Less is More: 28 Recipes with Only 3 Ingredients

Cooking delicious meals doesn’t always have to be complicated. In fact, some of the tastiest dishes can be made with just a few simple ingredients. In this article, we’ve rounded up 28 recipes that require only three ingredients. Whether you’re short on time, on a tight budget, or simply looking for some minimalist cooking inspiration, these recipes are sure to satisfy your taste buds. So let’s dive in and discover how less can truly be more in the kitchen.

  1. Chickpea and Spinach Curry:
    Ingredients: chickpeas, spinach, coconut milk
    Sauté chickpeas in a pan, then add coconut milk and spinach. Let it simmer for 10-15 minutes. Serve over rice.
  2. Caprese Salad:
    Ingredients: tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil
    Slice tomatoes and mozzarella, then layer on a plate. Top with fresh basil and drizzle with olive oil.
  3. Creamy Tomato Soup:
    Ingredients: canned tomatoes, heavy cream, chicken broth
    Blend canned tomatoes and chicken broth until smooth, then simmer for 15 minutes. Stir in heavy cream and serve.
  4. Pesto Pasta:
    Ingredients: pasta, pesto, Parmesan cheese
    Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, then stir in pesto and Parmesan cheese.
  5. Roasted Butternut Squash Soup:
    Ingredients: butternut squash, vegetable broth, maple syrup
    Roast butternut squash in the oven, then blend with vegetable broth and maple syrup until smooth. Serve hot.
  6. Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos:
    Ingredients: sweet potato, black beans, taco shells
    Roast sweet potato in the oven, then combine with black beans in a pan. Serve in taco shells with desired toppings.
  7. Ratatouille:
    Ingredients: eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes
    Slice eggplant, zucchini, and tomatoes, then layer in a baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes, then serve hot.
  8. Lentil Soup:
    Ingredients: lentils, chicken broth, carrots
    Combine lentils, chicken broth, and carrots in a pot. Bring to a boil, then let simmer for 20-25 minutes. Serve hot.
  9. Spaghetti Aglio e Olio:
    Ingredients: spaghetti, garlic, red pepper flakes
    Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Sauté garlic and red pepper flakes in olive oil, then toss with spaghetti.
  10. Mushroom and Spinach Risotto:
    Ingredients: Arborio rice, mushrooms, spinach
    Sauté mushrooms in a pan, then add Arborio rice and stir until coated. Gradually add water and stir until rice is cooked. Add spinach and serve.
  11. Greek Salad:
    Ingredients: cucumber, tomato, feta cheese
    Dice cucumber and tomato, then combine in a bowl with crumbled feta cheese. Drizzle with olive oil and serve.
  12. Spinach and Feta Stuffed Chicken Breast:
    Ingredients: chicken breast, spinach, feta cheese
    Stuff chicken breast with spinach and feta cheese, then bake in the oven at 375°F (190°C) for 25-30 minutes. Serve hot.
  13. Cacio e Pepe:
    Ingredients: spaghetti, Pecorino Romano cheese, black pepper
    Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Reserve pasta water, then mix Pecorino Romano cheese and black pepper in a pan. Add pasta water and spaghetti, then toss until coated.
  14. Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms:
    Ingredients: Portobello mushrooms, spinach, artichokes
    Remove stems from Portobello mushrooms, then stuff with sautéed spinach and artichokes. Bake in the oven at 375°F (190°C) for 20-25 minutes. Serve hot.
  15. Sweet Potato and Black Bean Bowl:
    Ingredients: sweet potato, black beans, salsa
    Roast sweet potato in the oven, then serve over black beans. Top with salsa and desired toppings.
  16. Tomato and Basil Omelette:
    Ingredients: eggs, tomato, basil
    Whisk together eggs, then pour into a pan. Add diced tomato and chopped basil, then fold the omelette over. Cook until set, then serve.
  17. Broccoli and Cheddar Soup:
    Ingredients: broccoli, cheddar cheese, chicken broth
    Blend broccoli and chicken broth until smooth, then simmer for 10-15 minutes. Add shredded cheddar cheese and serve.
  18. Grilled Eggplant and Goat Cheese Sandwich:
    Ingredients: bread, eggplant, goat cheese
    Grill sliced eggplant, then assemble on bread with goat cheese. Grill until cheese is melted and bread is toasted. Serve hot.
  19. Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna:
    Ingredients: lasagna noodles, spinach, ricotta cheese
    Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions, then layer with sautéed spinach and ricotta cheese. Bake in the oven at 375°F (190°C) for 30-35 minutes. Serve hot.
  20. Cauliflower and Chickpea Curry:
    Ingredients: cauliflower, chickpeas, curry powder
    Sauté cauliflower and chickpeas in a pan, then add curry powder and simmer for 10-15 minutes. Serve over rice.
  21. Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Bowl:
    Ingredients: quinoa, mixed vegetables, lemon juice
    Roast mixed vegetables in the oven, then serve over cooked quinoa. Drizzle with lemon juice and serve hot.
  22. Lentil and Sweet Potato Curry:
    Ingredients: lentils, sweet potato, curry paste
    Cook lentils according to package directions, then add chopped sweet potato and curry paste. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, then serve over rice.
  23. Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burger:
    Ingredients: Portobello mushroom, bun, lettuce
    Grill Portobello mushroom, then serve on a bun with lettuce and desired toppings. Serve hot.
  24. Zucchini and Corn Fritters:
    Ingredients: zucchini, corn, flour
    Grate zucchini, then mix with corn and flour. Form into patties, then pan-fry until golden brown. Serve hot.
  25. Tomato and Feta Stuffed Chicken Breast:
    Ingredients: chicken breast, tomato, feta cheese
    Stuff chicken breast with sliced tomato and crumbled feta cheese, then bake in the oven at 375°F (190°C) for 25-30 minutes. Serve hot.
  26. Broccoli and Cheddar Stuffed Baked Potato:
    Ingredients: potato, broccoli, cheddar cheese
    Bake potato in the oven, then slice open and stuff with steamed broccoli and shredded cheddar cheese. Bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, then serve hot.
  27. Creamy Mushroom and Spinach Pasta:
    Ingredients: pasta, mushrooms, spinach, cream cheese
    Cook pasta according to package directions, then sauté mushrooms and spinach in a pan. Add cream cheese and stir until melted. Toss with cooked pasta and serve hot.
  28. Roasted Vegetable and Hummus Wrap:
    Ingredients: tortilla wrap, mixed vegetables, hummus
    Roast mixed vegetables in the oven, then wrap in a tortilla with hummus. Serve hot or cold.

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