Method I've used on every car since 1986: Go as tight as I can with my hands, then 1/4 turn with a wrench. Comes off easy.
Naturally, cars with plastic cartridge filter housings really should consider using a torque wrench and the correct tool (cap wrench, socket, etc). The parts guy at my Mazda dealership lost count of how many housings he'd sold to Mazdaspeed 3 & 6 owners due to owners tightening them with pipe pliers.