Bonus Recipe Card Collection Info

"3-Ingredient Weeknight Winners" Total Collection Time: Under 1 hour for all three recipes Perfect For: Busy weeknights, beginner cooks, meal prep Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate Equipment Needed: Basic pots, pans, and baking dish Meal Planning Suggestions: Monday: Prep chicken thighs to marinate overnight Tuesday: Bake honey soy chicken, serve with rice Wednesday: Quick garlic pasta with side salad Thursday: Fresh Caprese avocado as light dinner Friday: Leftover chicken in wraps or over greens Shopping List for All Three: Pasta (8 oz) Chicken thighs (6 pieces) Fresh garlic (1 bulb) Heavy cream (1/2 cup) Soy sauce (1 bottle) Honey (1 jar) Avocados (2 large) Fresh mozzarella (8 oz) Cherry tomatoes (1 container) Olive oil, salt, pepper (pantry staples)

What can I cook with three ingredients?

You can make plenty of delicious dishes with just three items! Start with easy 3-ingredient meals for beginners like honey soy chicken, garlic butter pasta, or mozzarella-stuffed avocado. These easy 3-ingredient meals for beginners save time and are perfect after a long day. Even if you're new to cooking, easy 3-ingredient meals for beginners are simple, quick, and satisfying. With a few pantry staples, you can turn almost anything into easy 3-ingredient meals for beginners that taste amazing.

What’s a good lazy dinner?

A good lazy dinner is something fast, filling, and stress-free—like easy 3-ingredient meals for beginners . Dishes such as creamy garlic pasta, baked chicken with honey soy sauce, or stuffed avocado are perfect easy 3-ingredient meals for beginners . They require minimal prep, almost no cleanup, and taste amazing. When you're tired or short on time, easy 3-ingredient meals for beginners are your go-to solution. Keep a few staples on hand and you’ll always be ready for an easy 3-ingredient meal for beginners , no effort required!

What is the easiest food item to make?

One of the easiest food items to make is anything from a list of easy 3-ingredient meals for beginners . Think scrambled eggs with cheese, peanut butter banana toast, or garlic butter pasta. These easy 3-ingredient meals for beginners require almost no cooking skills, minimal time, and deliver great flavor. Whether you're just learning to cook or want something fast, easy 3-ingredient meals for beginners are perfect. Start with pantry basics, and you’ll be surprised how many easy 3-ingredient meals for beginners you can make in minutes!

Q: Can I use coconut milk instead of heavy cream in the pasta?

A: Absolutely! Use canned coconut milk (the thick part) for the creamiest results. It adds a subtle tropical flavor that's surprisingly delicious with garlic. I've also tried cashew cream and oat milk – both work well, though the texture is slightly different.

Q: What if my avocados aren't ripe enough?

A: Place them in a paper bag with a banana overnight. The banana releases ethylene gas that speeds up ripening naturally. For super quick ripening, wrap them in newspaper and put them in a warm spot like on top of your refrigerator.

Q: Can I make the chicken thighs ahead of time?

A: Yes! They actually taste better the next day. Store in the fridge and reheat at 350°F for 10 minutes. The flavors really develop overnight. I often make a big batch on Sunday for easy weekday meals.

Q: Are these meals kid-friendly?

A: The pasta and chicken are huge hits with kids in my extended family. For picky eaters, you can serve the avocado components separately as a "build-your-own" plate. My niece loves assembling her own version.

Q: What about gluten-free options?

A: Use gluten-free pasta for the first recipe – chickpea or rice pasta work great. The texture is slightly different but just as delicious. The other two recipes are naturally gluten-free.

Q: Can I substitute ingredients for dietary restrictions?

A: Absolutely! For dairy-free pasta, use coconut cream. For the chicken, maple syrup works instead of honey for vegans (though you'd need a protein substitute). The avocado recipe is naturally vegan and can be made dairy-free with vegan mozzarella.

Q: How do I know when the chicken is properly cooked?

A: Internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C). The juices should run clear, and the meat should no longer be pink. If you don't have a thermometer, cut into the thickest part – no pink should remain.

Q: What's the shelf life of these prepared meals?

A: The pasta keeps 3-4 days in the fridge and reheats well. Chicken lasts 4-5 days refrigerated. The avocado dish should be eaten immediately or within a few hours to prevent browning.

Easy 3-Ingredient Meals for Beginners: No More Weeknight Kitchen Stress!

Description

This ridiculously simple pasta dish transforms just three humble ingredients into restaurant-quality comfort food. The key is slowly cooking the garlic until it’s sweet and aromatic, then letting the cream work its magic. Perfect for those nights when you need something satisfying but don’t want to think too hard about dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

8 oz pasta (penne, rigatoni, or your favorite shape)
4 cloves fresh garlic, thinly sliced
1/2 cup heavy cream
Salt and black pepper to taste

2 tablespoons olive oil (for cooking garlic)

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions (usually 8-10 minutes) until al dente.
While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add thinly sliced garlic and cook slowly for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant and lightly golden. Don’t rush this step!
Pour heavy cream into the skillet with garlic. Let it gently simmer for 3 minutes, allowing flavors to meld. Season with salt and pepper.
Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water before draining. Add drained pasta to the cream sauce and toss to combine. Add pasta water if needed for silky consistency.

Serve immediately while hot. Garnish with cracked black pepper.

Notes

Don’t let the garlic brown or it will become bitter
Save some pasta water – the starch helps bind the sauce
For extra richness, add a handful of grated Parmesan cheese

Frozen peas or spinach make great additions for color and nutrition