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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    Easy 3 Ingredient Recipes that taste amazing!

    Published: Sep 17, 2023 · Updated: Mar 3, 2025 by Tammilee · This post may contain affiliate links

    Easy 3 Ingredient Recipes that taste amazing! Drinks, entrees, and desserts you can make with a few ingredients.

    Collage of 3 ingredient recipes with enchiladas, spicy mayo dip, mango chicken and buffalo chicken

    No Time? No Problem! Try These 40+ Time-Saving 3-Ingredient Recipes

    Contents show
    No Time? No Problem! Try These 40+ Time-Saving 3-Ingredient Recipes
    3-Ingredient Beverages
    CopyCat Chick-fil-A Lemonade
    CopyCat McDonald’s Sweet Tea
    3-Ingredient Snacks
    Ranch Pretzels
    Old Bay Goldfish Crackers
    Bacon Candy
    3-Ingredient Breads
    3-Ingredient Banana Bread
    3-Ingredient Beer Bread
    3-Ingredient Guinness Beer Bread
    3-Ingredient Pumpkin Beer Bread
    3-Ingredient Apple Cider Bread
    Muffin Mix Pancakes
    3-Ingredient Appetizers
    Sausage Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls
    Cranberry Orange Relish
    CopyCat Chick-fil-A Polynesian Sauce
    Japanese Spicy Mayo
    Hidden Valley Ranch Dip
    Potato Chip Dip
    Velveeta Rotel Dip with Ground Beef
    Brown Sugar Bacon-Wrapped Smokies
    Watermelon Salad
    3-Ingredient Entrees
    CrockPot Mango Salsa Chicken
    CrockPot Buffalo Ranch Chicken
    CrockPot Grape Jelly Meatballs
    Tex-Mex Mac and Cheese
    Lazy Lasagna
    Lazy Enchiladas
    Pringles Chicken
    Easy Cheese Enchiladas
    CrockPot Hawaiian Pulled Pork
    3-Ingredient Desserts
    Marshmallow Fluff Fruit Dip
    Bailey’s Whipped Cream
    Ants on a Log
    Butterscotch Cornflake Clusters
    Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars
    Fruity Pebbles Treats
    Oreo Fudge
    Funfetti Cake Mix Cookies
    Homemade Graham Cracker Crust
    Air Fryer S’mores
    Cherry Dump Cake
    No-Bake Hershey Pie
    Nutella Popsicles
    Grinch Bark
    Berry Coconut Sorbet
    Recipe Tips
    Kitchen Tools We use Daily
    Great Recipe Collections

    We’ve all had those weeks. Those weeks when your hair is piled into a bird’s nest atop your head, and you’re hungrily pacing the kitchen, hoping your next meal will manifest before your eyes.

    Whether you’re low on time and energy or scraping the bottom of the barrel with your pantry and fridge, creating a menu of no-fuss homemade meals only takes a little creativity with these three-ingredient recipes.

    We do not count salt and pepper as an ingredient. These 3-ingredient recipes are some of my favorite go-to recipes.

    3-Ingredient Beverages

    Chick Fil A Lemonade in a mason jar glass in front of a pitcher and lemons

    CopyCat Chick-fil-A Lemonade

    Until Chick-fil-A opened a location in Spokane, we could only visit this beloved fast-food chain during our travels, which inspired this copycat recipe. Keep this simple homemade lemonade recipe in your back pocket if you love Chick-fil-A but don’t live near a location.

    McDonalds Sweet Tea in a mason jar with a red straw

    CopyCat McDonald’s Sweet Tea

    I became a tea drinker after meeting my husband, John, who grew up in the South, where sweet tea is a beverage staple. This handy copycat recipe of McDonald’s Sweet Tea lets you skip the drive-thru and make as much as you care to drink!

     

    3-Ingredient Snacks

    Ranch pretzels piled in a white bowl on a cloth napkin

    Ranch Pretzels

    You’re only three ingredients and five minutes of prep time away from a snack that will satisfy your household's ranch lovers and salty snackers.

    White bowl filled with Old Bay Goldfish Crackers

    Old Bay Goldfish Crackers

    Our chat with a Florida seafood restaurant server about using this seafood seasoning in different dishes inspired these upgraded cheesy snack crackers. We chose Goldfish to go along with the seafood theme.

     

    Bacon Candy

    Brown sugar, chili powder, and thick-cut bacon combine for a snack that toes the line between sweet and savory.

     

    3-Ingredient Breads

    Slices of 3 ingredient banana bread on a wood board

    3-Ingredient Banana Bread

    Cake mix and ripe bananas are the stars behind this moist, semi-homemade banana bread that goes well with breakfast, coffee, and tea time.

    Beer bread in a white bread pan

    3-Ingredient Beer Bread

    The best part about this beer bread recipe is that you can put your signature spin on it using any 12-ounce beer you like. We used Heineken in this recipe, but a local craft brew would be just as delicious.

    Guinness beer bread next to a knife on a brown cloth napkin

    3-Ingredient Guinness Beer Bread

    This Guinness Beer Bread is a must-have for any St. Patrick’s Day brunch spread! Did you know that the iconic Irish stout is the most popular beer in America?

    Pumpkin Beer Bread in a white baking dish

    3-Ingredient Pumpkin Beer Bread

    This Pumpkin Beer Bread is my go-to fall bread recipe! It takes well to any pumpkin ale of your choosing (we’ve used Elysian Pumpkin Ale and Ace Pumpkin Cider) and tastes yummy with a light coating of butter or drizzle of honey.

    Apple Beer Bread in a white baking dish next to an apple and cinnamon sticks

    3-Ingredient Apple Cider Bread

    Here’s another fall-inspired beer bread recipe: can you tell that we love all things fall? While you can stick to a standard apple cider, you can also choose an apple cinnamon cider for a beer bread that oozes autumn in every bite.

    Stack of muffin mix pancakes with butter and syrup

    Muffin Mix Pancakes

    Brunch is served with these fail-proof muffin mix pancakes! Get creative with this recipe by using a fun muffin mix flavor. Amazon has a muffin mix sampler to get you started.

     

    3-Ingredient Appetizers

    Sausage Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls on a white platter

    Sausage Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls

    A happy accident involving me ordering three boxes of crescent rolls from Costco by mistake inspired this breakfast-approved appetizer recipe. Add shredded cheese to the filling before baking for cheesy sausage cream cheese crescent rolls.

    Cranberry Orange Relish in a white bowl garnished with citrus zest and cranberries

    Cranberry Orange Relish

    You only need three ingredients and a food processor to make this versatile cranberry orange relish perfect for the holidays! We especially love it in turkey, ham, and pulled pork sandwiches or as part of a charcuterie board.

    Waffle fry dipping into Polynesian sauce in a white bowl

    CopyCat Chick-fil-A Polynesian Sauce

    Do you find yourself begging for extra Polynesian sauce packets every time you visit Chick-fil-A? If so, this copycat recipe is for you.

    3 Ingredient Japanese Spicy Mayo on a chicken finger above a bowl filled with spicy mayo

    Japanese Spicy Mayo

    Use Kewpie Japanese Mayonnaise for the most authentic flavor, and feel free to spice it up by using the spiciest sriracha variety you can find.

    Hidden Valley Ranch Dip in a white bowl with tortilla chips

    Hidden Valley Ranch Dip

    Pair this ranch-infused cream cheese dip with tortilla chips, crackers, and cold-cut veggies for a filling snack or light meal. We also love it as a spread for grilled cheese sandwiches!

    potato chip dip in a white bowl with a potato chip dipping into the dip, surrounded by more chips on a plate

    Potato Chip Dip

    What do you get when you pair ranch seasoning mix, sour cream, and the best savory cream cheese flavor? A game-day-worthy cream cheese dip! Garnish it with green or minced onions for more onion flavor.

    Velveeta Rotel Dip in a cast iron skillet next to a bowl of chips

    Velveeta Rotel Dip with Ground Beef

    This versatile Velveeta dip takes well to substitutions! You can swap the ground beef with ground turkey, sausage, chicken, or plant-based meat crumbles; you can also use a spicy variety of Rotel for a dip with a kick.

    Brown sugar coated bacon wrapped little smokies with toothpicks on a white platter

    Brown Sugar Bacon-Wrapped Smokies

    You’ll love these brown sugar bacon-wrapped cocktail sausages if you love our Bacon Candy recipe. Leftovers freeze well, although we don’t blame you if the whole tray disappears the day you make them.

    Watermelon Salad with pecorino cheese shavings and balsamic vinegar

    Watermelon Salad

    Sweet watermelon chunks are the perfect backdrop for salty Pecorino Romano and sweet and tangy balsamic glaze in this easy-peasy three-ingredient salad.

     

    3-Ingredient Entrees

    Mango Salsa Chicken on rice and a tortilla shell

    CrockPot Mango Salsa Chicken

    While seemingly made of kitchen scraps, this CrockPot recipe makes a sweet and savory shredded chicken that you can easily use for restaurant-quality tacos and quesadillas.

    Buffalo Ranch Chicken on a bun next to 2 pickles

    CrockPot Buffalo Ranch Chicken

    This Crockpot Buffalo Ranch Chicken is fantastic as a sandwich filling, salad protein, or accompaniment to breakfast biscuits and eggs.

    Grape jelly meatballs on a plastic serving spoon above a slow cooker

    CrockPot Grape Jelly Meatballs

    This CrockPot meatball recipe has a special place in our hearts. A Safeway bakery employee shared it with us before our wedding, and we loved it so much that we made it for our wedding day reception!

     

    Tex-Mex Mac and Cheese

    This three-ingredient pasta recipe is Hamburger Helper-inspired with a south-of-the-border twist! Use a spicy Rotel variety for some signature heat.

    black spoon scooping lazy lasagna from a glass casserole dish

    Lazy Lasagna

    While this easy recipe has many names, one thing is sure: it’ll quickly turn into your favorite vegetarian comfort food dinner when you want Italian but want something low-effort! Don’t forget the cheesy garlic bread!

    Spatula lifting lazy enchiladas out of a glass baking dish

    Lazy Enchiladas

    The TikTok “lazy dinner” trend is one thing we were quick to get on board with, as it brought these three-ingredient “enchiladas” on our radar. Any shredded cheese flavor, as does red or green enchilada sauce of your desired heat level, works in this recipe.

    Pringles Chicken

    You’re only limited by your palate with this super-customizable Pringles Chicken recipe. Did you know there are 21 different Pringles flavors on American grocery shelves?

    cheese enchiladas in a white casserole dish next to a bowl of tortilla chips

    Easy Cheese Enchiladas

    I frequent my favorite local Mexican restaurant so often that the staff knows my order and always has it ready within minutes of my arrival. These restaurant-quality cheese enchiladas are an excellent stand-in on the nights I don’t want to leave the house, and I never notice a difference!

    Crock Pot Hawaiian Pulled Pork on a white plate

    CrockPot Hawaiian Pulled Pork

    If you’ve followed the blog, you may know that Hawaii has a special place in my heart for being the beautiful backdrop of my marine biology internship in college. Liquid smoke is the not-so-secret ingredient behind the swoon-worthy smokiness of this slider-ready Slow Cooker recipe.

     

    3-Ingredient Desserts

    Marshmallow Fluff Fruit Dip in a white bowl surrounded by blueberries, raspberries, bananas, and strawberries

    Marshmallow Fluff Fruit Dip

    This sweet dessert dip is another testament to our love for dip recipes! For a quick dessert charcuterie board, serve it with fresh fruit, Graham crackers, and Nilla wafers.

    This is perfect for strawberries!

    Bailey's Whipped Cream swirled in a glass bowl

    Bailey’s Whipped Cream

    While making this boozy whipped cream by hand is possible, we highly recommend using an electric stand mixer to make the process much easier and less labor-intensive. Your arms and hands will thank you later!

    Ants on a Log with peanut butter, raisin, and celery on a red and white plate

    Ants on a Log

    You’re never too old for this healthy, kid-approved classic snack. While its origins baffle food experts, it may be inspired by a 1959 recipe that appeared in the Star Tribune.

    No Bake Butterscotch Cornflake Cookies on wood platter

    Butterscotch Cornflake Clusters

    Use Cocoa Krispies or Cocoa Puffs for chocolatey Butterscotch Cereal Clusters. We’ve also included guidance on making these using your microwave or stovetop; if you go this route, stick the tray in the fridge to let the clusters meld together.

    Check out our favorite Fall Dessert Recipes 

    peanut butter cheerios square on parchment paper

    Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars

    You may be surprised that there are over 20 varieties of Cheerios, meaning there are over 20 ways to make these Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars!

    Check out all of our recipes with peanut butter.

    Fruity Pebbles Treat square on a white plate surrounded by Fruity Pebbles

    Fruity Pebbles Treats

    Fruity Pebbles make this kid-approved cereal treat snack colorful, but you can use colored mini marshmallows for treats that burst with even more color and fruity flavor!

    3-Ingredient Oreo Fudge stacked on a white plate next to Oreo Cookies

    Oreo Fudge

    This no-fail recipe for Oreo Fudge brings the confectionery experience to your home kitchen. It’s easy to scale up, which makes it perfect for potlucks or any other large gathering.

    FunFetti Cake Mix Cookies on a wire rack

    Funfetti Cake Mix Cookies

    Did you know that a box of cake mix makes much more than cake? Filled with enough rainbow sprinkles to draw smiles, Funfetti Cake Mix is the not-so-secret ingredient behind these sugar cookies that come together in less than fifteen minutes.

    Graham cracker crust in a glass baking dish

    Homemade Graham Cracker Crust

    This three-ingredient recipe is perfect for home bakers who want to add homemade pie and cheesecake crust to their arsenals.

    Hand holding a smores next to an air fryer

    Air Fryer S’mores

    We’re sure that Smokey the Bear would approve of these perfectly gooey homemade s’mores that involve zero fire risk.

    Cherry Dump Cake on a spoon above the slow cooker

    Cherry Dump Cake

    This Cherry Dump Cake is one recipe in our dump cake collection, where all recipes begin with pie filling, yellow cake mix, and butter.

    Slice of Hershey no bake pie on a white plate

    No-Bake Hershey Pie

    This no-bake chocolate pie is excellent for any day you need a decadent dessert that comes together with near-zero effort. The hardest part is waiting for it to come together in the fridge!

    Two Nutella Popsicles on a white platter

    Nutella Popsicles

    Every ingredient plays a role in this easy-peasy recipe for homemade popsicles. The bananas add nutrient-packed fruit and density, Nutella adds creaminess and its unmistakable and beloved flavor, while the milk aids in combining the ingredients to sweet perfection.

    green grinch bark on a red heart plate with a green napkin

    Grinch Bark

    Whether you’ve been naughty or nice this year, we won’t tell if you keep the entire bowl of this Grinch Bark for yourself. Green candy melts give it a jolly green color, while the red hearts are a nod to the movie and represent the Grinch’s heart.

    Berry Coconut Sorbet in a white bowl

    Berry Coconut Sorbet

    This health-conscious yet yummy fruit sorbet comes from the pages of Gwyneth Paltrow’s cookbook, which she wrote after some health scares inspired her to clean up her diet and make significant life changes as a way back to good health.

    Recipe Tips

    Printable recipe card instructions are available in each post.

    Nutrition information, including calories, protein, calcium, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin c, potassium, cholesterol, sodium, trans fat, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, and more, will vary depending on the products used.

    Cooking time may vary

    Kitchen Tools We use Daily

    Heat resistant potholders - A couple of years ago, we had a fire scare when we didn't realize we had turned a burner on, and a cloth potholder caught fire. Thankfully we walked by the kitchen and saw the smoke and were able to get it out ourselves. Since then, we have only used these heat-resistant potholders.

    Microwave Silicone cover - I swear by these lid covers to help prevent butter splatters when melting butter in the microwave. I have had way too many butter explosions while baking. These lid covers help keep the butter in the bowl and not on the roof of your microwave.

    Mix n Chop - We use the mix n chop to break up the sausage/ground beef and love it.

    Vegetable chopper - This is a huge time saver for chopping veggies. 

    Great Recipe Collections

    5 Ingredient or Less dessert recipes - check out the epic desserts you can make with only 5 or less ingredients.

    Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipes - Epic recipes that use sweetened condensed milk.

    Apple Desserts - The perfect apple and fall desserts.

    Sour Cream Recipes - Check out all the ways you can use sour cream in a recipe.

    Easy Side Dishes for Chicken - Check out our favorite side dishes for chicken.

    Potluck Recipes - The best easy recipes for those days you need to make something quick and easy for an event.

    Do you love recipes? Check out our copycat recipes, dessert recipes, and our CrockPot Recipes.

    Follow Tammilee Tips on MSN, Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for all of our recipe posts.

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    About Tammilee

    Lifestyle blogger who travels the world and drinks too much Chai tea. Travel blogger, award winning photographer, sunset hunter, Birkenstock girl, bird nerd
    You can find Tammilee on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

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