10 Easy Dinners You Can Make With 5 Ingredients or Less

Introduction

When life gets busy, simplicity in the kitchen is a game-changer. These 10 Easy Dinners You Can Make With 5 Ingredients or Less prove that delicious, satisfying meals don’t require a long shopping list or complicated instructions. Whether you’re feeding a family on a weeknight or whipping up a solo supper, each recipe delivers maximum flavor with minimum effort—perfect for anyone seeking quick, fuss-free solutions for dinner.

Why 5-Ingredient Dinners are a Weeknight Hero

Limiting your ingredient list doesn’t mean sacrificing taste. In fact, it encourages you to focus on core flavors and lets each ingredient shine. These dinners are crowd-pleasers that keep your pantry uncluttered and your budget on track. Plus, with less prep and cleanup, you’ll spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying your meals.

The Ultimate 5-Ingredient Dinner Lineup

From creamy pastas and savory stir-fries to comforting casseroles and sheet pan suppers, this list covers all your weeknight needs. Each dish uses pantry staples and fresh ingredients, keeping shopping and meal prep efficient and stress-free.

Recipes and Ingredients List

1. **Chicken Pesto Pasta:** Pasta + cooked chicken breast + store-bought pesto + cherry tomatoes + Parmesan cheese
2. **Sheet Pan Sausage & Veggies:** Smoked sausage + bell peppers + red onion + olive oil + Italian seasoning
3. **Baked Salmon:** Salmon fillets + lemon + garlic + olive oil + fresh dill
4. **Egg Fried Rice:** Cooked rice + eggs + frozen peas + soy sauce + scallions
5. **Chili Cheese Quesadillas:** Flour tortillas + shredded cheese + canned chili + butter + hot sauce
6. **Tomato Basil Soup:** Canned tomatoes + onion + garlic + chicken broth + fresh basil
7. **Cheesy Broccoli Bake:** Broccoli florets + shredded cheddar + cream of mushroom soup + milk + breadcrumbs
8. **Beef Tacos:** Ground beef + taco seasoning + taco shells + shredded lettuce + salsa
9. **Caprese Salad with Chicken:** Cooked chicken breast + fresh mozzarella + tomatoes + basil + balsamic glaze
10. **Shrimp Scampi:** Shrimp + garlic + butter + lemon + spaghetti

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe collection with CookifyAI to instantly generate an organized shopping list—automatically grouped by grocery store section, so you can shop faster and smarter for the whole week.

Instructions

1. Chicken Pesto Pasta: Cook pasta. Toss with sliced chicken, pesto, halved cherry tomatoes, and Parmesan. Serve warm.
2. Sheet Pan Sausage & Veggies: Slice sausage, peppers, and onion. Toss in olive oil and Italian seasoning. Roast on a sheet pan at 400°F for 20-25 minutes.
3. Baked Salmon: Place salmon fillets on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, top with minced garlic, lemon slices, and dill. Bake at 400°F for 12-15 minutes.
4. Egg Fried Rice: Scramble eggs in a pan. Add cooked rice, peas, and soy sauce. Stir fry until heated through. Top with sliced scallions.
5. Chili Cheese Quesadillas: Spread chili and cheese between tortillas. Cook in buttered pan until crispy. Cut and serve with hot sauce.
6. Tomato Basil Soup: Sauté onion and garlic. Add canned tomatoes and broth. Simmer 20 minutes, blend smooth, stir in fresh basil.
7. Cheesy Broccoli Bake: Mix broccoli, cheese, soup, and milk. Top with breadcrumbs. Bake at 375°F until bubbly.
8. Beef Tacos: Cook beef with taco seasoning. Fill taco shells with meat, lettuce, and salsa.
9. Caprese Salad with Chicken: Layer sliced mozzarella, tomato, basil, and chicken. Drizzle with balsamic glaze.
10. Shrimp Scampi: Cook shrimp in butter and garlic. Toss with lemon juice and hot spaghetti.

Weekly Meal Planning

Make weeknight chaos a thing of the past by planning these dinners ahead. Schedule these 5-ingredient recipes in CookifyAI to batch meal prep, auto-calculate total quantities, and generate seamless shopping lists that combine overlapping ingredients—no more forgotten pantry staples or repeat purchases.

Planning Benefits:

• All ingredients consolidated for no-fuss grocery runs
• Auto-generated shopping lists organized by aisle
• Smart suggestions to maximize ingredient use through the week
• Less waste, less stress, more delicious meals

Pro tip: Batch your recipes for even more streamlined shopping and prep—if several dinners use the same protein or veggie, you’ll see the exact quantity needed for the whole week.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10-15 minutes per meal
Cook Time: 10-25 minutes per meal
Total Time: Most dinners ready in 30 minutes or less

Enjoy delicious, easy dinners with minimal ingredients and even less hassle—perfect for busy nights, small pantries, and big flavors!