Easy 3 Ingredient No-Bake Cheesecake with Philadelphia

At Looksyumy, we create simple recipes that actually work. This no bake cheesecake uses just three ingredients—Philadelphia cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, and lemon juice—to deliver creamy, perfectly set cheesecake in minutes. No oven, no water bath, no complicated steps. Just mix, chill, and enjoy classic cheesecake flavor with minimal effort.

Quick Recipe Overview

What You’ll Make: One 9-inch no bake cheesecake (8-10 servings)
Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes (15 min prep + 4 hours chilling)
No Baking Required: Set in the refrigerator
Crust Options: Graham cracker, Oreo, or no crust at all
Key to Success: Use full-fat Philadelphia cream cheese at room temperature
Perfect For: Summer gatherings, easy entertaining, beginner bakers

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

If you can use a mixer and open a can, you can make this cheesecake—it’s truly that straightforward.

Ingredients (Serves 8-10)

If you can use a mixer and open a can, you can make this cheesecake—it’s truly that straightforward.

You need exactly three things for the filling:

• 16 oz Philadelphia cream cheese (2 blocks, 8 oz each) – Must be full-fat and at room temperature for smooth texture
• 14 oz sweetened condensed milk (1 can) – Provides sweetness and helps the cheesecake set
• ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons) – The secret ingredient that firms everything up

Optional crust (not counted in “3 ingredients”):

• 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
• ⅓ cup melted butter
• 2 tablespoons sugar

That’s it. The cream cheese creates that signature cheesecake tang and richness, sweetened condensed milk eliminates the need for sugar and eggs, and lemon juice acts as the setting agent that firms everything perfectly.

Why This Recipe Works

The Science: Lemon juice’s acidity reacts with the proteins in cream cheese and condensed milk, causing them to thicken and set firm without baking or gelatin. This is the same principle behind key lime pie.

Philadelphia Cream Cheese: This recipe specifically works best with Philadelphia brand because of its consistent texture and fat content. Other brands may have different moisture levels that affect setting.

Room Temperature is Critical: Cold cream cheese creates lumps that won’t smooth out. Let it sit on the counter for 30-60 minutes before starting.

Step-by-Step Instructions

For the Crust (Optional but Recommended)

1. Make Graham Cracker Crust
Mix 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs, ⅓ cup melted butter, and 2 tablespoons sugar. Press firmly into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Refrigerate while making filling.

Shortcut: Use a store-bought graham cracker crust to make this truly 3 ingredients!

For the Filling

2. Beat the Cream Cheese
In a large bowl, beat room temperature cream cheese with an electric mixer for 2-3 minutes until smooth and fluffy with no lumps. Scrape down the sides.

3. Add Condensed Milk
Pour in the entire can of sweetened condensed milk. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes until completely smooth and well combined.

4. Mix in Lemon Juice
Add ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice. Beat for 1 minute until just combined. Don’t overmix after adding lemon juice—it starts setting immediately.

5. Pour and Smooth
Immediately pour filling over prepared crust (or into pie dish if going crustless). Smooth the top with a spatula.

6. Chill
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight for best texture. The cheesecake will firm up as it chills.

7. Serve
If using a springform pan, run a knife around the edge before releasing the spring. Slice with a clean knife (wipe between cuts for neat slices).

Chilling & Texture Tips

Minimum chill time: 4 hours
Optimal chill time: 6-8 hours or overnight
Maximum advance: Make up to 2 days ahead

Texture expectations:

• After 4 hours: Set but slightly soft, slices well
• After overnight: Firm and creamy, perfect texture
• After 2 days: Very firm, classic cheesecake consistency

Visual cues it’s ready:

• Surface looks set, not jiggly
• Edges are firm to touch
• No longer glossy/wet looking

Covering properly: Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface to prevent a skin from forming, or tent it loosely over the pan.

Common Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

Mistake: Cheesecake won’t set/stays runny
Fix: You may have used low-fat cream cheese or didn’t add enough lemon juice. Use full-fat Philadelphia next time and measure lemon juice accurately. Give it more time—sometimes it takes up to 8 hours.

Mistake: Lumpy filling
Fix: Cream cheese wasn’t at room temperature. Let it sit out for 30-60 minutes before mixing. Beat cream cheese alone first until completely smooth.

Mistake: Too tangy/lemony
Fix: You added too much lemon juice. Measure exactly ⅓ cup. Fresh lemon juice works better than bottled.

Mistake: Crust falls apart when slicing
Fix: Crust wasn’t pressed firmly enough or needs more butter. Pack it down hard with the bottom of a measuring cup.

Mistake: Cheesecake cracks on top
Fix: This shouldn’t happen with no-bake, but if it does, you overmixed after adding lemon juice. Mix gently and briefly once lemon juice is added.

Simple Variations

Flavor twists:

• Vanilla boost: Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract with the lemon juice
• Chocolate: Mix in ½ cup melted chocolate chips after step 3. Want something chocolate? Check out our 3 ingredient chocolate desserts for quick cocoa fixes.
• Strawberry: Swirl in ¼ cup strawberry jam before chilling
• Lemon: Add 1 tablespoon lemon zest for extra lemon flavor
• Oreo: Use crushed Oreos for the crust, fold mini Oreos into filling

Crust alternatives:

• Oreo cookie crust: Use crushed Oreos instead of graham crackers
• Vanilla wafer crust: Swap graham crackers for vanilla wafers
• No crust: Pour directly into a pie dish for crustless cheesecake
• Pretzel crust: Use crushed pretzels for sweet-salty contrast

Topping ideas:

• Fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
• Cherry or blueberry pie filling
• Chocolate ganache
• Whipped cream
• Caramel sauce
• Lemon curd

Storage & Make-Ahead

Refrigerator: Store covered for 4-5 days. The cheesecake actually gets better after day 2 as flavors meld.

Freezer: Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before serving.

Make-ahead strategy: This is one of our favorite make-ahead dessert recipes for stress-free entertaining. Prepare 1-2 days before your event and let it chill until serving time.

Transporting: Keep chilled until the last moment. If traveling, transport in a cooler with ice packs.

Serving Suggestions

Classic presentation: Slice into wedges and top with fresh strawberries or a dollop of whipped cream.

Individual servings: Make in small jars or cups for portion-controlled servings perfect for parties.

Dressed up: Drizzle with chocolate or caramel sauce and add fresh berries for an elegant finish.

Casual: Serve straight from the pie dish with a spoon and let everyone dig in family-style.

Per serving size: Cut into 8 generous slices or 10 smaller portions depending on your crowd.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Final Thoughts on These 3 Ingredient No-Bake Cheesecake with Philadelphia

This 3 ingredient no bake cheesecake proves that Philadelphia cream cheese is the secret to effortless desserts. Three simple ingredients mixed together and chilled create authentic cheesecake flavor and texture without any of the fuss of traditional baked versions.

No water bath, no cracking, no oven required—just creamy, perfectly set cheesecake that slices beautifully and tastes like it came from a bakery. Whether you’re a beginner baker intimidated by traditional cheesecake or just want a simple summer dessert, this recipe delivers every single time.

The make-ahead friendly nature makes it perfect for entertaining, while the minimal ingredient list means you can whip this up anytime the craving strikes.

Love effortless desserts? Browse our collection of other simple no-bake desserts for more sweet treats that require zero oven time.

This 3 ingredient no-bake cheesecake uses Philadelphia cream cheese, condensed milk, and lemon juice to set perfectly without baking. It delivers classic cheesecake texture with minimal effort and no special techniques.