Contrary to what some hungry family members might think, food does not just appear out of nowhere with little more than a magical incantation. The time it takes to plan, shop, prep, and cook for just one recipe is not trivial, which is why we've gathered together these favorite simple recipes for especially busy weeks. Not counting the basic pantry staples of salt, pepper, oil, and water, all 26 of these recipes—which range from eye-catching appetizers to complete entrées—use four main ingredients (a few even clock in at just two or three!).
17 Easy co*cktails You Can Make With 3 Ingredients or Less
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Blue-Cheese Spread
This cheesy appetizer or snack doesn't need four ingredients to be fabulous—it calls for just two. Blue cheese meets cream cheese and the result is perfection. Use your remaining two ingredients to make our Olive Oil Toasts, which are the perfect base for this spread.
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02of 26
Frozen Yogurt and Fruit Pops
They couldn't be easier or more delicious. Yogurt, honey, and puréed fruit combine to make these refreshing frozen treats. Use one fruit and you're at three ingredients. Use two and you hit four. We tried this recipe with strawberries, blueberries, and mango. Raspberries would be amazing, as well.
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03of 26
Baked Potatoes With Créme Fraîche and Caviar
Simple luxury and a Martha favorite, a baked potato with caviar is indulgent but easy to make. (A baked potato with sour cream and chives also comes in at under four ingredients!)
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04of 26
English Muffin Pizza Snacks
Like bagel pizza only better, this anytime snack takes English muffins to new heights. Buttered and toasted in the oven, then topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella and baked, they make a favorite after-school repast for young and old. (Skip the fresh basil garnish if you're sticking to four ingredients.)
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Easy Peanut Butter Cookies
These irresistibly light cookies don't contain any flour, so make a batch if it's pure peanut butter flavor you're looking for.
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Seeded Feta Bites
Here's a DIY appetizer that guests or hungry family members will love. Cut feta cheese into cubes and set them out so everyone can skewer and roll them in a fragrant blend of sumac, sesame seeds, and flaky sea salt.
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3-Ingredient Mango Sorbet
Frozen mango, maple syrup (or agave), and lemon juice are all you need for this frozen treat. Perhaps the fourth ingredient is the blender that combines them into a delectable sorbet!
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08of 26
Classic Cheese Omelet
There's nothing quite like a cheese omelet. It soothes and satisfies whether you have it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. We use cheddar for the cheese and cook the omelet in butter. Serve with sliced tomatoes, toast optional.
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09of 26
Ravioli With Tomatoes and Basil Dressing
Begin with store-bought fresh ravioli, purée basil and olive oil in the blender, add tomatoes, and boom: A light and lovely summer meal is on the table in a matter of minutes.
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10of 26
Chocolate-Hazelnut Fudge
Putting out a tray of this easy, delectable fudge that has a Nutella-like flavor profile will have friends and family begging you for the recipe. Lucky for all of us, there are only four ingredients they'd need to remember!
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11of 26
Mashed Avocado-and-Egg Toast
Simple can be stunning and just what our stomachs prefer first thing in the morning, so start your day off right with this protein-packed avocado toast.
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12of 26
Brothy Beans and Greens on Toast
A hearty vegetarian lunch or supper is just four ingredients away—just be sure to source good quality bread for the foundation to this simple recipe.
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13of 26
Roast Chicken With Parsnips and Swiss Chard
As the parsnips roast alongside seasoned chicken breasts, the oven concentrates their natural sweetness. Meanwhile, Swiss chard is quickly sautéed in olive oil on the stovetop, culminating in a nutritionally balanced meal you won't believe took just four ingredients to make happen.
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14of 26
Open-Faced Grilled Cheese With Apple and Bacon
When there's bacon involved, the rest is just window dressing. Feast your eyes on this fall-inspired grilled cheese that incorporates melty cheddar and tangy apples with bacon and nutty whole-wheat sandwich bread.
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15of 26
Thyme-Scented Roasted Tomatoes and Cheese
Once you serve this appetizer, you'll be bringing it out at every party after due to popular demand! Cherry tomatoes roast in a super-hot oven until they're practically candied, making a built-in relish of sorts to go with the melty cheese and crusty bread.
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16of 26
Crispy Brussels-Sprout Rosti
You can serve this crispy potato pancake as an elegant starter or bulk it up with a fried egg and a green salad and enjoy it for a main. Either way, its intricate appearance doesn't let on that it only took a handful of ingredients to make.
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Cinnamon-Sugar Palmiers
Make buttery French pastries with only four ingredients: sugar, cinnamon, frozen dough, and bittersweet chocolate.
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18of 26
Pull-Apart Pigs-in-a-Blanket
A game-day classic for good reason, these cozy little finger foods are assembled in a spring form pan for pull-apart goodness. And as they require just pizza dough, hot dogs, and mustard for dipping, the cook will have plenty of time to watch the game, too.
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19of 26
Strawberry-Goat Cheese Tartine
Particularly suited for an afternoon pick-me-up, the flavors of fresh strawberries are enhanced here by roasting them in a little maple syrup. This special step can be done up to five days in advance, so a fancy toast like this one can be ready on demand all week long.
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20of 26
Barbecued Chicken on Garlic Toast
Using a rotisserie chicken and bottled barbecue sauce, these irresistible sandwiches are ready in just 15 minutes. Choose thick Texas toast or regular white sandwich bread to make the garlic toast.
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21of 26
Peach-Guava Pops
Cool down on a hot day with these fun and delicious peach pops. Using guava and lime juice as complementary flavors to the peach gives these icy treats a tropical vibe.
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22of 26
Zucchini Pasta With Ricotta
Roast thin slices of zucchini in a hot oven to make them tender and sweet, then toss with cooked linguine, ricotta cheese, and lemon zest for a light and delicious vegetarian pasta dinner.
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23of 26
Movie Theater Style Popcorn
Whether you opt for classic butter or go with the spicy-maple variation, this popcorn will taste perfect with the few ingredients it requires; all you'll need is an ice-cold beverage to wash it down with.
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24of 26
Crunchy Roasted Chickpeas
Did you know that you probably have everything you'd need to make this crunchy, fiber-full snack sitting in your pantry? What are you waiting for! Grab that can of chickpeas and roast them up with your spice of choice until crisp and golden.
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Strawberry Salsa
While the goal is to find ripe and juicy strawberries for this summer-y recipe, we are wise to the realities of this fickle fruit. This salsa helps even less than perfect berries look and taste their best no matter what season we're in with a little help from flavor enhancers like lime juice, onion, cilantro, and salt.
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Easy Florentine Egg Cups
These adorable self-contained egg cups have just the right amount of nutritious ingredients to keep you going until lunchtime. Using frozen chopped spinach makes the prep work fly by.
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