Easy Three-Ingredient Recipes

A trio of ingredients is all it takes to whip up these simple and delicious appetizers, cocktails and more.

Fresh Ricotta Crostini

In just half an hour, you can turn milk, lemon juice and a little salt into velvety homemade ricotta. 

Get the Recipe: Fresh Ricotta Crostini

Bacon-Wrapped Dates, Three Ways

Don’t be fooled by their size — these tiny morsels are loaded with big flavors. Wrap the chewy dates in slices of uncured bacon and stuff with crunchy almonds, spicy chorizo or sharp Manchego cheese to balance out the sweetness. 

Get the Recipe: Bacon Wrapped Dates, Three Ways

Caprese Poppers

Turn this classic three-item salad into a fun hand-held snack by skewering together cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls and fresh basil. As with the on-a-plate original, quality ingredients are key.

Get the Recipe: Caprese Poppers

Smoked Salmon Tartine

Thanks to the simple list of ingredients —  bread, smoked salmon and lemon — David Rocco’s elegant tartines are quick to assemble, so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your guests.

Get the Recipe: Smoked Salmon Tartine

Sashimi Siciliano: Sicilian Sashimi

In an Italian twist on Japanese sashimi, David Rocco seasons thinly sliced tuna with olive oil and a zesty, lemon-infused sea salt.

Get the Recipe: Sashimi Siciliano: Sicilian Sashimi

Peppery Chickpeas

Toss protein-packed chickpeas in olive oil, Italian seasoning and ground red pepper for a filling snack or salad topping.

Get the Recipe: Peppery Chickpeas

Pane, Burro e Zucchero: Bread, Butter and Sugar

A sprinkling of brown sugar adds an unexpected sweet flourish to your typical bread-and-butter starter.

Get the Recipe: Pane, Burro e Zucchero: Bread, Butter, and Sugar

Roasted Garlic Spread

Use two pantry staples — garlic and crushed red pepper flakes — to transform a plain ol' baguette into a fancy, party-ready app.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Garlic Spread

Homemade Butter

Armed with two types of dairy and a mixer, you can whip up tangy, creamy butter at home — no churning necessary.

Get the Recipe: Homemade Butter

Parmesan and Poppy Seed Lollipops

Looking for a canape that’ll impress guests? Try this whimsical lollipop, made of flaky discs of salty Parmesan with nutty poppy and sesame seeds.

Get the Recipe: Parmesan and Poppy Seed Lollipops

Honey and Cheese

Hosting an impromptu gathering? Top chunks of Grana Padano or Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese with honey and walnuts to create a sweet-salty appetizer that’s ready in five minutes flat.

Get the Recipe: Honey and Cheese

Antipasto di Ricotta: Simple Ricotta Antipasto

Don’t be surprised if this no-fuss dip becomes your new go-to appetizer. The lemon-infused ricotta is perfect for spreading on crostini, crackers and crudites.

Get the Recipe: Antipasto di Ricotta: Simple Ricotta Antipasto

Bruschetta with Gorgonzola Cheese and Honey

Just a small drizzle of honey is enough to complement the salty taste and creamy texture of Gorgonzola cheese.

Get the Recipe: Bruschetta with Gorgonzola Cheese and Honey

Sausage and Stracchino Cheese Crostini

Any seasoned host will tell you that crostini are one of the easiest and most-versatile appetizers. This recipe calls for a topping of sausage and stracchino, but you can use any combination of meats and cheeses.

Get the Recipe: Sausage and Stracchino Cheese Crostini

Quick and Easy Pickles

With Alex Guarnaschelli’s recipe for quick pickling, you’ll be able to turn any vegetable or fruit into bright, acidic ingredients that will last through the seasons.

Get the Recipe: Quick and Easy Pickles

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Ching-He Huang gives this classic Thanksgiving side some Asian flair by seasoning the sweet potatoes with cumin and Szechuan peppercorns. 

Get the Recipe: Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Grilled Corn with Five-Spice and Lime

Roger Mooking takes grilling to the next level with Chinese five-spice powder — a flavorful blend of cinnamon, clove, fennel, star anise and Szechuan peppercorns — which he sprinkles on just about everything, including batons of sweet charred corn.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Corn with Five Spice and Lime

Roasted Cauliflower Soup

Creamy, comforting and ready in under an hour, this lovely veggie soup is the perfect meal for chilly weeknights.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower Soup

Baked French Fries

Crisping French fries in the oven not only creates less of a mess — no hot oil splattering all over the stove — but also is healthier.

Get the Recipe: Baked French Fries

Fried Eggs with Truffles

Take this breakfast favorite up a notch with earthy black truffle shavings.

Get the Recipe: Fried Eggs With Truffles

Scrambled Eggs

Michael Symon’s trick for a fluffy scramble? Remove the eggs from the pan while they’re still a little wet so the nuggets stay soft and don't overcook.

Get the Recipe: Scrambled Eggs

Grapefruit Salad with Honey-Mint Dressing

Brunch is often loaded with heavy standbys like eggs Benedict and French toast. If you’re looking for a lighter way to start the day, try Bobby Flay’s refreshing grapefruit salad, which balances the fruit’s tartness with a sweet, minty honey.

Get the Recipe: Grapefruit Salad with Honey-Mint Dressing

Lime Granita with Watermelon

No ice cream machine? No problem! This snow-cone-like treat doesn’t require any fancy mixers or ingredients — just sugar, water, juice and a fork. You can flavor the base with any type of fruit, but zippy lime is the perfect counterpoint to sweet cubes of watermelon.

Get the Recipe: Lime Granita with Watermelon

Gelato Affogato

Cap your meal in true Italian fashion with this caffeinated dessert, which features scoops of vanilla gelato floating in a shot of steamy espresso.

Get the Recipe: Gelato Affogato

Strawberries with Balsamic Vinegar

By dousing strawberries in tart balsamic vinegar, David Rocco enhances the berries’ vibrant red hue and fruity sweetness.

Get the Recipe: Strawberries with Balsamic Vinegar

Slow-Baked Honey Wine Pears

Laura Calder’s beautiful baked pears are worth the wait — cooking the fruit low and slow in red wine gives it a stunning crimson color.

Get the Recipe: Slow-Baked Honey Wine Pears

Grilled Apricots with Goat Cheese

Throwing apricots on the grill caramelizes the fruits’ natural sugars and imbues them with a smoky aroma. Follow in Debi Mazar and Gabriele Corcos’ footsteps and simply top them with goat cheese, or layer them on other sweet treats, like ice cream.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Apricots with Goat Cheese

Coriander Spumante with Lime

Fresh coriander imparts an herbaceous edge to this light summer cocktail made with sparkling white wine.

Get the Recipe: Coriander Spumante with Lime

Champagne Cocktail

At your next celebration, dress up the flutes of bubbly with sugar cubes and Angostura bitters to create this classic champagne cocktail.

Get the Recipe: Champagne Cocktail

Classic Egg Cream

Boasting a combination of sweet chocolate syrup, bubbly seltzer and frothy chilled milk, it’s no surprise that this traditional soda fountain drink has endured the test of time.

Get the Recipe: Classic Egg Cream

Beer Float-Your-Boat Cocktail

Alie Ward and Georgia Hardstark use an intense chocolate stout to balance out the decadent sweetness of dulce de leche ice cream.

Get the Recipe: Beer Float Your Boat Cocktail

Fresh Strawberry Bellini

Mario Batali revamps this classic brunch cocktail by swapping peaches for another sweet summer fruit: strawberries. 

Rusty Nail

Some drinks never go out of style — like this handsome quaff that blends Scotch whiskey with Drambuie, a honey-sweetened Scotch liqueur. 

Get the Recipe: Rusty Nail