Game Day Gold: Just 5 ingredients. I dump everything in, give it a stir, and by kickoff, it’s the rich, creamy dish everyone gathers around. The bowl is always scraped clean by halftime.

You can nudge this simple casserole in a few different directions without losing its easy charm. For a little extra flavor, you can stir in a teaspoon of garlic powder or onion powder, or a good grind of black pepper—those are pantry staples in most farm kitchens and won’t complicate things. If you’d like more texture, brown some diced ham or cooked crumbled bacon in a skillet and fold it into the potato mixture before it goes into the slow cooker; it turns the dish into more of a complete breakfast or hearty side for supper. Using a sharp cheddar will give a more pronounced cheese flavor, while a mild cheddar keeps it mellow and kid-friendly. You can also swap the cream of chicken soup for cream of mushroom or cream of celery if that’s what you have on hand, or if you’re serving vegetarians. To make the top a bit more festive for holidays, transfer the finished casserole to a baking dish, add extra cheese, and slide it under the broiler for a few minutes to get a golden, bubbly crust. Leftovers reheat nicely in the oven or microwave; if they seem a bit thick the next day, a spoonful of milk stirred in before reheating will bring the creaminess right back.