11 3-Ingredient Dinners And Desserts To Make Tonight

Sometimes simple is best—especially when dinner (or dessert) needs to come together fast. These 3 ingredient recipes skip the long ingredient lists but still deliver on flavor, texture, and comfort. Whether you’re using your slow cooker, air fryer, or just a mixing bowl and oven, each dish here is straightforward without sacrificing satisfaction. From savory snacks to sweet treats, these are the kinds of recipes that keep weeknights easy and weekends even easier.

3 Ingredient Nutella Cookies Recipe (Quick and Easy)

Soft and chewy Nutella cookies made with just three ingredients on a cooling rack. — 3 Ingredient Nutella Cookies Recipe (Quick and Easy). Photo credit: Sassy Chopsticks.

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Nutella, egg, and flour come together in a dough that’s rich and chocolatey. The cookies bake up chewy with that signature hazelnut flavor. You won’t need a mixer or chill time. These disappear fast once they hit the plate.
Get the Recipe: 3 Ingredient Nutella Cookies Recipe (Quick and Easy)

Air Fryer Apple Hand Pies (Only 3 Ingredients!)

Pre-made dough, pie filling, and an egg wash make these quick little treats. They turn golden and crisp in the air fryer with a warm apple center. No need for a rolling pin or oven. Great as a snack or a mini dessert.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Apple Hand Pies (Only 3 Ingredients!)

3 Ingredient Keto Strawberry Ice Cream

This creamy dessert blends strawberries with a keto-friendly base. It churns up smooth and bright without needing any added sugar. Perfect for hot days or anytime a light dessert fits the mood. It stores well, too, making it easy to scoop and go.
Get the Recipe: 3 Ingredient Keto Strawberry Ice Cream

3 Ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits

A stack of three golden-brown, flaky biscuits on a white surface, with a blurry background. — 3 Ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

Fluffy, warm biscuits with only three ingredients might sound impossible, but it works. Buttermilk gives them a tender crumb and a subtle tang. These pair well with jam, gravy, or just butter. They bake up golden and go fast at the table.
Get the Recipe: 3 Ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits

3 Ingredient Shortbread

A close-up of several rectangular pieces of shortbread placed on a wooden surface. — 3 Ingredient Shortbread. Photo credit: Quick Prep Recipes.

Classic shortbread needs only butter, sugar, and flour to shine. The dough presses easily into a pan and bakes into tender, buttery slices. These are great with tea or tucked into gift boxes. The simplicity is part of the charm.
Get the Recipe: 3 Ingredient Shortbread

Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies (Only 3 Ingredients)

These cookies skip the oven and go straight into the air fryer. With just three pantry staples, they come out crisp on the edges and soft in the middle. They’re ready in minutes and cool fast, too. A go-to for cookie cravings that can’t wait.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies (Only 3 Ingredients)

3 Ingredient Nutella Cookies

Side angle view of piped Nutella cookies on a wooden board lined with parchment paper. — 3 Ingredient Nutella Cookies. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

This version keeps it ultra-basic with just Nutella, flour, and egg. They’re soft, dense, and packed with chocolate flavor. Ideal for when you want cookies but don’t want to shop. One bowl, one pan, no stress.
Get the Recipe: 3 Ingredient Nutella Cookies

3 Ingredient Fudge

Close-up view of several pieces of chocolate fudge, with some stacked and one showing a bite taken out of it. — 3 Ingredient Fudge. Photo credit: Quick Prep Recipes.

All you need is chocolate, sweetened condensed milk, and a little flavor boost. The texture comes out smooth and firm with just the right amount of chew. It sets in the fridge and slices cleanly once chilled. A quick fix when you need something sweet without the work.
Get the Recipe: 3 Ingredient Fudge

3 Ingredient Broccoli Cheese Casserole

An image of broccoli cheese casserole served on a table with a spoon on the right side. — 3 Ingredient Broccoli Cheese Casserole. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Frozen broccoli, cheese, and a binder go straight into the oven. The result is bubbly, cheesy, and full of texture. It works as a side dish or a light main. Minimal effort with maximum payoff.
Get the Recipe: 3 Ingredient Broccoli Cheese Casserole

3 Ingredient Crockpot BBQ Chicken Wings

BBQ Chicken Wings cooked with a 3-ingredient crockpot recipe. — 3 Ingredient Crockpot BBQ Chicken Wings. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Chicken wings cook low and slow in barbecue sauce until the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender. The result is sticky, savory, and incredibly easy to throw together. Serve them right from the slow cooker or give them a quick broil for crisp edges. Great for game day or casual dinners.
Get the Recipe: 3 Ingredient Crockpot BBQ Chicken Wings

3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Blossoms

A plate of peanut butter blossoms, with one cookie broken in half. — 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Blossoms. Photo credit: Quick Prep Recipes.

A classic cookie made even easier with just peanut butter, sugar, and an egg. A chocolate kiss pressed into each cookie adds the final touch. They bake up soft, chewy, and crowd-pleasing. These belong in your last-minute baking lineup.
Get the Recipe: 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Blossoms