My uncle brought this to our family cookout and everyone kept going back for seconds. He learned it from his grandpa who made it every Sunday growing up.

little of the gravy and add more salt or pepper if needed. Let the stew sit for 5–10 minutes on the counter so it can settle and thicken a bit more before serving.

To serve, spoon generous portions of the stew onto plates or into bowls, making sure everyone gets some browned edge pieces—they’re the best part. Store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days, and reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of broth or water if it has thickened too much.

This old-fashioned Hoover stew is very forgiving, which is part of why it’s such a good budget meal. You can swap the smoked sausage for sliced hot dogs (very true to the Depression era), diced ham, or even leftover roast beef or chicken. If you don’t have mixed vegetables, use canned peas and