12 Ina Garten Recipes That Use 6 Ingredients or Less

As many millennials of a certain age, I grew up watching Food Network almost exclusively. Giada, Rachael, Bobby, Emeril, Alton, and Ina were my friends and my educators, and I might not be where I am today if it wasn’t for them.

I had a special place in my heart for Ina Garten’s Barefoot Contessa, though. The easy, breezy Hamptons lifestyle she showcased with her casual yet elegant parties, small get-togethers, and intimate dinners with her husband were so far away from the life I had as a 13-year-old girl in Minnesota. They transported me to a different reality and gave me something to look forward to in my potential future life.

One of the best things about Ina, in my opinion, are her iconic phrases, with “How easy is that?” being one of my favorites. It not only provides a bit of reassurance (you, too, can make this!) but it gives everything she does a certain nonchalance in the kitchen that’s both enviable and enticing. Not every recipe Ina has made is just as easy as that, but I’ve collected 12 here that come as close as possible.

With between 2 and 6 ingredients per recipe, they include a mix of go-to, reliable mains, sides, and dressings to build an easy weeknight meal around. I may never cook in quite as effortless a way as Ina, but with these recipes by my side, I can get close—and so can you.