Solstice Simmer: Just 5 ingredients. It’s the perfect toss-and-go meal for those long sunny summer evenings.

This slow cooker supper is what I like to make on those long, golden summer evenings when I’d rather be outside watering the tomatoes than standing over a hot stove. It’s a true toss-and-go meal: just five ingredients, all piled into the crock, then left alone to become something rich, glossy, and deeply comforting.

The inspiration comes straight out of old Midwestern church suppers, where thrifty cuts of meat were cooked low and slow until they turned silky and spoon-tender. Here we lean into that tradition, using a collagen-rich, budget-friendly cut that melts into unctuous little morsels bathed in a sticky, savory-sweet sauce.

Serve big spoonfuls of the tender meat and sauce over buttered egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or simple white rice so all that rich gravy has something to soak into. A crisp green salad, sliced garden tomatoes with a little salt and pepper, or sweet corn on the cob will keep things feeling light enough for summer. A basket of warm dinner rolls or crusty bread on the table lets everyone swipe up the last of the sauce.

5-Ingredient Solstice Slow Cooker Simmer

Servings: 6

Ingredients

3 pounds beef shanks or beef short ribs, bone-in, cut into large chunks

1 cup low-sodium beef broth
1 cup barbecue sauce (your favorite, not too smoky)
1/4 cup soy sauce (regular or low-sodium)
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed

Directions