Fast, Easy 3-Ingredient Recipes for Breakfast, Dinner and Dessert
Mealtime Tri-Umphs
Cooking at home is usually healthier and cheaper than going out, and that makes quick and easy recipes essential. Forget about hunting down a long list of ingredients and embrace the simplicity of this type of cooking. We've rounded up our favorite three-ingredient recipes — 25 of them, ranging from breakfast to dessert. As long as you have kitchen staples such as salt, pepper, and olive oil, these tasty recipes will be a breeze.
Editor's note: This story was updated in April 2024
1. Cheddar Broccoli Egg Muffins
Need a quick, healthy breakfast? These keto-friendly muffins are filled with veggies, protein, and a bit of healthy fat to start a day off right. Feel free to sub in other vegetables, too.
Recipe: Fit Mama Real Food
2. Creamy Lemon Pasta
Egg noodles, the zest and juice from a few lemons, and heavy cream: That's really all it takes to make this simple and delicious pasta recipe from food writer Barb Kafka.
Recipe: Food52
3. Marcella Hazan's Famous Tomato Sauce
Speaking of pasta, this classic tomato sauce from famed Italian food writer Marcella Hazan is somehow only three ingredients, plus salt, and will impress all your foodie friends. Serve over pasta or even leftover rice. For true Italian nonna status, make an extra large batch and freeze half for later.
Recipe: The Kitchn
4. Gnocchi With Chicken Sausage and Spinach
This fun weeknight recipe is endlessly customizable. It calls for gnocchi, chicken sausage, and spinach, but it's easy to swap in other veggies or meats. Prefer arugula? Just have bacon? Throw those in instead — whatever you feel like.
Recipe: Family Food on the Table
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5. Baked Eggs in Avocado
We love the simplicity of this recipe for eggs baked in avocado and spread over toast. But if you're looking to cut carbs or just don't feel like making toast, it's delicious on its own.
Recipe: White on Rice Couple
6. 3-Ingredient Instant Pot Chicken Tacos
We love our Instant Pots, and yours will come in handy for this ridiculously easy recipe for chicken tacos. Great for hard tacos, soft tacos, or even taco salad.
Recipe: Fresh Fit Kitchen
7. Instant Pot Pot Roast
Gone are the days where pot roasts took hours to cook. This delicious three-ingredient Instant Pot version featuring chuck roast will take a little over an hour.
Recipe: Girl and the Kitchen
8. Root Beer Pulled-Pork Sandwiches
The root beer in this recipe adds flavor and helps tenderize the meat. This recipe is an easy way to feed a crowd with a cheap cut of pork.
Recipe: The Girl Who Ate Everything
9. Grilled Spiced Chicken Wings
Another great weeknight recipe, these wings are perfect for a casual night in, whether you're watching a game or not. Grab some ranch sauce for dipping, and you're good to go.
Recipe: Real Simple
10. French Market Chicken With Herbed Potatoes
Date night snuck up on you again? This French market dinner will be perfect. If this recipe makes your taste buds say "Oui," have a look at these easy French classics, too.
Recipe: Refinery29
11. 3-Ingredient Steak With Crispy Parmesan Potatoes
This steak dish is another elegant, date-night-appropriate recipe, and it's as hearty to eat as it is easy to make. Celebrate your smashing culinary success by toasting with your favorite red wine.
Recipe: Epicurious
12. Easy 3-Ingredient Chili
Hearty, filling, and inexpensive, there's nothing like a good chili. Don't worry, we managed to find a three-ingredient version — but don't be afraid to customize it. Have black beans, not chili beans? Want to add some smoked paprika? Follow your heart.
Recipe: I Heart Naptime
Related: 13 Regional Chili Recipes to Feed to the Family
13. 3-Ingredient Summertime Salsa
Since the tacos themselves were so simple, why not also serve some homemade salsa? Fresh ingredients are the key here. We recommend this summery, minimalist recipe from one of our favorite food bloggers.
Recipe: Smitten Kitchen
14. Roasted Fennel, Red Onion, and Orange Salad
Looking for a light dinner or a healthy side? Try the combination of roasted fennel, red onion, and orange for a self-dressing salad that's fragrant and refreshing.
Recipe: Food52
15. Homemade No-Knead Bread
Even if you're not a star baker, this recipe for homemade no-knead bread will trick friends and family (and maybe even you) into thinking you are. This delicious, rustic-looking loaf will be a feast for the eyes, too.
Recipe: Healthcastle
16. Banana Cinnamon Rolls
This vegan, gluten-free take on cinnamon rolls requires only bananas, cinnamon, and dates. A bit of vanilla bean couldn't hurt, if you have it.
Recipe: Feasting on Fruit
17. 3-Ingredient Vegan Pancakes
If you're vegan and/or gluten-free, this recipe for pancakes will be just right. All you'll need are gluten-free oats or oat flour, almond milk, and spotty bananas. It includes recommended add-ons and syrup recipes if you want to zhuzh up your morning.
Recipe: Simple Sweet Vegan
18. 3-Ingredient Ice Cream French Toast
Put the words "ice cream" and "French toast" together, and you'll have us drooling. With only three ingredients required, we may just start cheering.
Recipe: Epicurious
19. Cloud Bread
Don't worry, we have a great paleo bread option, too. No flour needed for this bread recipe that can be used for sandwiches or as the crust for mini pizzas.
Recipe: Paleo Hacks Blog
Related: 15 Tips To Eat Cheap and Stay Healthy With These Popular Diets
20. Watermelon Granita
This recipe is essentially fancy watermelon shaved ice, but what could be more refreshing on a hot day? This treat would be right at home as summer party fare.
Recipe: Mom Advice
21. Nutella Brownies
Did someone say brownies? These require only eggs, Nutella, and flour. What's more, they come together in less than half an hour.
Recipe: Kirbie Cravings
22. Mango Cheesecake
This genius Instant Pot recipe for mango cheesecake will surprise and delight whomever you're serving. Condensed milk, yogurt, and mango puree come together beautifully for an exquisite crust-less dessert.
Recipe: My Heart Beets
Related: 20 Cheap and Easy Cheesecake Recipes
23. Mini Strawberry Pies
You'd think a pie would be more complicated, but these adorable mini strawberry pies involve really only three ingredients and are easy to make with ready-made puff pastry and fresh berries. They're delicious with Nutella, if you have it around.
Recipe: Brit + Co
24. Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse With Fleur De Sel
Need an impressive dessert? Do three ingredients still sound like too many? Okay, try this wonderful recipe for chocolate mousse — all you need is bittersweet chocolate and a bit of fleur de sel.
Recipe: Dining & Cooking
25. Banana Sushi
For something fun and more out of the box, how about some banana sushi? It's sweet, simple, fast, and totally customizable to the ingredients you have on hand.
Recipe: Creative Healthy Family
This article was originally published on Cheapism
