call for the kind of supper that practically makes itself, and this slow cooker pork luncheon meat dish is just the sort of hearty, no-fuss meal busy families have leaned on for generations. With only five simple ingredients, it turns a humble pantry staple into a warm, savory dinner with tender potatoes and sweet onions in a rich sauce, the kind of practical Midwestern cooking that stretches ingredients well and still brings everybody to the table happy.
This dish is especially good with a side of buttered green beans, simple steamed corn, or a crisp cabbage slaw to balance the richness. If you want to make it go a little farther, serve it with warm biscuits, thick slices of sandwich bread, or spoon it over cooked rice so every bit of that savory slow-cooked sauce gets put to good use.
5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Busy Night Fix
Servings: 6
Ingredients
2 cans sliced pork luncheon meat, cut into thick slices
1 1/2 pounds baby potatoes, halved
1 large onion, sliced
1 cup barbecue sauce
1/2 cup water
Directions
1. Lightly coat the slow cooker insert with a little cooking spray if you like easier cleanup. Scatter the halved potatoes and sliced onion across the bottom, then arrange the sliced pork luncheon meat evenly over the top.
2. In a small bowl, stir together the barbecue sauce and water until smooth, then pour the mixture evenly over everything in the slow cooker.
3. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until the potatoes are tender and the onions have softened nicely.
4. Give everything a gentle stir, spoon it into bowls or onto plates, and serve hot.
Variations & Tips
Sweeter Supper: If your family likes a sweeter sauce, use a honey barbecue sauce or stir in a spoonful of brown sugar with the barbecue sauce before pouring it over the meat and potatoes.
Potato Tip: If your baby potatoes are on the large side, cut them into quarters so they finish cooking in the same time as the meat and onions. Even pieces make for a much better slow cooker meal.
Extra Onion Flavor: A sweet onion works especially well here, but a yellow onion gives a deeper old-fashioned flavor that reminds me of so many church supper casseroles and skillet suppers from years gone by.
Serve It Different: For a heartier plate, spoon the finished mixture over hot cooked rice, egg noodles, or even mashed potatoes if you need to stretch dinner for a few more hungry folks.
Make It Smokier: Choose a smoky style barbecue sauce for a richer flavor, especially if you want the finished dish to taste a little more like it spent the day near a backyard grill instead of in the slow cooker.