Valentine's Date Night: Just 5 ingredients. I make this when I want a restaurant-quality meal without standing over the stove all evening.

For a slightly sweeter, more nuanced flavor, you can mix in one red onion with the yellow onions, though sticking to yellow keeps the flavor closest to classic French onion soup. If you prefer darker, more intense broth, use a richer beef stock or add a splash of dry white wine or sherry to the broth before cooking (this technically adds an ingredient, so I save it for nights when I’m not strictly counting). Gruyère is the traditional cheese for French onion soup and can be swapped for the Swiss if you’re willing to upgrade one ingredient; it melts beautifully and adds a nutty depth. For a bit of texture, toast slices of baguette under the broiler with an extra slice of Swiss and serve them alongside, mimicking the cheesy toast usually floated on French onion soup. If your chicken breasts are very thick, you can slice them in half horizontally for more even cooking. Finally, if you like a slightly thicker sauce, remove the cooked chicken to a plate, reduce the liquid by simmering it in a saucepan for a few minutes, then return everything to the slow cooker and finish with the cheese as directed.