21 Super Simple 3-Ingredient Recipes For When You're Too Lazy To Cook (2024)

You know how it goes: you're sitting around, scrolling through Pinterest, and you see a recipe that looks so delicious you just have to make it for dinner tonight. Just when you've built up the anticipation, you come the long list of ingredients and immediately become disinterested. It happens to the best of us – but that doesn't mean you'll never find an easy weeknight dinner to cook.

Your pantry is probably stocked with the basics like olive oil, garlic, and salt + pepper, so you're halfway there. With these simple 3-ingredient recipes, you'll be cooking and chowing down in no time. 3-ingredient recipes are true lifesavers when it comes to lazy days, and these are our faves!

21 Super Simple 3-Ingredient Recipes For When You're Too Lazy To Cook (1)

Pineapple Skewers

The perfect combination of savory and sweet, pineapple and chicken skewers are an easy way to serve up big flavor. In the off-chance you don't this 3-ingredient recipe all at once, they make a great second-day lunch served over rice. (via Brit + Co)

21 Super Simple 3-Ingredient Recipes For When You're Too Lazy To Cook (2)

Mini Strawberry Pies

Everything is better when it's bite-sized. These 3-ingredient pies are no exception. Bring them to brunchor your BFF's bridal shower. Whatever the occasion, people will think you spent all day in the kitchen and won't believe this is an actual 3-ingredient recipe. (via Brit + Co)

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Buffalo Chicken Taquitos

This is one of the tastiest, easiest 3-ingredient recipes for hosting a crowd. All you need for the filling is pre-cooked chicken, hot sauce, and cheese. Then, you'll roll 'em up using your favorite tortillas, air fry (or bake) them to perfection, and voila! (via Brit + Co)

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Vegetarian Pigs-in-a-Blanket

Store-bought present roll dough is the true star of this 3-ingredient recipe. To it, you'll roll up some veggie sausage links and your fave sliced cheese. These will be done within 20 minutes, easy. All your pals will be asking where you got the recipe! (via Brit + Co)

21 Super Simple 3-Ingredient Recipes For When You're Too Lazy To Cook (5)

Cheesy Monkey Bread

A 3-ingredient recipe made up entirely of cheese, bread and butter? There is no way this could go wrong! (via Brit + Co)

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French Market Chicken with Herbed Potatoes

The only thing simple about this recipe is the ingredients. Impress your friends with a whole roast chicken on a bed of crispy red potatoes and fresh herbs. Bon appetit! (via Refinery29)

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Root Beer Pulled Pork

Barbecue sauce is a summertime necessity. The next time you get a hankering for that sweet, smoky flavor, try these pulled pork sandwiches. This is one of those 3-ingredient recipes that's sure to have you coming back for seconds! (via The Girl Who Ate Everything)

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Potato Gnocchi Pasta

Transform ordinary kitchen staples like potatoes, eggs and flour into light and fluffy gnocchi! Grab that half-used jar of pasta sauce that's been hanging out in the back of the fridge, and you've got a 3-ingredient meal just asking to be devoured. (via Eugenie Kitchen)

21 Super Simple 3-Ingredient Recipes For When You're Too Lazy To Cook (9)

Veggie Burger

Craving a burger... but not the beef? Blend together some plant-based tempeh, egg and harissa (a red chili paste), and you’ll get a veggie burger that is not only filling and but also packed with flavor and protein. (via Earthy Feast)

21 Super Simple 3-Ingredient Recipes For When You're Too Lazy To Cook (10)

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Don't know what to bring to the next potluck? These three ingredient meatballs are a real crowd pleaser, and since you're making them in the crock pot, you won't have to rush at the last minute. They'll be ready when you are. (via Frugal Fanatic)

21 Super Simple 3-Ingredient Recipes For When You're Too Lazy To Cook (11)

Avocado Chicken Salad

Dress up some leftover chicken (or even rotisserie) with avocado, cilantro, and salt + pepper to make a lunch you won't mind eating two days in a row. Enjoy this 3-ingredient recipe on a bun or as a filling for lettuce wraps! (via Hip 2 Save)

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3-Ingredient Chili

Sometimes you just need a good, hearty meal, but don't have the time to stand around a simmering pot all day. Now, you can have the best of both worlds! This 3-ingredient chili is great on its own but would also be a good way to use up any leftover veggies hanging out in your crisper. (via I Heart Naptime)

21 Super Simple 3-Ingredient Recipes For When You're Too Lazy To Cook (13)

Watermelon Granita

Kick back and cool down this summer with a bite of this easy-to-make granita! The prep work takes a little patience, but is sooo worth it. Save the watermelon rind and repurpose it as a serving bowl for a fancy display. (via The Kitchn)

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Apple Juice Chicken

This 3-ingredient recipe may have been created by accident, but our love for it was meant to be. Coated in a sauce of reduced apple juice, this is one dish you'll never mess up or pass up. (via Oatmeal With a Fork)

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Peanut Butter Cookies

We all have those days where the only cure is a sweet treat. Use up that half-empty jar of peanut butter that's stting in your cabinet, and make something worth sharing on Instagram – #YUM! 3-ingredient recipes have never looked so enticing. (via Barefeet in the Kitchen)

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Summertime Salsa

Salsa is good on just about everything, and can add a punch to even the blandest of meals, so it’s important to have a go-to recipe. This 3-ingredient variation is foolproof! (via South County AZ)

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Hummus

A perfect spread for sandwiches or a dip for pita chips, hummus is a healthy and versatile condiment or snack to have in your kitchen. Make a big batch and it will stay good for at least a week… if it lasts that long! (via The Space Between)

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Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin spice season might be long gone, but with this easy recipe you can get your fix any day of the year! This 3-ingredient recipe tastes so good, you might even be tempted to share the yum. (via Bower Power)

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Garlic Cheddar Biscuits

Biscuits are a great companion to any meal, from soups to salads, and since this 3-ingredient recipe is so easy to make you’ll be able to whip up a batch in a snap. (via Two Twenty One)

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Gin Tarragon co*cktail

Everyone should have a simple, but impressive co*cktail recipe in their arsenal. Whether you’re hosting a backyard dinner party or just getting together with the girls, this is one drink that should always be on the VIP list. (via Freutcake)

21 Super Simple 3-Ingredient Recipes For When You're Too Lazy To Cook (21)

Sweet and Sticky 3 Ingredient Apricot Chicken (with Cauliflower Rice)

Just looking at this meal makes it hard to believe it's one of the 3-ingredient recipes you're thinking about adding to your weekly roster. But — kid you not — you only need a jar of apricot preserves, Russian dressing, and the skin from chicken thighs to make it. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Which 3-ingredient recipes are you going to try this weekend?

Lead image via Half Baked Harvest.

This post has been updated with additional reporting by Meredith Holser.

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  • 14 Dessert Recipes Made With 3 Ingredients or Less - Brit + Co ›
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Ashley Tyler

A South Florida native, Ashley is a new mom who is just trying to figure it all out while still finding time to blog at TWO TYLERS AND A BABY. There, she shares bits of her everyday life, DIY projects, recipes and everything in between.

21 Super Simple 3-Ingredient Recipes For When You're Too Lazy To Cook (2024)

FAQs

What food to make when you're bored? ›

Soups, stews, bolognese sauces, white sauces, beans and lentils are all good big batch foods that can be transformed into a variety of dishes. This classic and healthy bolognese sauce can be used for lasagne, with spaghetti, as a cottage pie, in a chilli or a filling for jacket potatoes.

What is the simplest food to cook? ›

Our 50 Easiest Recipes Ever For Lazy Cooks
  • 01 of 50. Shrimp and Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta. ...
  • 02 of 50. Soulful Chicken Soup. ...
  • 03 of 50. Spaghetti Casserole. ...
  • 04 of 50. Chicken Cutlets With Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce. ...
  • 05 of 50. Quick Beef Chili. ...
  • 06 of 50. Sloppy Joe Casserole. ...
  • 07 of 50. Green Chile Mac And Cheese With Chicken. ...
  • 08 of 50.
Sep 20, 2023

What is the most easiest thing to cook? ›

17 Of The Easiest Recipes Of All Time (Seriously)
  1. 15-Minute Lo Mein. Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com. ...
  2. Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas. ...
  3. Honey Balsamic Chicken. ...
  4. Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps. ...
  5. White Bean Soup With Vegetables. ...
  6. Smoked Gouda and Mushroom Quesadillas. ...
  7. Mexican Beef and Rice Skillet. ...
  8. One-Pot Pasta With Spinach and Peas.
Jan 2, 2019

What to make for dinner when you have no energy? ›

21 Short Recipes For Tired And Hungry Weeknight People
  1. Simple Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas. ...
  2. Chicken, Broccoli Shells, and Cheese. ...
  3. Arepas With Guacamole, Plantain, and Bean Filling. ...
  4. Chicken and Spinach in Creamy Mushroom Sauce. ...
  5. Crispy Southwest Wrap. ...
  6. Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad. ...
  7. Creamy Pasta With Bell Pepper and Sausage.
Jan 22, 2019

How do you eat when you don't want to cook? ›

One key to eat healthy without cooking is to stock up on easy-to-grab healthy foods:
  1. Hummus.
  2. Wheat crackers.
  3. Fruits and veggies (Frozen and canned still provide good nutrition)
  4. Rotisserie chicken.
  5. Canned beans.
  6. Whole grains (you can get these precooked)
  7. Oatmeal.
  8. Greek yogurt.
Feb 9, 2023

How can I eat if I have no money? ›

Your local food bank can help you find food today, even if you need temporary help. They partner with food pantries, soup kitchens, and meal programs in your local community to give away free food. Enter your zip code to find the food bank partnering with Feeding America.

What is the healthiest thing to cook with? ›

Here are 5 nutrient-packed oils that deserve a spot in your pantry.
  • Olive Oil. Olive oil is popular for a reason. ...
  • Avocado Oil. Avocado oil boasts a lot of the same benefits as extra virgin olive oil, but with a higher smoking point, making it great for sauteing or pan frying. ...
  • Coconut Oil. ...
  • Sunflower Oil. ...
  • Butter.
Oct 25, 2023

What can you cook in 3 minutes? ›

Three-Minute Meals
  • Mushroom Toast. 1 piece whole-grain toast. ...
  • Spring Salad with Shrimp and Brown Rice. ...
  • Italian-Style Ratatouille with Chicken Sausage. ...
  • Quick Vegetarian Tacos. ...
  • Mediterranean-Style Loaded Baked Potato. ...
  • Breakfast for Dinner: Vegetarian Omelette. ...
  • Asian-Inspired Stir Fry. ...
  • Whole Grain Flatbread Pizza and Salad.
Jun 7, 2017

What is something fun for dinner? ›

Fun Dinner Ideas
  • Smashed Cheeseburger Tacos. Fun-squared. Fun Dinner Ideas. ...
  • White Cheddar Chicken Pasta. Fun-squared. Fun Dinner Ideas. ...
  • Buffalo Chicken Meatballs. Fun-squared. Fun Dinner Ideas. ...
  • Birria Tacos. Fun-squared. Fun Dinner Ideas. ...
  • Creamy Garlic Pasta. Fun-squared. Fun Dinner Ideas. ...
  • Italian Zucchini. Fun-squared. Fun Dinner Ideas.

What foods make you less lazy? ›

Foods that fight fatigue

Low-GI carbohydrates: brown rice, quinoa, steel-cut oatmeal and chia seeds. Medium-GI foods, in moderation: honey, orange juice and whole-grain bread. Healthy fats: monounsaturated fats like olive oil, nuts, nut butters and avocados.

How do you get energy when you feel lazy? ›

Get moving

You might feel that exercise is the last thing on your mind. But, in fact, regular exercise will make you feel less tired in the long run, so you'll have more energy. Even a single 15-minute walk can give you an energy boost, and the benefits increase with more frequent physical activity.

What should I eat to not be lazy? ›

Nuts and seeds

Getting a variety of nuts and seeds in your diet can provide healthy nutrients and energy. Try almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds. Eating raw, unsalted versions is recommended. And they're the perfect midafternoon snack.

What is lazy cooking? ›

It means making smart or clever adjustments that make cooking quicker and easier. Think of it as pandemic cooking 2.0—good, healthy food made convenient. It's all about sheet pan dinners, pressure cookers and any meal you can make in one vessel. It likely involves fewer steps and fewer ingredients.

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