Depression era families knew the power of simple seasonings. This peppery potato dish costs almost nothing but tastes like pure comfort.

This slow cooker 3-ingredient poor man’s black pepper potatoes recipe is the kind of dish my grandparents would have made during the Depression era: simple, filling, and built around pantry basics. Potatoes, black pepper, and butter are all you need to turn a humble bag of spuds into a pan of creamy, tender wedges that taste like pure comfort. The slow cooker does all the work, and the generous black pepper gives these potatoes a cozy, old-fashioned flavor that feels like it came straight from a farmhouse kitchen.

Serve these black pepper potatoes piled onto a simple white plate or shallow bowl so you can really see the creamy wedges speckled with pepper and glistening with butter. They’re perfect next to roasted or grilled chicken, meatloaf, or a skillet of fried eggs if you’re doing breakfast-for-dinner. Add a basic green side, like steamed green beans or a tossed salad, to balance the richness. If you have it on hand, a little dish of salt at the table lets everyone season their own, just like families did when stretching simple meals to feed a crowd.

Servings: 4

2 1/2 pounds russet or yellow potatoes, scrubbed and cut into thick wedges

Lightly grease the inside of a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker with a small dab of the butter or a bit of cooking spray so the potatoes don’t stick.

Scrub the potatoes well under cool running water to remove any dirt, then pat dry. Leave the skins on for a rustic, Depression-era feel. Cut each potato into thick wedges, about 6–8 wedges per potato, so they hold their shape during the long cook.

Place the potato wedges into the slow cooker in an even layer, spreading them out as much as you can so the heat reaches them evenly.

Sprinkle the coarse ground black pepper evenly over the potatoes, making sure to cover as many surfaces as possible. This is where all that peppery comfort comes from, so don’t be shy.

Dot the potato wedges with the butter pieces, tucking some down between the potatoes so it melts all the way through and helps them turn creamy and tender.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for 5–6 hours, or on HIGH for 2 1/2–3 hours, until the potatoes are very tender when pierced with a fork but still hold their wedge shape.

Once cooked, gently toss the potatoes in the melted butter and pepper right in the slow cooker using a wide spatula or large spoon, being careful not to mash them. Taste a piece and, if you like, add a pinch more black pepper at this point for extra warmth.

Spoon the hot potatoes onto a simple white plate or serving dish so the creamy wedges, glistening with butter and speckled with black pepper, are visible. Serve immediately while they’re warm and soft.

To keep the spirit of a Depression-era, budget-friendly recipe, stick to three core ingredients, but you can still adjust to fit your family. If your crew likes a milder flavor, reduce the black pepper to 1 teaspoon and let everyone add more at the table. For extra richness without changing the ingredient list too much, increase the butter to 5 or 6 tablespoons, especially if your potatoes are on the drier side. If you need to stretch the meal, serve these potatoes over a slice of toasted bread to soak up the buttery juices, or pair them with a fried egg on top. For kids who are picky about pepper flecks, you can use a finer grind of black pepper so it blends in more, though the coarse grind gives the best look and old-fashioned feel. If you’re watching sodium, this recipe is naturally low in salt as written; set out a small dish of table salt so everyone can season their own portion lightly. Food safety tips: Always wash potatoes well and cut away any green spots or large sprouts before cooking, as those parts can be bitter. Keep the slow cooker covered during cooking so the temperature stays consistent and the potatoes cook thoroughly; avoid lifting the lid more than once or twice to check doneness. Once cooked, don’t leave the potatoes sitting on the warm setting for more than 2 hours at room temperature—refrigerate leftovers in a shallow container and reheat thoroughly before serving.