When it comes to easy dinners, less can definitely be more.
Fewer ingredients usually means shorter prep, cheaper grocery store trips, and less stress in the kitchen overall. That's why we've rounded up a bunch of our favorite dishes that only require three things to make — from simple pastas, to Crock Pot drop dinners, to family-style sheet pan meals.
(*PS: We're assuming you've already got some basics — like salt, pepper, spices, and olive oil — on hand!)
1. Crock Pot Shredded Chicken
Perfect for tacos, rice bowls, or piled over greens.
Recipe: Crock Pot Shredded Chicken
2. Miracle Mac & Cheese
If you've got noodles, milk, and cheese, you've got dinner.
Recipe: Miracle Mac & Cheese
3. Sheet Pan Blackened Salmon
For the easiest cleanup, line the sheet pan with foil or parchment first.
Recipe: Sheet Pan Blackened Salmon
Advertisement
6. Tomato & Mozzarella Summer Salad
Looks fancy, but is really just assembly.
Recipe: Ultimate Caprese Salad
Advertisement
8. Chicken Skewers With Garlic & Soy Sauce
General kitchen rule: When in doubt, add garlic and soy sauce.
9. Crock Pot Pork Roast
Pork loin + bacon + BBQ sauce.
Recipe: Crock Pot Pork Roast
11. Crispy Baked BBQ Chicken Bites
Crunchy and golden brown thanks to a clever secret ingredient.
Recipe: Crispy BBQ Chicken Bites
Advertisement
12. Sheet Pan Low Carb Sausage & Green Beans
This goes from prep to plate in about 20 minutes.
Recipe: Sheet Pan Sausage & Green Beans
13. 5-Minute Egg Fried Rice
The key is not stirring the rice too much — so that pieces can get super crispy in the pan without having to use a wok.
Recipe: 3-Ingredient Egg Fried Rice
14. Bulgarian Salad With Tomatoes, Cucumber & Feta
This shortcut version of shopska is one of the most refreshing things you'll eat all summer. Serve it with a side of warm pita bread.
Advertisement
15. All-Purpose Taco Meat
Use this quick and flavorful taco meat — which is punched up with canned tomatoes and green chiles — in everything from nachos to loaded sweet potatoes.
Recipe: All-Purpose Taco Meat
16. Lemon-Butter Cod
This works with any kind of frozen white fish fillets too. You'll just need to thaw them first.
Recipe: Lemon-Butter Cod
17. Vegan Meal Prep Packs
Make a batch of the simple protein-packed base — just quinoa, spinach, and chickpeas — and then use it in everything from pack-and-go lunches, to dinner-worthy vegetable curry.
Recipe: Vegan Meal Prep Packs
18. Marcella Hazan's Tomato Sauce
This is arguably the most famous tomato sauce recipe out there — and it's totally worth its title, IMO.
Recipe & Review: Marcella Hazan's Tomato Sauce
19. Easiest Veggie Noodle Fritters
Just grab grocery store zoodles, add flour, and pan fry — and you've got dinner fritters. Top with a fried egg or your favorite dip.
Recipe: Easiest Veggie Noodle Fritters
Advertisement
20. Lemon & Thyme Salmon
If you've never cooked salmon before, this is the perfect starter. It cooks low and slow in the oven — and is basically impossible to mess up.
Recipe: Lemon & Thyme Salmon
21. 2-Ingredient Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
Any jarred salsa — like salsa verde or chunky habanero — would work here.
Recipe: Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
{{ blurb }}
{{/blurb}} {{#picture_url}}