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Three Ingredient Recipes

The Simplest Recipes

By Linda Larsen, About.com

Brie Bruschetta

Brie Bruschetta

Linda Larsen
Three ingredient recipes can be fabulous. The trick is to use really good quality food and maximize flavors. When inventing your own three ingredient recipes, think carefully about the combinations of foods that you choose. If you begin by using deli ingredients or frozen vegetable or fruit combinations, you can 'cheat' a bit, making a dish that is more complex and still technically uses only three ingredients.

As always, salt, pepper, other dried spices, flour, oil, and water aren't counted in the ingredient total. Enjoy these super easy recipes!

Three Ingredient Recipes

  • Brie Bruschetta
    This gorgeous recipe is perfect when tomatoes are perfectly ripe and juicy. It can be served as an appetizer or as the main course for a light lunch or dinner.
  • Artichoke Salad
    Green beans, marinated artichoke hearts, and pistachios make the perfect simple side salad.
  • Mussels in Apple Cream Sauce
    Mussels steam in apple cider, then are topped with a luscious sauce finished with sour cream and thyme. Yum.
  • Beef Stacks
    Marinated green beans are the secret ingredient to this elegant recipe. This can be served as an appetizer or light main dish.
  • Tex Mex Potato Salad
    Start with deli potato salad and add two more ingredients to make a fabulous spicy salad perfect for any cookout.
  • Crockpot Turkey
    Cranberry sauce and dry onion soup mix are the secret ingredients in this super simple recipe. You could use other types of soup mix if you'd like.
  • Three Bean Pasta Salad
    Pasta and prepared three bean salad is the perfect combination. If you add some ham or chopped cooked turkey to this, you'll have a four ingredient main dish salad!
  • Grilled Turkey Tenderloins
    Turkey tenderloins are tender and juicy and so easy to cook. Grilled to perfection, they're brushed with chutney for the perfect finish.
  • Nectarine Coleslaw
    Sweet and tart stone fruits combine with deli coleslaw in this fabulous recipe that will perk up any meal.
  • Melted Pesto Cheese Dip
    I'd add some chopped ripe tomatoes to this wonderful combination after the cheese has melted. Scoop it up with sturdy potato chips or bruschetta for the perfect snack.
  • Pesto Peppers with Pasta
    Any frozen vegetable combination would work well in this simple recipe. Again, add some fresh vegetables like tomatoes or summer squash if you'd like.
  • Tex Mex Chicken Drumsticks
    Really, nothing could be simpler than this flavorful recipe. Serve it with rice pilaf to soak up all the juices.
  • Spinach Quesadillas
    This super simple recipe can be varied in so many ways. Use fresh baby spinach, your favorite cheese, add fresh herbs; you get the idea!
  • BBQ Pork and Coleslaw
    Two deli foods along with some corn muffins or cornbread make this recipe incredibly quick and easy. Delicious too!
  • Tomato Pesto Spaghetti
    This jewel is one of my favorite go-to recipes, especially in the summer when tomatoes are perfect. You'll love it!
  • Tuna Tortellini
    Tuna packed in oil is the key ingredient in this recipe. If you can't find it, add purchased flavored oil, like garlic oil or basil oil, instead and use regular tuna in water.
  • Watermelon Slush
    This dessert has a gorgeous pink color, which contrasts beautifully with chopped chocolate. Serve this one for a perfect finish at an elegant dinner party.
  • Super Fast Eclairs
    Soft cookies are layered with ice cream and topped with fresh fruit for an instant dessert. Use chopped peaches and peach ice cream, chopped mangoes and mango ice cream, and on and on and on ...
  • Fastest Cheesecake
    This basic recipe can be varied in so many ways. Top with any flavor of canned pie filling, or fresh fruit, or chocolate or toasted coconut. Have fun!

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