Chloe
On a busy weeknight, the hardest part of dinner usually isn't the cooking. It's the long ingredient list, the extra trip to the store, and the pile of dishes afterward. That's when takeout starts to look like the only option.
Every recipe below uses just five main ingredients plus pantry basics like salt, pepper, and oil. Most come together in about 30 minutes in one pan or one pot, so you can get a real dinner on the table with very little to clean up.
1.Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon With Green Beans (25 Minutes)
SaveYou'll need: 4 salmon fillets (about 6 oz each), 1 lb green beans (trimmed), 4 tbsp butter (melted), 3 garlic cloves (minced), and 1 lemon. Ready in about 25 minutes.
Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Toss the green beans with a drizzle of oil, salt, and pepper and roast them for 5 minutes. Push them to the sides, add the salmon, and season it. Stir the garlic and the lemon zest into the melted butter, spoon it over the fish, and top with thin lemon slices. Roast for 10 to 12 minutes, until the salmon flakes easily and reaches 145°F (63°C). Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice.
2.Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Tortellini (15 Minutes)
SaveYou'll need: 20 oz refrigerated cheese tortellini, ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil (chopped), 5 oz baby spinach, 1 cup heavy cream, and ½ cup grated Parmesan. Ready in about 15 minutes.
Cook the tortellini according to the package and save ½ cup of the pasta water before draining. Meanwhile, warm 1 tbsp of oil from the tomato jar in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the tomatoes for a minute, then pour in the cream and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the Parmesan, add the spinach until it wilts, then toss in the tortellini, loosening the sauce with a splash of pasta water.
3.Honey Garlic Chicken With Broccoli (25 Minutes)
SaveYou'll need: 1½ lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, ⅓ cup honey, ¼ cup soy sauce, 4 garlic cloves (minced), and 12 oz broccoli florets. Ready in about 25 minutes.
Season the chicken with salt and pepper and sear it in a little oil over medium-high heat for 5 to 6 minutes per side, until it reaches 165°F (74°C). Set it aside. Steam the broccoli, or microwave it covered with a splash of water for 3 to 4 minutes. Lower the heat, cook the garlic for 30 seconds, then add the honey and soy sauce and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until slightly thickened. Return the chicken and turn to coat.
4.Crispy Black Bean Quesadillas (20 Minutes)
SaveYou'll need: 8 flour tortillas (8-inch), 1 can (15 oz) black beans (rinsed), 2 cups shredded Mexican-blend cheese, 1 cup frozen corn (thawed), and ½ cup salsa, plus more for serving. Ready in about 20 minutes.
Mash half the beans with the salsa. Spread the mixture over 4 tortillas, then add the corn, the rest of the beans, and the cheese, and top with the remaining tortillas. Cook in a lightly oiled skillet over medium heat for about 3 minutes per side, until golden and the cheese has melted. Cut into wedges and serve with extra salsa.
5.Smoked Sausage, Potato, and Pepper Sheet Pan (35 Minutes)
SaveYou'll need: 14 oz fully cooked smoked sausage (sliced), 1½ lb baby potatoes (halved), 2 bell peppers (chopped), 1 red onion (cut into wedges), and 2 tsp Italian seasoning. Ready in about 35 minutes, mostly hands-off.
Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Toss the potatoes with oil and salt and roast for 15 minutes. Add the peppers, onion, and sausage, sprinkle everything with the Italian seasoning, toss, and roast for another 15 to 20 minutes, until the potatoes are tender and the sausage is browned and heated through to 165°F (74°C).
6.Pesto Chicken Pasta With Cherry Tomatoes (20 Minutes)
SaveYou'll need: 12 oz short pasta (like penne), 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken, ½ cup jarred basil pesto, 1 pint cherry tomatoes (halved), and ⅓ cup grated Parmesan. Ready in about 20 minutes.
Cook the pasta according to the package and save ½ cup of the pasta water. Drain the pasta and return it to the pot over low heat. Stir in the pesto, chicken, tomatoes, and enough pasta water to make it glossy. Warm through for 1 to 2 minutes and finish with the Parmesan.
7.15-Minute Egg Fried Rice
SaveYou'll need: 3 cups cooked, chilled rice, 3 eggs, 1½ cups frozen peas and carrots, 3 tbsp soy sauce, and 3 green onions (sliced). Ready in about 15 minutes.
Heat a little oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Scramble the eggs until just set and move them to a plate. Add a bit more oil and cook the peas and carrots for 2 minutes. Add the rice, press it into the pan, and let it crisp for 2 to 3 minutes before stirring. Add the soy sauce, return the eggs, and finish with the green onions.
How to Stock Your Kitchen for 5-Ingredient Dinners
Short ingredient lists work best when the basics are always on hand. Keep a few pantry staples stocked, like rice, pasta, canned black beans, soy sauce, honey, jarred pesto, and salsa, plus a bag of frozen peas and carrots and a block of Parmesan. With those, most of these recipes need only one or two fresh items from the store. These small pantry organization ideas make it easy to see what you have.
Most of these dinners make great leftovers. Refrigerate them within 2 hours and eat them within 3 to 4 days. On colder nights, these easy one-pot soups follow the same short-list idea.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some easy 5-ingredient dinners?
Lemon garlic butter salmon with green beans, creamy sun-dried tomato tortellini, honey garlic chicken with broccoli, black bean quesadillas, a sausage and potato sheet pan, pesto chicken pasta, and egg fried rice all use five main ingredients.
Do salt, pepper, and oil count as ingredients?
Not in these recipes. Like most 5-ingredient recipes, they count only the main ingredients and assume you have salt, pepper, cooking oil, and water.
What is the quickest 5-ingredient dinner?
The creamy sun-dried tomato tortellini and the egg fried rice both take about 15 minutes, especially if you use leftover rice for the fried rice.
Which of these dinners are good for meal prep?
The honey garlic chicken, the sausage and potato sheet pan, the pesto chicken pasta, and the fried rice all reheat well for lunches. Salmon and quesadillas are best eaten fresh.
What can I make for dinner with almost nothing in the house?
Egg fried rice and black bean quesadillas are made mostly from pantry and freezer staples. A pot of black bean or red lentil soup is another good option.
