Living in apartments in northwest houston offers many conveniences, but sometimes the thought of cooking at home feels overwhelming. Recipes often require a long list of ingredients and numerous steps that can make the process tedious. It's easy to get discouraged when faced with this complexity. At The Bellagio, we want to inspire you to enjoy cooking by simplifying it. Utilize the kitchen in your apartment to its fullest potential with these easy recipes featuring just a few ingredients. Start with a cozy tomato soup that requires only four ingredients: butter, canned tomatoes, onion, and water or broth. Melt four tablespoons of butter in a pot, then add half a large onion, chopped into wedges. Mix in a cup and a half of broth along with a can of tomatoes. Let the mixture simmer as you occasionally stir it for 45 minutes. After cooking, cool it slightly before blending until smooth. While the choice of broth enhances the flavor, water is an effective substitute. Whether using crushed or whole canned tomatoes, they'll transform beautifully once blended.
Aglio Olio
Ingredients: Spaghetti Pasta, Olive Oil, Garlic, Parsley, Red Pepper Flakes Aglio Olio is an Italian pasta dish widely popular for its simplicity. Since it requires only basic ingredients, you can whip this up in just a few minutes. First, cook the spaghetti according to its package instructions. While the water is boiling, chop the garlic into thin slices and the parsley finely. Once the pasta is cooked, heat olive oil in a pan and let the garlic and red pepper flakes simmer to release the flavor. After about two minutes, add the pasta and the parsley, and toss until combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Chicken Stir-Fry
Ingredients: Rice or Noodles, Chicken Breasts, Frozen Stir-Fry Vegetables, Cooking Oil, Oyster Sauce The great thing about stir-fry is that you can substitute ingredients as you go. You can choose between rice or noodles for your carbs, and chicken breasts for your protein. As for the vegetables, you can buy bags of frozen stir-fry vegetables in the grocery. To cook, saute the cubed chicken breast in oil. Season with salt and pepper and then add the frozen stir-fry vegetables. Once the chicken and vegetables are cooked, add in the rice or noodles and the oyster sauce.
Chili
Ingredients: Ground Beef, White Onion, Can of Diced Tomatoes, Can of Beans, Chili PowderCooking chili sounds complicated but you can make it with only five ingredients! Cook a pound of ground beef in a pot until the meat turns brown. Set it aside and then use the greased pot for the chili. Add in the diced onion and saute until soft. Add in 2 cans of tomatoes, one can of beans, and two tablespoons of chili powder. Let the pot simmer for about ten minutes and you're done.
Chicken Tacos
Ingredients: Chicken Breasts, Taco Seasoning, Tortilla, Choice of ToppingsThis recipe uses a slow cooker but you can slow cook it in a heavy-bottomed pot if you don't have one. Season the chicken with salsa and taco seasoning and then place the chicken at the bottom of the slow cooker. Cook on high for about four hours and then shred the chicken after. Serve with tortilla and additional toppings if you want. This is one of the easiest recipes on this list but it does take a lot of time. So if you're going to cook this, make sure to allot hours for it!Even though these recipes require only five ingredients or less, the resulting dishes won't be bland as the ingredients blend harmoniously together. Take your pick above or maybe try them all—you might discover your soon-to-be favorite dish.
The Bellagio in Houston, TX