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Some of my favorite 3-ingredient recipes, from savory dinners like pork chops and pulled beef sandwiches to sweet treats like pumpkin muffins and donuts. Quick, simple, and always a crowd-pleaser.

👉 Try my Onion Chicken Potato Casserole and Creamy Chicken and Egg Noodles for more family-friendly comfort food!

Easy 3-ingredient recipes including juicy pork chops on a plate, homemade pumpkin muffins on a tray, simple glazed donuts on a cooling rack, and creamy caramel apple dip in a bowl.

Why You’ll Love These Recipes

These easy 3-ingredient recipes are perfect for busy weeknights, holidays, or whenever you need a quick meal or dessert. From crispy pan-fried pork chops to soft pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, each recipe uses simple, budget-friendly ingredients. Enjoy a delicious mix of savory dinners and sweet treats all in one collection.

  • Quick prep with minimal ingredients
  • A mix of dinners and desserts for variety
  • Budget-friendly and family-approved
  • Perfect for holidays, potlucks, or weeknight meals

👉 Try these next: Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken Soup and Zuppa Toscana Casserole.

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Master Shopping List

Here’s the beauty of this collection — you don’t need a mile-long list. With just a few basics, you can make all 8 recipes:

  • Proteins: pork chops, chuck roast, sausage, bacon
  • Baking shortcuts: refrigerated biscuit dough, spice cake mix, no-bake cheesecake filling, crescent roll dough, fresh frozen bread from Wildgrain
  • Pantry staples: flour, sugar, powdered sugar, chocolate chips, coconut oil, caramel sauce, au jus seasoning, olive oil, butter
  • Dairy: cream cheese, heavy cream, Parmesan, provolone
  • Produce: apples, pumpkin purée, fresh sage
  • Extras: Heath toffee bits, sandwich buns, milk, spices (salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, oregano)

🍁 Fall is here! Warm up with my 15 Cozy Slow Cooker Soups.

💰 Don’t miss 5 Cheap but Delicious Fall Dinners Under $10.

🛒 Most of these are pantry or fridge staples — that’s what makes these recipes so quick and budget-friendly.

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#1: Pulled Beef Sandwiches

Tender chuck roast simmered in au jus until perfectly shreddable, served on soft buns with provolone cheese.

Pulled beef sandwiches with provolone cheese on soft buns.

Pulled Beef on Ciabatta Ingredients

  • 1 large chuck roast (about 3–4 lbs)
  • Salt and pepper (to taste)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 packet au jus seasoning mix
  • 5 1/2 cups water
  • Sandwich buns or Wildgrains Slow Fermented Olive Oil Ciabatta
  • Provolone cheese

Instructions for Stovetop Pulled Beef

  1. Season roast with salt & pepper.
  2. Heat oil in pot, sear roast 5 minutes per side.
  3. Sprinkle au jus mix on top.
  4. Add water, cover, simmer 3 hours.
  5. Shred beef with forks.
  6. Serve on buns with provolone and au jus drizzle.

⭐️ Try it with Wildgrain’s Slow Fermented Olive Oil Ciabatta — it takes these sandwiches to the next level! Try Wildgrain: Get $30 off + FREE croissants in every box if you use my link!

👉 If you love beef, don’t miss my French Dip Sandwiches or Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Skillet.

Quick Tip

Stretch Your Meals

This pulled beef makes amazing leftovers. Use it for nachos, quesadillas, or toss into pasta the next day. One recipe, multiple dinners!

#2: Caramel Heath Cheesecake Dessert Dip

A creamy no-bake cheesecake dip layered with caramel and toffee bits. Serve with apples, graham crackers, or pretzels for the perfect shareable treat.

Caramel Heath cheesecake dessert dip topped with toffee bits, served with apple slices.

Ingredients

  • 24 oz no-bake cheesecake filling
  • 1/2 cup caramel sauce (plus extra for drizzling)
  • 1/2 cup Heath toffee bits
  • Sliced apples (for dipping)

Instructions

  1. Spread cheesecake filling in a serving dish.
  2. Drizzle caramel sauce over top.
  3. Sprinkle Heath toffee bits evenly.
  4. Add a final caramel drizzle.
  5. Serve with apple slices, crackers, or pretzels.

👉 For another sweet dip idea, try my Strawberry Cheesecake Fluff.

#3: Crispy Pan-Fried Pork Chops

Golden, crispy pork chops pan-fried with a seasoned flour coating.

Crispy golden pan-fried pork chops in a skillet.

Ingredients

  • 4 pork chops (bone-in or boneless)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp salt (plus more for seasoning)
  • 1/2 tsp pepper (plus more for seasoning)
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp butter

Instructions

  1. Mix flour, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder.
  2. Season pork chops with salt & pepper.
  3. Coat chops in flour mixture.
  4. Heat oil & butter in skillet; add chops.
  5. Cook 4–5 minutes per side until golden (145°F internal).
  6. Rest briefly, then serve.

👉 Make it a full dinner with my Easy Mashed Potatoes and Oven-Roasted Vegetables.

Recent Recipes

#4: Butternut Squash Ravioli with Creamy Maple Bacon Sage Sauce

Butternut squash ravioli tossed in a creamy maple bacon sage sauce — the ultimate fall pasta.

Butternut squash ravioli in creamy maple bacon sage sauce.

Ingredients

  • 7 slices bacon
  • 1 tbsp reserved bacon grease
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1/2 tbsp fresh sage, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • Salt & pepper, to taste
  • 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 package Butternut Squash

Instructions

  1. Cook bacon, crumble, reserve 1 tbsp grease.
  2. To the same pan sauté butter + sage.
  3. Add broth, cream, syrup, simmer 5–7 minutes.
  4. Cook ravioli separately, drain.
  5. To the sauce stir Parmesan and bacon.
  6. Pour the sauce over the ravioli and serve hot with extra bacon + cheese.

Try it with Butternut Squash & Cheese Ravioli from Wilgrain for a shortcut that tastes just like homemade. Get $30 off + FREE croissants in every box if you use my link!

👉 More cozy pastas: Spinach Chicken Orzo Casserole and Million Dollar Spaghetti.

#5: Best Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Moist, spiced muffins studded with melty chocolate chips — a perfect fall treat.

Pumpkin chocolate chip muffins on a cooling rack.

Ingredients

  • 1 box spice cake mix (about 15.25 oz)
  • 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin purée
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 3/4 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F, line muffin pan.
  2. Mix cake mix, pumpkin, water until smooth.
  3. Fold in chocolate chips.
  4. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. (Makes for about 16 normal sized)
  5. Bake 20 minutes, cool, and enjoy.

👉 More fall baking favorites: Apple Dump Cake and Caramel Butter Bars.

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#6: Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Homemade peanut butter cups with a creamy filling and smooth chocolate shell.

Homemade chocolate peanut butter cups in mini liners.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (semi-sweet milk or dark)
  • 1 1/2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 3 tbsp powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Melt chocolate chips + coconut oil in microwave.
  2. Mix peanut butter + powdered sugar until smooth.
  3. Line mini muffin pan with liners or spray with non stick spray.
  4. Add a spoonful of chocolate, then peanut butter, then more chocolate.
  5. Freeze 20–30 minutes until set.

👉 Love chocolate? Try my Homemade Oreo Cookies or Hidden Veggie Chocolate Muffins.

#7: Sausage Cream Cheese Pinwheels

Flaky crescent dough rolled with sausage and cream cheese, baked into golden pinwheels.

Golden sausage cream cheese pinwheels fresh from the oven.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb sausage
  • 8 oz cream cheese, cubed
  • 1 sheet crescent roll dough

Instructions

  1. Cook sausage, drain grease.
  2. Stir in cream cheese until melted.
  3. Spread mixture on crescent sheet.
  4. Roll up, slice into 2-inch pieces.
  5. Bake at 350°F for 20–25 minutes.

👉 More appetizer favorites: Ham and Cheese Sliders and Cheesy Pizza Breadsticks.

#8: Basic Glazed Donuts (with Biscuit Dough)

Fried biscuit dough dipped in a sweet vanilla glaze — the easiest homemade donuts.

Homemade glazed donuts made from biscuit dough.

Ingredients

  • 1 can refrigerated biscuit dough
  • 2 cups canola oil
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 5 tbsp milk

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in skillet to 350°F.
  2. Cut biscuit dough into donut shapes.
  3. Fry 1–2 minutes per side until golden.
  4. Whisk glaze ingredients until smooth.
  5. Dip donuts in glaze, let set.

👉 More desserts like this: Homemade Oreo Cookies and Strawberry Poke Cake.

About Julia Pacheco

Hello, I’m Julia Pacheco, and I’m so glad you’re here! I’m a published cookbook author with a passion for creating delicious, budget-friendly meals. My blog focuses on recipes that are accessible and enjoyable, because I truly believe in the power of food to heal, inspire, and bring people together. From early lessons in the kitchen with my mom to navigating life on WIC and food stamps, I’ve learned the value of making every meal count. Cooking has been my creative outlet, a way to connect with others, and it even helped me land my dream job.

Read More About Me

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