![32 Healthy 3-Ingredient Dinner Ideas for When That’s All You Can Handle](https://mdeik.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Healthy-Eating-regw3v2dlm1.jpg)
32 Healthy 3-Ingredient Dinner Ideas for When That’s All You Can Handle
Here’s the deal: I’ve written a lot of easy dinner recipes in the last five years. Hundreds of them. What I’ve learned is that what constitutes easy is pretty open to interpretation. Obviously, whether or not something is easy depends on your skill level, but it also depends on how well-equipped your kitchen is and what kind of access you have to ingredients. Add to that the fact that a recipe can be “easy” without being quick or convenient—it’s pretty easy to make pasta from scratch, for example, but it’s also time consuming and a total mess; likewise, it’s easy to throw a bunch of ingredients in a blender and make your own acai bowl, but I can attest that it’s not always easy to find acai (and whatever other Instagram-worthy toppings are involved) at the grocery store.
When I’m coming up with easy recipe ideas, I try to think about the entire process, from meal planning to shopping to cooking. After years of reader feedback—emails, comments, tweets, Facebook messages, Instagram DMs, you name it—I’ve realized that, for most people, the most annoying thing about weeknight cooking is gathering the necessary ingredients. They don’t mind waiting 45 minutes for a sheet pan dinner to roast or keeping a close eye on seared fish to make sure it doesn’t burn, but having to run to the store after work for a handful of specific ingredients is a real turnoff. A recipe needs to be delicious and doable, yes, but it should also call for as few ingredients as possible.
If you’re thinking that a three-ingredient dinner sounds boring and a little too simple—well, maybe. The thing is, sometimes you’re lazy and hungry and you just need to eat. On those nights, a three-ingredient dinner is perfect.
The following 32 three-ingredient recipes run the gamut from a five-minute no-cook sandwich to a whole roasted chicken dinner that takes over an hour. They all taste good, but they’re definitely bare-bones, because isn’t that the point? Feel free to add herbs, spices, or condiments, if you have them! Each recipe has at least 15 grams of protein per serving (the minimum registered dietitians recommend eating at every meal) and is made with nutritious ingredients like fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes, healthy fats, and lean proteins. Each one contains between 325 and 500 calories, but the serving sizes are just a suggestion, and you should feel free to customize as you see fit. Almost every recipe contains a vegetable (or tomato or avocado, which are technically fruits, I know), but the few that don’t get healthy carbs from another source, like whole grains or beans. If you have a vegetable in the fridge or freezer, you can whip up a five-minute side dish or simple salad to go alongside any of these meal ideas.
Oh, and just to get this out of the way: Olive oil, salt, and pepper don’t count.
They’re the three staples that every kitchen should have at all times, and it’s almost impossible to cook good food without them. If you don’t have olive oil, you can substitute another neutrally flavored oil, like canola or vegetable oil.
Also, some of the ingredients called for are packaged products that actually contain several ingredients—things like tomato sauce, pesto, salsa verde, and baked beans—but they’re all common supermarket staples. The point of three-ingredient recipes is to make shopping and cooking as easy as possible, not to be super clever and technical about what constitutes a single ingredient and what doesn’t. If it’s a grocery staple that you can buy in a can, jar, or bottle at any supermarket, it has the convenience factor of being a single ingredient, and that’s what’s important.
If you make one of the recipes or have questions, post a photo on Instagram and tag @selfmagazine and @xtinebyrne (that’s me!), or DM us—we love a good food pic as much as you do, and we’re always here to help!
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell1 Salsa Verde Quinoa With Chicken Thighs
Start cooking chicken thighs in a skillet on the stove to render most of the fat, then remove the chicken (but leave the fat!) and add uncooked quinoa, a jar of salsa verde, and some water. Nestle the parcooked chicken thighs on top and put the whole thing in the oven. The quinoa will cook and soak up a ton of flavor from the salsa verde, and the chicken will be tender and ready to go!
Ge the recipe here.
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell2 Roasted Tomato and Ricotta Sandwich
Raw tomatoes are great, but roasting them makes them even sweeter and gives them a soft, jammy consistency.
Get the recipe here.
Most Popular
- Does Rowing ‘Count’ as Strength Training?
By Tiffany Ayuda
- This Simple Morning Habit Can Help You Sleep Way Better at Night
By Julia Ries
- 18 Hot and Horny Sex Games
By Malia Griggs
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell3 Whole Wheat Pasta With Broccoli and Parmesan
Honestly, my ultimate go-to three-ingredient dinner is pasta + cheese + whatever vegetable I have in the fridge. Broccoli is my favorite, because the florets trap as much cheese as possible in every bite. Parmesan is a good choice because it has a really sharp flavor, so a little goes a long way.
Get the recipe here.
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell4 Sheet Pan Roast Chicken With Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Wilted Spinach
I’m usually a real purist when it comes to roast chicken: I dry the chicken very thoroughly with paper towels, then roast it in a hot oven with nothing but salt and pepper. The downside, though, is that all of the delicious fat and chicken drippings that end up at the bottom of the pan don’t end up being used to their full potential (I usually pour them over whatever chicken doesn’t get eaten that night and store it all in Tupperware for lunch leftovers). In this recipe, halved sweet potatoes cook beneath the chicken and soak up some of the drippings; once the chicken is done, baby spinach gets tossed with whatever is left on the still-hot sheet pan, so that the greens wilt a little bit as they’re dressed.
Get the recipe here.
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell5 Tomato-Poached Cod With Wild Rice
Good-quality jarred tomato sauce is a valuable workhorse when it comes to three-ingredient dinners. Here, you can use it to poach cod, which can be a little bland when steamed or pan-roasted on its own.
Get the recipe here.
Most Popular
- Does Rowing ‘Count’ as Strength Training?
By Tiffany Ayuda
- This Simple Morning Habit Can Help You Sleep Way Better at Night
By Julia Ries
- 18 Hot and Horny Sex Games
By Malia Griggs
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell6 Broccoli and Cheddar Quesadilla
Yes, comfort food can include broccoli. Fresh or frozen will work fine here!
Get the recipe here.
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell7 Hummus and Avocado Sandwich
It doesn’t get much simpler than this vegetarian, dairy-free sandwich. A flavored hummus like roasted garlic works best, I think, but you can use whatever you have. I prefer to slice the avocado instead of mashing it, so that there’s a little more texture to the filling.
Get the recipe here.
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell8 Skillet Chicken Thighs With Pear and Cauliflower
OK, I know this is definitely a little…monochromatic. (Fine, it’s beige.) The thing is, the sweet pear, savory chicken thighs, and al dente cauliflower actually make for a meal that’s got a lot of different flavors and textures.
Get the recipe here.
Most Popular
- Does Rowing ‘Count’ as Strength Training?
By Tiffany Ayuda
- This Simple Morning Habit Can Help You Sleep Way Better at Night
By Julia Ries
- 18 Hot and Horny Sex Games
By Malia Griggs
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell9 Scrambled Eggs With Kidney Beans and Cheddar
If you’re someone who really struggles to get to the store regularly, canned beans are a great thing to buy in bulk once, then turn to whenever you’re in need. I find that I almost always have eggs and some kind of cheese in my fridge (eggs are cheap and versatile, and cheese lasts a long time), so a dinner like this is never not possible. Tossing in a handful of leafy greens is a great idea, if you happen to have some.
Get the recipe here.
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell10 One-Pan Eggs and Quinoa in Tomato Sauce
If you’ve ever had shakshuka, you know that eggs cooked in tomato sauce are pretty much a dream come true. Turns out, quinoa cooked in tomato sauce is equally delicious, and it’s totally possible to put all three things together into a one-pan meal!
Get the recipe here.
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell11 Sautéed Cherry Tomatoes and White Beans With Feta
What looks and sounds like a simple dinner is actually one of my favorite summer meals. Sweet tomatoes, salty feta, and creamy white beans are a truly great combo, especially when tomatoes are at their peak. I’ll often add basil or thyme to the mixture as it cooks, and sometimes I’ll use a piece of bread to mop up any cheese or tomato juice that’s been left behind.
Get the recipe here.
Most Popular
- Does Rowing ‘Count’ as Strength Training?
By Tiffany Ayuda
- This Simple Morning Habit Can Help You Sleep Way Better at Night
By Julia Ries
- 18 Hot and Horny Sex Games
By Malia Griggs
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell12 Sheet Pan Salmon With Brussels Sprouts and Chickpeas
Roast brussels sprouts and chickpeas for 10 minutes, then add salmon and cook everything for another 10! Easy, healthy, and surprisingly satisfying.
Get the recipe here.
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell13 Kale and Parmesan Quesadilla
This is a 10-minute meatless recipe that packs an impressive 25 grams of protein, plus a full serving of greens!
Get the recipe here.
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell14 Chickpea Pasta With Spinach and Goat Cheese
These days, it’s easy to find chickpea-based pasta (like Banza) at most supermarkets, and I recommend stocking up on a box or two. It’s a little grittier than regular pasta, sure, but it’s super high in protein and can make for a fun weeknight meal. In this recipe, soft goat cheese melts into a creamy sauce that coats shells and wilted spinach.
Get the recipe here.
Most Popular
- Does Rowing ‘Count’ as Strength Training?
By Tiffany Ayuda
- This Simple Morning Habit Can Help You Sleep Way Better at Night
By Julia Ries
- 18 Hot and Horny Sex Games
By Malia Griggs
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell15 Sun-Dried Tomato Shrimp and Rice
Sun-dried tomato pesto is a nice alternative to the regular Parm-basil-pine nut kind, and you can find it on the shelves of pretty much any grocery store. It adds a dose of umami to this simple shrimp-and-rice meal, along with a sweet-savory kick. You can throw in a handful of baby spinach just before everything is finished cooking, if you want.
Get the recipe here.
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell16 Pizza Frittata
Anyone who thinks frittatas are just breakfast food is mistaken. I love making frittatas for dinner on nights that I go to the gym after work, because I can shower and settle down as the eggs cook in the oven.
Get the recipe here.
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell17 Chickpea Pasta With Pesto and Tomatoes
Store-bought pesto is another truly great staple to keep on hand for easy meals.
Get the recipe here.
Most Popular
- Does Rowing ‘Count’ as Strength Training?
By Tiffany Ayuda
- This Simple Morning Habit Can Help You Sleep Way Better at Night
By Julia Ries
- 18 Hot and Horny Sex Games
By Malia Griggs
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell18 Pesto Tuna Sandwich
Because both tuna and pesto are have strong flavors, this sandwich definitely isn’t lacking in the taste department. If you’re looking to add veggies, I’d suggest a bell pepper—cut one into strips and serve it on the side, or chop up a few tablespoons worth and throw that right into the sandwich.
Get the recipe here.
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell19 Parmesan and Tomato Quinoa
Here, the tomatoes will break down as they cook with the quinoa, so they’ll add a saucelike quality to the overall dish.
Get the recipe here.
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell20 One-Pan Salmon With Carrots and Tomatoes
This one-pan salmon is quick and easy, but also looks gorgeous when it comes out of the oven. If ever you find yourself cooking for a last-minute dinner guest, this is a stress-free recipe that’s impressive enough for company.
Get the recipe here.
Most Popular
- Does Rowing ‘Count’ as Strength Training?
By Tiffany Ayuda
- This Simple Morning Habit Can Help You Sleep Way Better at Night
By Julia Ries
- 18 Hot and Horny Sex Games
By Malia Griggs
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell21 Stuffed Peppers With Refried Beans and Cheese
Gourmet? No. Great in a pinch? Absolutely. Bonus: Your kids might even be willing to try it!
Get the recipe here.
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell22 Beans on Toast
Adding kale to beans on toast isn’t exactly traditional, but it makes the whole thing more interesting. Plus, you know, vegetables.
Get the recipe here.
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell23 Red Pepper Farro With Tuna
This meal is sweet, salty, and slightly nutty. It’s also a great one to reheat for lunch the next day, if you’re planning ahead.
Get the recipe here.
Most Popular
- Does Rowing ‘Count’ as Strength Training?
By Tiffany Ayuda
- This Simple Morning Habit Can Help You Sleep Way Better at Night
By Julia Ries
- 18 Hot and Horny Sex Games
By Malia Griggs
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell24 Refried Bean and Scallion Tortilla
Scallions are massively underrated, I think. The whites can be sweet or a little bit spicy, depending on how long you cook them, and the greens are earthy with just a little bit of bite.
Get the recipe here.
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell25 Stir-Fried Shrimp, Corn, and Black Beans
Shrimp cooks really quickly and is often sold in the freezer section, so it’s an easy thing to keep on hand for nights you need to throw dinner together. If you have hot sauce, chili powder, or even taco seasoning, it’s worth adding a pinch to this quick meal.
Get the recipe here.
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell26 Tuna and Avocado Toast
Why not use that can of tuna gathering dust in your cabinet to turn avocado toast into a higher-protein meal? (Garnish with chili flakes and an extra drizzle of good olive oil, if you’re up for it.)
Get the recipe here.
Most Popular
- Does Rowing ‘Count’ as Strength Training?
By Tiffany Ayuda
- This Simple Morning Habit Can Help You Sleep Way Better at Night
By Julia Ries
- 18 Hot and Horny Sex Games
By Malia Griggs
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell27 Roasted Cauliflower With Chickpeas and Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto
Cauliflower and chickpeas are two of my favorite vegetarian ingredients to roast—sun-dried tomato pesto brings them together and makes them even better.
Get the recipe here.
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell28 Pesto Rice With Egg
You can certainly substitute any kind of cooked grain here, but wild rice works best, since most bags you buy at the store contain several different grains of rice and lend multiple textures for the price of one.
Get the recipe here.
-
Pinterest
29 Smashed Pea and Smoked Salmon Toast
Smashed peas are sweet and a little bit creamy, which makes them a fun pairing for salty, buttery smoked salmon. No judgment if you decide to add a schmear of cream cheese, too.
Get the recipe here.
Most Popular
- Does Rowing ‘Count’ as Strength Training?
By Tiffany Ayuda
- This Simple Morning Habit Can Help You Sleep Way Better at Night
By Julia Ries
- 18 Hot and Horny Sex Games
By Malia Griggs
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell30 Baked Beans With Spinach and Eggs
Opt for baked beans with no added sugar in this breakfast-for-dinner recipe. I’d also recommend toasting a piece of bread to really make the most of the beans and the yolks, but that’s up to you.
Get the recipe here.
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell31 Pesto Chicken and Potatoes
This meat-and-potatoes meal is almost too simple, but it’s a total crowd pleaser and also a great meal prep option. Serve it atop or alongside a simple green salad, if you want!
Get the recipe here.
-
Pinterest
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell32 Carrot Noodles With Chicken and Pesto
Zucchini noodles are OK, but carrot noodles are better.
Get the recipe here.