Ridiculously Easy Lemon Tarts (No Bake & Only 3 Ingredients!)

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Sometimes you just need a quick, no-fuss dessert that tastes like sunshine in a bite, right!? These 3 Ingredient Easy Lemon Tarts are exactly that! They’re creamy, tangy, and sweet, all nestled in a buttery tart shell.

And you know what else I love about them? No baking! And, just like my 2 ingredient lemon bars, there’s no complicated steps. Just three ingredients and a little bit of whisking, and you’ve got yourself a dessert that feels fancy but takes almost zero effort.

The reason why I love these tarts is because they’re so easy to whip up. Plus, they only take 3 ingredients that are literally so easy to find at the grocery store, or you might even have them on hand right now.

The coolest thing about this recipe is the magic that happens when you mix sweetened condensed milk with fresh lemon juice—it thickens up naturally, creating the perfect creamy filling. No eggs, no gelatin, no waiting overnight.

Just mix, fill, chill, and eat to your lemony heart’s content!

Ingredient Notes

Lemons: Regular grocery store lemons are perfect. Try Meyer lemons if you want a sweeter tart and can get your hands on them. You can buy organic because you’ll be using the zest, but honestly, washing the outside of the lemons is just fine.

Sweetened Condensed Milk: Be sure you’re using sweetened condensed milk and not evaporated milk. It won’t work. (Don’t ask me how I know this.)

Mini tart shells: Store-bought are easiest, but if you’re feeling like Martha Stewart, feel free to make your own incredibly easy homemade 4 Ingredient Tart Shells.

How to Make No-Bake Mini Lemon Tarts

1. Peel and zest the lemons. 
2. Cut them in half, pop them in the microwave for 3-5 seconds, and then squeeze. The heat helps release more juice with less effort.
3. Combine the juice with condensed milk and the zest. 
4. Stir with a whisk (or use a hand mixer) for a few minutes. The filling will magically thicken as the lemon juice reacts with the condensed milk. 
5. Spoon this mixture into individual tart shells and sprinkle a pinch of lemon zest on the top. 
6. Chill in the refrigerator for a bit and then serve! 

Tips & Variations for this Lemon Tarts Recipe 

• Make sure you choose good quality, fresh lemons. Meye lemons are great if you can get them. If not, regular lemons are just as perfect for this tart recipe.  
• To bring some more sweetness into the filling for the tarts, you can add some powdered sugar or a dash of honey. 
• Use a fine grater or zester to make the lemon zest. Remember to use only the top yellow portion, and not the white colored inner portion, which can be bitter in taste. 
• If the filling for the tarts has become too thin, you can thicken it up by allowing it to chill in the refrigerator for a bit and then whisking it again. 
• If you’re looking for an epic lemony taste in mini tarts, I recommend heading over to my 4 ingredient lemon curd recipe and making that to fill the tarts. It’s super lip puckering lemony and sweet!

The Science Behind No-Bake Lemon Tarts

Why does the filling thicken without baking? It’s a little kitchen science trick!

Sweetened condensed milk has proteins and sugar, and when you add an acid (the lemon juice), it causes the proteins to slightly firm up – similar to kind of like making a simple custard, but with zero effort. That’s why these no bake mini lemon tarts set up perfectly without any eggs, cornstarch, or gelatin.

Serving and Storing

These delicious lemon tarts can be the perfect end to a light summer meal like 3 ingredient chili stuffed peppers or 4 ingredient leftover chili burritos.

If I’m cooking for a bunch of people, or I’m asking to bring desserts to a party, I like to pair the tarts with another fruity dessert like a peach cobbler, or an apple crisp.

You can have them as is, or top them with a bit of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. 

To make the flavor more fruity, you can also top the tarts with some fresh fruit like raspberries or even just a sprig of mint. 

Storage Ideas & Suggestions

These 3 ingredient lemon tarts are best when they’re made and served fresh. But, if you have leftovers that you want to store for later, make sure you transfer them to an airtight container before you refrigerate them. They can stay fresh for 2-3 days.

And that’s it! Easy lemon tarts with just three ingredients, no baking, and maximum flavor. Now go make them—you’ll thank yourself later! Thanks for stopping by Eazy Grub and I hope you have a fantastic day!