Easter Sunday Secret: Just 5 ingredients. I make it when I want dinner handled hours ahead so I can spend the holiday with my grandkids.

This 5-ingredient slow cooker golden chicken stew is exactly what I lean on for holidays like Easter Sunday, when I want dinner to quietly take care of itself while I’m on the floor building block towers with my grandkids. It’s a simple Midwestern-style comfort dish: tender, fibrous shredded chicken bathed in a velvety, rich golden sauce that simmers for hours without any fuss. The color and silkiness come from a combination of pantry-friendly cream soup and a touch of curry powder, a nod to the mild, family-friendly curried chicken casseroles that swept through church potlucks in the ’70s and ’80s. Everything goes straight into the slow cooker, and by the time you lift the lid, you’ll have a deeply comforting, spoon-tender stew ready to ladle into bowls.

Serve this golden chicken stew in wide, warm bowls over a bed of fluffy white rice, buttered egg noodles, or creamy mashed potatoes so the sauce has something to cling to. A simple green vegetable on the side—steamed green beans, roasted asparagus, or a crisp salad with a tangy vinaigrette—adds freshness that balances the richness. Warm dinner rolls or a crusty baguette are perfect for swiping up every last bit of the velvety sauce, and if you’re serving a crowd for a holiday, it sits happily on the “warm” setting so folks can help themselves throughout the afternoon.

Servings: 6

2 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts)

Lightly grease the insert of a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.

Scatter the thinly sliced onion evenly over the bottom of the slow cooker; this creates a flavorful bed for the chicken and keeps it lifted slightly from the direct heat.

Place the boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts) in a single, snug layer over the onions. It’s fine if they overlap a bit, but avoid stacking them too high so they cook evenly and shred nicely.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the condensed cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, and mild curry powder until the mixture is smooth and evenly golden. This is your velvety sauce base.

Pour the golden sauce mixture evenly over the chicken and onions, making sure all of the chicken is coated. Use a spatula to gently nudge the sauce around so it seeps down between the pieces.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours, or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is very tender and easily pulls apart with two forks. Avoid lifting the lid during the first few hours so the stew maintains a steady temperature and develops a rich, cohesive sauce.

Once the chicken is cooked through and very tender, switch the slow cooker to WARM. Use two forks to shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker, pulling it into fibrous strands so they soak up the golden sauce. Stir gently to combine, making sure the onions and sauce are evenly distributed.

Taste the stew and adjust seasoning if needed with a pinch of salt or an extra sprinkle of curry powder for more warmth and color. Let the shredded chicken rest in the sauce on WARM for at least 10 to 15 minutes so the fibers fully absorb the velvety, glistening gravy.

Ladle the hot golden chicken stew into bowls, making sure to scoop from the bottom to capture plenty of onions and sauce. Serve immediately, or keep covered on WARM for up to 2 hours so dinner is ready whenever everyone wanders in from the day’s festivities.

For a creamier, richer stew, stir in 1/2 cup of heavy cream or full-fat sour cream after shredding the chicken, letting it warm through on the WARM setting. If you prefer a bit more texture, add 2 cups of bite-size peeled potatoes or carrots under the onions at the very bottom of the slow cooker; keep in mind this technically adds ingredients beyond the core five, but it turns the dish into a fuller one-pot meal. For a slightly lighter version, swap one can of cream of chicken soup for cream of mushroom or cream of celery, which adds earthiness without extra heaviness. To dial up the flavor without complicating the ingredient list, bloom the curry powder briefly in a small skillet over low heat for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant, then whisk it into the soup and broth—this deepens the golden color and aroma. If you’re cooking for spice-lovers, finish the stew with a pinch of cayenne or a drizzle of hot sauce at the table so each person can customize their bowl. Leftovers reheat beautifully on the stovetop over low heat with a splash of broth to loosen the sauce, and the shredded chicken also makes an excellent filling for baked potatoes or soft rolls the next day.