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30 Five-Ingredient Recipes That Are Low-Stress and Super Easy to Make

We all have nights when we just can’t muster the willpower to cook a complicated meal. But here’s a secret: Cooking a delicious dinner doesn’t have to be a huge undertaking—or even require a trip to the grocery store. To prove it, here are 30 five-ingredient recipes that are so easy, even beginners can whip them up in a flash. (Psst: Olive oil, salt and pepper don’t count.)

61 Easy Family Dinners Everyone at the Table Will Eat


1. Cacio E Pepe

This Italian classic takes a mere 20 minutes to whip up. Keep it in your back pocket for the laziest of nights.

2. Five-ingredient Mexican Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

You wouldn’t know this dish is meatless, but looks (and tastes) can be deceiving. Thanks to all that quinoa, it’s still packed with protein.

3. Kale Caesar Pasta Salad

When you feel like diving face-first into a bowl of carbs, but also want to maintain a little bit of decorum, make this number. It has Parmesan, Caesar dressing and kale—you know, for your health.

4. Lemon Butter Scallops

There’s something about scallops that screams sophistication…even though they’re basically foolproof.

5. Honey Garlic Salmon

Easy, healthy and delicious are our three favorite food groups. Serve this with steamed or roasted vegetables for bonus points.

6. Five-ingredient Spinach Parmesan Zucchini Noodles

If you haven’t yet boarded the zoodle train, it’s time to hop on. They’re low-carb, versatile and practically no-cook—this dish takes 20 minutes.

7. Five-ingredient Chicken Guacamole Taquitos

Store-bought salsa, refried beans and leftover chicken are your new best friends.

8. Easy Five-ingredient Corn Soup

With so few ingredients, it’s definitely worth seeking out corn on the cob, but frozen kernels will work in a pinch.

9. Five-ingredient Smoked Gouda Mac And Cheese

This decadent dish is as easy as cracking open one of those blue boxes, but so much tastier. (No smoked gouda on hand? You could use any good melting cheese in its place.)

10. Five-ingredient Lemon Yogurt Marinated Grilled Chicken Breasts

When you have a flavorful, garlic-spiked yogurt marinade, you don’t need much else.

11. Five-ingredient Cheesy Cauliflower Soup With Kale Pesto

You had us a cheesy cauliflower, and again at kale pesto. We’d tell you the croutons are optional, but who are we kidding?

12. Five-ingredient Green Chile Stew

Minimal ingredients and maximum flavor are not mutually exclusive, thank you very much. (Bonus: You can make this one in your slow cooker if you want.)

13. Cheesy Kale Farfalle Pasta

While we’d happily eat a simple bowl of buttered noodles, this lemony, cheesy dish is proof that it’s not difficult to dress up pasta without a ton of effort.

14. One-pan Steak With Beets And Crispy Kale

All hail the sheet tray meal, aka the lazy cook’s best-kept secret. With a few easy maneuvers, you’ll have medium-rare steak, tender beets and crunchy kale all at once.

15. One-pan Eggs With Asparagus And Tomatoes

You love eggs but hate doing the dishes. Same, friend. We found the solution.

16. Grilled Peach, Prosciutto And Mozzarella Sandwich

Our advice? Bookmark this one for peach season, then make it for lunch on repeat.

17. Easy Chicken Tikka Masala

You’re 30 minutes away from a better-than-takeout dinner. The secret? A homemade masala paste you can (and should) make ahead.

18. Five-ingredient White Chicken Chili

Any kind of diced or shredded chicken will work in this recipe. Even the rotisserie chicken you picked up last time you were at the store.

19. Gwyneth Paltrow’s Easy Frittata

Frittatas are one of our go-to dinners when we need to clean out the crisper drawer. This version calls for beet greens, but you can use any veggies you have on hand.

20. One-pan Roasted Chicken With Carrots

We love the way the carrots soak up all that rendered, schmaltzy goodness from the chicken. We also love that it’s ready in 30 minutes, of course.

21. Lemon And Herb Roast Chicken

A few aromatics are all you need to make a tender, crispy roast chicken feel *that much* fancier. Just ask Ina Garten.

22. Whole Roasted Chipotle Chicken

Instead of a million different spices, a can of chipotles in adobe gives this chicken its spicy flavor.

23. Ten-minute Macaroni And Cheese In A Mug

While there’s nothing wrong with cooking a whole pot of macaroni just for yourself, this version is a lot faster and you don’t have to share.

24. Eggs Baked In Tomatoes

If you have a carton of eggs in your fridge, you’re one step closer to dinnertime.

25. Chicken Thighs With Pancetta And Green Olives

The key to getting ultra-crispy skin is to cook the thighs low and slow, starting in a cold skillet. It might sound crazy, but it works.

26. Capellini With Garlic, Lemon And Parmesan

Save that jarred marinara sauce for another night. With a little garlic and 30 minutes, you won’t even miss it.

27. One-pot Cacio E Pepe Israeli Couscous

Parmesan and black pepper strike again, and we’re not mad about it at all. This is kind of like risotto, but so much faster.

28. Five-ingredient Almond Flour Pancakes

Admit it: You love breakfast for dinner. It’s fast, easy and comforting, as all delicious dinners should be.

29. Five-ingredient Vegan Banana French Toast

No eggs, no dairy, no problem. This French toast is surprisingly nutritious, thanks to whole grain bread and flaxseed meal.

30. Five-ingredient Green Curry

We never thought we would have a crush on tofu, but here we are.



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Former Senior Food Editor

  • Headed PureWow’s food vertical
  • Contributed original reporting, recipes and food styling
  • Studied English Literature at the University of Notre Dame and Culinary Arts at the Institute of Culinary Education