Senior Day Comfort: Only 4 simple ingredients. I make it when I want dinner handled hours ahead with zero babysitting required.

There is a special comfort in a supper that minds itself while the day goes on, and this 4-ingredient slow cooker meal is just the sort of plain, practical cooking that has long had a place in Midwestern kitchens. It is the kind of dish you set up in the morning, then come back to hours later when the house smells warm and supper is nearly done. With a slow-roasted fibrous protein, a bottle of barbecue sauce, and a couple pantry staples, you get a tender, saucy main dish that stretches well and asks very little of the cook.

Serve this over mashed potatoes, buttered noodles, or soft sandwich buns for an easy supper. It also goes nicely with simple green beans, coleslaw, corn, or applesauce on the side. If you are feeding a few extra folks, set out pickles and sliced onions and let everyone build a plate just the way they like it.

4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Poor Man's Senior Citizens Day Supper

Servings: 6

Slow-roasted protein in sticky amber sauce inside a slow cooker

Ingredients

2 1/2 to 3 pounds slow-roasted fibrous protein
1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 cup low-sodium broth

Directions

1. Scatter the sliced onion over the bottom of the slow cooker, then pour in the broth.

Sliced onions and broth in the bottom of a slow cooker

2. Set the slow-roasted fibrous protein on top of the onions and spoon the barbecue sauce all over the top.

Protein placed in the slow cooker and covered with barbecue sauce

3. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, until very tender and easy to pull into strands.

Tender cooked protein in the slow cooker after hours of cooking

4. Shred the protein right in the cooker, stir it into the sauce and onions, and let it sit 10 minutes before serving.

Final plated slow cooker supper with sides

Variations & Tips

Sandwich Supper: Pile the saucy shredded filling onto toasted buns and serve with pickles for an easy supper that feels a little like a church social meal.

Saucy shredded filling served on toasted buns

Sweeter Sauce: If you like a sweeter finish, stir a spoonful of brown sugar into the barbecue sauce before pouring it over the top.

Make It Stretch: This recipe goes a long way when spooned over mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles, making it a thrifty choice for family suppers or leftovers the next day.

Keep It Tender: If the mixture looks too thick near the end of cooking, add a splash more broth. Slow cookers can vary, so check for tenderness rather than just watching the clock.