4-Ingredient Recipes That Are Quick to Prepare

From appetizers and entrées to desserts, these recipes have minimal ingredients but maximum flavor.

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Victoria Spencer

Updated on July 10, 2023

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plated florentine egg cups — Photo: Bryan Gardner

Contrary to what some hungry family members might think, food does not just appear out of nowhere with little more than a magical incantation. The time it takes to plan, shop, prep, and cook for just one recipe is not trivial, which is why we've gathered together these favorite simple recipes for especially busy weeks. Not counting the basic pantry staples of salt, pepper, oil, and water, all 26 of these recipes—which range from eye-catching appetizers to complete entrées—use four main ingredients (a few even clock in at just two or three!).

01 of 26

Blue-Cheese Spread

Blue-Cheese Spread — Nico Schinco

This cheesy appetizer or snack doesn't need four ingredients to be fabulous—it calls for just two. Blue cheese meets cream cheese and the result is perfection. Use your remaining two ingredients to make our Olive Oil Toasts, which are the perfect base for this spread.

02 of 26

Frozen Yogurt and Fruit Pops

Yogurt Pops — Lennart Weibull

They couldn't be easier or more delicious. Yogurt, honey, and puréed fruit combine to make these refreshing frozen treats. Use one fruit and you're at three ingredients. Use two and you hit four. We tried this recipe with strawberries, blueberries, and mango. Raspberries would be amazing, as well.

03 of 26

Baked Potatoes With Créme Fraîche and Caviar

baked potatoes with crÃ¨me fraÃ®che and caviar — Dana Gallagher

Simple luxury and a Martha favorite, a baked potato with caviar is indulgent but easy to make. (A baked potato with sour cream and chives also comes in at under four ingredients!)

04 of 26

English Muffin Pizza Snacks

english muffin pizza snacks topped with fresh basil — Frank Frances

Like bagel pizza only better, this anytime snack takes English muffins to new heights. Buttered and toasted in the oven, then topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella and baked, they make a favorite after-school repast for young and old. (Skip the fresh basil garnish if you're sticking to four ingredients.)

05 of 26

Easy Peanut Butter Cookies

peanut butter cookies — Con Poulos

These irresistibly light cookies don't contain any flour, so make a batch if it's pure peanut butter flavor you're looking for.

06 of 26

Seeded Feta Bites

seeded feta bites served with gold skewers — Nico Schinco

Here's a DIY appetizer that guests or hungry family members will love. Cut feta cheese into cubes and set them out so everyone can skewer and roll them in a fragrant blend of sumac, sesame seeds, and flaky sea salt.

07 of 26

3-Ingredient Mango Sorbet

Three-Ingredient Mango Sorbet — Nico Schinco

Frozen mango, maple syrup (or agave), and lemon juice are all you need for this frozen treat. Perhaps the fourth ingredient is the blender that combines them into a delectable sorbet!

08 of 26

Classic Cheese Omelet

american omelet with tomatoes — Chris Simpson

There's nothing quite like a cheese omelet. It soothes and satisfies whether you have it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. We use cheddar for the cheese and cook the omelet in butter. Serve with sliced tomatoes, toast optional.

09 of 26

Ravioli With Tomatoes and Basil Dressing

Andrew Purcell

Begin with store-bought fresh ravioli, purée basil and olive oil in the blender, add tomatoes, and boom: A light and lovely summer meal is on the table in a matter of minutes.

10 of 26

Chocolate-Hazelnut Fudge

chocolate-hazelnut fudge in poplar box — Addie Juell

Putting out a tray of this easy, delectable fudge that has a Nutella-like flavor profile will have friends and family begging you for the recipe. Lucky for all of us, there are only four ingredients they'd need to remember!

11 of 26

Mashed Avocado-and-Egg Toast

mashed avocado egg toast — Ngoc Minh Ngo

Simple can be stunning and just what our stomachs prefer first thing in the morning, so start your day off right with this protein-packed avocado toast.

12 of 26

Brothy Beans and Greens on Toast

brothy beans and greens on toast served with lemon wedges — Con Poulos

A hearty vegetarian lunch or supper is just four ingredients away—just be sure to source good quality bread for the foundation to this simple recipe.

13 of 26

Roast Chicken With Parsnips and Swiss Chard

Roast Chicken with Parsnips and Swiss Chard

As the parsnips roast alongside seasoned chicken breasts, the oven concentrates their natural sweetness. Meanwhile, Swiss chard is quickly sautéed in olive oil on the stovetop, culminating in a nutritionally balanced meal you won't believe took just four ingredients to make happen.

14 of 26

Open-Faced Grilled Cheese With Apple and Bacon

Open-Faced Grilled Cheese with Apple and Bacon

When there's bacon involved, the rest is just window dressing. Feast your eyes on this fall-inspired grilled cheese that incorporates melty cheddar and tangy apples with bacon and nutty whole-wheat sandwich bread.

15 of 26

Thyme-Scented Roasted Tomatoes and Cheese

roasted tomatoes cheese thyme — William Abranowicz

Once you serve this appetizer, you'll be bringing it out at every party after due to popular demand! Cherry tomatoes roast in a super-hot oven until they're practically candied, making a built-in relish of sorts to go with the melty cheese and crusty bread.

16 of 26

Crispy Brussels-Sprout Rosti

Crispy Brussels-Sprout Rösti — Lennart Weibull

You can serve this crispy potato pancake as an elegant starter or bulk it up with a fried egg and a green salad and enjoy it for a main. Either way, its intricate appearance doesn't let on that it only took a handful of ingredients to make.

17 of 26

Cinnamon-Sugar Palmiers

Romulo Yanes

Make buttery French pastries with only four ingredients: sugar, cinnamon, frozen dough, and bittersweet chocolate.

18 of 26

Pull-Apart Pigs-in-a-Blanket

Pull-Apart Pigs in a Blanket — Kirsten Francis

A game-day classic for good reason, these cozy little finger foods are assembled in a spring form pan for pull-apart goodness. And as they require just pizza dough, hot dogs, and mustard for dipping, the cook will have plenty of time to watch the game, too.

19 of 26

Strawberry-Goat Cheese Tartine

Strawberry-Goat Cheese Tartine — Con Poulos

Particularly suited for an afternoon pick-me-up, the flavors of fresh strawberries are enhanced here by roasting them in a little maple syrup. This special step can be done up to five days in advance, so a fancy toast like this one can be ready on demand all week long.

20 of 26

Barbecued Chicken on Garlic Toast

Using a rotisserie chicken and bottled barbecue sauce, these irresistible sandwiches are ready in just 15 minutes. Choose thick Texas toast or regular white sandwich bread to make the garlic toast.

21 of 26

Peach-Guava Pops

peach-guava pops — Paola + Murray

Cool down on a hot day with these fun and delicious peach pops. Using guava and lime juice as complementary flavors to the peach gives these icy treats a tropical vibe.

22 of 26

Zucchini Pasta With Ricotta

Roast thin slices of zucchini in a hot oven to make them tender and sweet, then toss with cooked linguine, ricotta cheese, and lemon zest for a light and delicious vegetarian pasta dinner.

23 of 26

Movie Theater Style Popcorn

movie-theater-style popcorn served on tray with cocktails — Ryan Liebe

Whether you opt for classic butter or go with the spicy-maple variation, this popcorn will taste perfect with the few ingredients it requires; all you'll need is an ice-cold beverage to wash it down with.

24 of 26

Crunchy Roasted Chickpeas

Andrew Purcell

Did you know that you probably have everything you'd need to make this crunchy, fiber-full snack sitting in your pantry? What are you waiting for! Grab that can of chickpeas and roast them up with your spice of choice until crisp and golden.

25 of 26

Strawberry Salsa

Strawberry salsa and tortilla chips — Con Poulos

While the goal is to find ripe and juicy strawberries for this summer-y recipe, we are wise to the realities of this fickle fruit. This salsa helps even less than perfect berries look and taste their best no matter what season we're in with a little help from flavor enhancers like lime juice, onion, cilantro, and salt.

26 of 26

Easy Florentine Egg Cups

plated florentine egg cups — Bryan Gardner

These adorable self-contained egg cups have just the right amount of nutritious ingredients to keep you going until lunchtime. Using frozen chopped spinach makes the prep work fly by.

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