Long day? Check out these QUICK and EASY dinner recipes!
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We've all been there. You get home from a long day at work, absolutely exhausted, and the last thing you want to do is cook dinner.
But you have to eat, right? And cooking a big, complicated meal just isn't going to happen tonight.
Well, first of all, take a deep breath and don't worry – we've got you covered.
Below are six recipes for super simple dinners that only require three ingredients each. They're quick and easy to make, so you won't have to spend hours in the kitchen when all you want to do is relax on the couch with a good book or your favourite TV show. (We won't judge!)
Plus, these recipes are versatile enough that you can easily modify them based on your preferences or what you already have in your pantry and fridge. So if one of the ingredients listed isn't your favourite (or if you don't have it on hand), feel free to swap it out for something else.
Just note that the three-ingredient ‘rule’ doesn’t include pantry staples like olive oil, salt and pepper – so keep those in mind as well! Bon appétit!
Mac & Cheese
This recipe from Tasty only requires a box of elbow macaroni, 5 cups of whole milk, and two cups of shredded cheddar cheese – plus some salt and pepper, according to taste.
Simply boil the pasta noodles in milk for ten minutes before removing it from the heat and stirring in the shredded cheese; then voilà – dinner is served!
Tomato Cheese Toast
This recipe from EatGood4Life could not be easier as it only requires sliced bread (6 pieces), provolone cheese (6 slices), and tomatoes (sliced, around 6-10 pieces).
To cook, just place the slices of provolone cheese and tomato on top of some bread before popping it in the oven for 6–7 minutes (180 degrees).
Cacio e Pepe
Don’t have Pecorino Romano cheese? You can use Parmesan. Credit: Pexels/Anna Shvets
In cuisine, there is nothing as classically Italian as pasta (maybe pizza, but that’s a debate for another day). One fine and easy example of an easy pasta dish is this recipe, which needs only Pecorino Romano cheese (140 grams), black pepper (1 tbsp), ice water (⅓ cup), and pasta (900 g).
To start, boil a pot of salted water. While boiling the water, finely grate about 2 ½ cups of the cheese into a bowl, then set ½ cup aside to use as toppings. With the remaining cheese, add some black pepper and mix to a fine paste with drizzled ice water (you could also use pasta water as a substitute, if you prefer). Once the paste is smooth, set aside. Next, boil the pasta until al dente (cooked enough for a firm bite, not overdone and too soft). Lastly, toss the cooked pasta with the cheese paste. Add around 2-3 tbsp of pasta water while tossing to get an even coating of the paste. Once done, add some cheese and black pepper to taste.
Aglio e Olio
Shrimp and prawns pair well with aglio e olio. Credit: Pexels/Anthony Leong
Speaking of pasta, aglio e olio is also not a recipe to be outdone in terms of simplicity as it only requires a base of olive oil and garlic.
This recipe from Lifehacker needs half a kilo of spaghetti, 4 tablespoons of olive oil, 3 garlic cloves cut in thirds, and some salt, pepper, and paprika. You, of course, can scale this down to make fewer servings.
Simply saute the chopped garlic until lightly browned (you do NOT want them golden brown as it will give off a taste too strong for aglio e olio pasta). Meanwhile, as above, boil pasta in some salted water until al dente. Once done, drain the pasta and toss it with the garlic. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika as desired.
Mixed Mushroom Sheet Pan Gnocchi
Gnocchi are small parcels made either of potato, wheat, or flour present in Italian cuisine.
This recipe from The Kitchn combines 900 grams of sliced mushrooms, two medium-sized shallots, 900 grams of frozen potato gnocchi, 3 tablespoons of olive oil, half a teaspoon of salt, and a dash of black pepper.
Start by preheating your oven to 200 degrees Celsius. Next, on a rimmed baking sheet, lay out the sliced mushrooms, shallots, and gnocchi. Evenly drizzle the olive oil on the pan, then add salt, and black pepper to taste. Be sure to toss the mixture well! Add to the oven.
Midway through the 15-20 minute roast, stir the mixture until the veggies and the gnocchi are cooked.
Teriyaki Chicken
All you need for this dish from Tasty are chicken thighs (900 g, sliced; breasts would work too), soy sauce (1 cup) & brown sugar (110 g).
Prepare this quick and easy poultry recipe by evenly searing the chicken in a pan. Then, add the soy sauce and brown sugar while evenly stirring. Boil the mixture until the sauce has reduced to a glaze — make sure the chicken is covered well!
Dijon Pork Chops
You could also try using Dijon mustard as a sauce for pork chops. Credit: Taste of Home.
Have some pork chops lying around and haven’t got a clue what to do? Here’s an idea!
This recipe from Taste of Home needs six deboned pork chops, around three tablespoons of Dijon mustard, ⅓ cup of bread crumbs, and a bit of pepper.
Preheat your oven to around 180 degrees Celsius. Glaze the pork chops evenly with the Dijon mustard and coat them with a mixture of bread crumbs and black pepper.
When done, place them on a baking pan and bake them until lightly brown and cooked.
If you’re up for more easy meal ideas, check out these five-ingredient recipes sure to unleash your inner chef or these 10 healthy tray bake ideas for a scrumptious dinner.
What do you think of these easy dinner recipes? Do you have any no-frills meal ideas you want to share?
Go ahead in the comments section below!
But you have to eat, right? And cooking a big, complicated meal just isn't going to happen tonight.
Well, first of all, take a deep breath and don't worry – we've got you covered.
Below are six recipes for super simple dinners that only require three ingredients each. They're quick and easy to make, so you won't have to spend hours in the kitchen when all you want to do is relax on the couch with a good book or your favourite TV show. (We won't judge!)
Plus, these recipes are versatile enough that you can easily modify them based on your preferences or what you already have in your pantry and fridge. So if one of the ingredients listed isn't your favourite (or if you don't have it on hand), feel free to swap it out for something else.
Just note that the three-ingredient ‘rule’ doesn’t include pantry staples like olive oil, salt and pepper – so keep those in mind as well! Bon appétit!
Mac & Cheese
This recipe from Tasty only requires a box of elbow macaroni, 5 cups of whole milk, and two cups of shredded cheddar cheese – plus some salt and pepper, according to taste.
Simply boil the pasta noodles in milk for ten minutes before removing it from the heat and stirring in the shredded cheese; then voilà – dinner is served!
Tomato Cheese Toast
This recipe from EatGood4Life could not be easier as it only requires sliced bread (6 pieces), provolone cheese (6 slices), and tomatoes (sliced, around 6-10 pieces).
To cook, just place the slices of provolone cheese and tomato on top of some bread before popping it in the oven for 6–7 minutes (180 degrees).
Cacio e Pepe
Don’t have Pecorino Romano cheese? You can use Parmesan. Credit: Pexels/Anna Shvets
In cuisine, there is nothing as classically Italian as pasta (maybe pizza, but that’s a debate for another day). One fine and easy example of an easy pasta dish is this recipe, which needs only Pecorino Romano cheese (140 grams), black pepper (1 tbsp), ice water (⅓ cup), and pasta (900 g).
To start, boil a pot of salted water. While boiling the water, finely grate about 2 ½ cups of the cheese into a bowl, then set ½ cup aside to use as toppings. With the remaining cheese, add some black pepper and mix to a fine paste with drizzled ice water (you could also use pasta water as a substitute, if you prefer). Once the paste is smooth, set aside. Next, boil the pasta until al dente (cooked enough for a firm bite, not overdone and too soft). Lastly, toss the cooked pasta with the cheese paste. Add around 2-3 tbsp of pasta water while tossing to get an even coating of the paste. Once done, add some cheese and black pepper to taste.
Aglio e Olio
Shrimp and prawns pair well with aglio e olio. Credit: Pexels/Anthony Leong
Speaking of pasta, aglio e olio is also not a recipe to be outdone in terms of simplicity as it only requires a base of olive oil and garlic.
This recipe from Lifehacker needs half a kilo of spaghetti, 4 tablespoons of olive oil, 3 garlic cloves cut in thirds, and some salt, pepper, and paprika. You, of course, can scale this down to make fewer servings.
Simply saute the chopped garlic until lightly browned (you do NOT want them golden brown as it will give off a taste too strong for aglio e olio pasta). Meanwhile, as above, boil pasta in some salted water until al dente. Once done, drain the pasta and toss it with the garlic. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika as desired.
Mixed Mushroom Sheet Pan Gnocchi
Gnocchi are small parcels made either of potato, wheat, or flour present in Italian cuisine.
This recipe from The Kitchn combines 900 grams of sliced mushrooms, two medium-sized shallots, 900 grams of frozen potato gnocchi, 3 tablespoons of olive oil, half a teaspoon of salt, and a dash of black pepper.
Start by preheating your oven to 200 degrees Celsius. Next, on a rimmed baking sheet, lay out the sliced mushrooms, shallots, and gnocchi. Evenly drizzle the olive oil on the pan, then add salt, and black pepper to taste. Be sure to toss the mixture well! Add to the oven.
Midway through the 15-20 minute roast, stir the mixture until the veggies and the gnocchi are cooked.
Teriyaki Chicken
All you need for this dish from Tasty are chicken thighs (900 g, sliced; breasts would work too), soy sauce (1 cup) & brown sugar (110 g).
Prepare this quick and easy poultry recipe by evenly searing the chicken in a pan. Then, add the soy sauce and brown sugar while evenly stirring. Boil the mixture until the sauce has reduced to a glaze — make sure the chicken is covered well!
Dijon Pork Chops
You could also try using Dijon mustard as a sauce for pork chops. Credit: Taste of Home.
Have some pork chops lying around and haven’t got a clue what to do? Here’s an idea!
This recipe from Taste of Home needs six deboned pork chops, around three tablespoons of Dijon mustard, ⅓ cup of bread crumbs, and a bit of pepper.
Preheat your oven to around 180 degrees Celsius. Glaze the pork chops evenly with the Dijon mustard and coat them with a mixture of bread crumbs and black pepper.
When done, place them on a baking pan and bake them until lightly brown and cooked.
If you’re up for more easy meal ideas, check out these five-ingredient recipes sure to unleash your inner chef or these 10 healthy tray bake ideas for a scrumptious dinner.
What do you think of these easy dinner recipes? Do you have any no-frills meal ideas you want to share?
Go ahead in the comments section below!
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