To keep this true to its Depression-era roots, the base stays at four simple ingredients: potatoes, onions, butter, and flour (plus basic salt and pepper). From there, you can adjust to your own kitchen. For extra richness, you can drizzle 1/4 cup of milk or evaporated milk over the top before cooking, but note that this makes it less traditional and slightly saucier.
A plated serving of potato and onion bake with dinner sides
A plated serving of potato and onion bake with dinner sides
If you need to stretch the dish further, add one more potato and a small onion and increase the salt slightly. For a slightly smokier flavor that still feels old-fashioned, sprinkle a pinch of paprika over the top layer before cooking. To prep ahead on a busy workday, you can slice the onions and measure the flour mixture the night before and store them in the fridge; slice the potatoes the morning of cooking so they don’t discolor.
Food safety tips: Keep the slow cooker covered as much as possible during cooking so it maintains a safe temperature. Use a clean cutting board and knife when prepping, and don’t leave the finished dish at room temperature for more than 2 hours; refrigerate leftovers in a shallow container within that time. Reheat leftovers thoroughly until steaming hot in the center (165°F/74°C) before serving. If your slow cooker has a hot spot, rotate the crock halfway through cooking (if safe to do so) to encourage even browning on top.
