My older brother survived his college years on this incredibly comforting dinner. Only 3 ingredients to make a savory thick sauce coating perfectly tender pasta.

Because this recipe is intentionally pared down to three ingredients, most of the variation comes from how you tweak those basics while staying within the same spirit. For a richer flavor without adding extra ingredients, use slightly less water (3 1/2 cups) for a more concentrated, thicker gravy, or extend the initial gravy-cooking time so it reduces a bit more before adding the noodles. You can also experiment with different brands or styles of brown gravy mix—some are more peppery, others more beefy—so try a few until you find the one that tastes like your ideal comfort food. If you need to hold the noodles longer for a busy evening, keep the slow cooker on WARM and stir occasionally; add a splash of hot water if the sauce thickens too much. To adapt for smaller or larger slow cookers, scale the noodles and liquid proportionally, maintaining roughly 1 cup of water per 3 ounces of noodles plus the gravy mix. Leftovers reheat best with a tablespoon or two of water stirred in before warming on LOW or in the microwave, which brings the glossy, silky texture of the brown gravy back to life.