30 Five-Ingredient Recipes That Are Low-Stress and Super Easy to Make (2024)

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30 Five-Ingredient Recipes That Are Low-Stress and Super Easy to Make (1)

By Katherine Gillen

Published Apr 24, 2020

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.)

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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.

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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.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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.

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Photo: Michael Marquand/Styling: Caroline Lange

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.)

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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.)

Emily Morgan

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.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

15. One-pan Eggs With Asparagus And Tomatoes

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

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

16. Grilled Peach, Prosciutto And Mozzarella Sandwich

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

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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.

The Clean Plate

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.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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.

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Erin McDowell

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.

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A New Way to Food

22. Whole Roasted Chipotle Chicken

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

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

24. Eggs Baked In Tomatoes

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

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Christopher Hirsheimer/Canal House Cook Something

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.

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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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30 Five-Ingredient Recipes That Are Low-Stress and Super Easy to Make (32)

Katherine Gillen

Senior Food Editor

Katherine Gillenis PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City...

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30 Five-Ingredient Recipes That Are Low-Stress and Super Easy to Make (2024)

FAQs

What is a 5 10 30 meal? ›

5 Cuisines, 10 Full Meals, 30 Total Ingredients!

How to make food in 5 minutes? ›

5-minute meals recipes
  1. Storecupboard pasta salad. A star rating of 4.4 out of 5. ...
  2. Pan-fried camembert sandwich. A star rating of 4.6 out of 5. ...
  3. Prawn & coconut soup. ...
  4. Classic French omelette. ...
  5. Chicken wrap with sticky sweet potato, salad leaves & tomatoes. ...
  6. Creamy tomato courgetti. ...
  7. Speedy tuna pasta salad. ...
  8. Easy pea & mint soup.

What is the 40 30 30 meal plan? ›

The theory behind the Zone diet is all in the numbers: 40-30-30. Zone dieters balance their meals and snacks so that their calories come from a mix of 40 percent carbohydrates, 30 percent protein and 30 percent “friendly” fats.

What is the 5 in 1 meal program? ›

On the 5&1 plan, you're instructed to eat 5 Optavia Fuelings and 1 Lean and Green meal each day. The program recommends eating a meal or a Fueling every 2–3 hours and incorporating 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week.

What are the 5 things every good recipe has? ›

  • Yield. The yield tells the number and size of servings the recipe will make.
  • List of Ingredients & Amounts.
  • Step By Step Directions for Mixing & Handling.
  • Equipment (Container Size & Type)
  • Temperature & Time.

What is the 5 ingredient rule? ›

Stick to the 5 ingredient rule: Choose foods with less than 5 ingredients and all things you recognize and know are real food, such as tomatoes, water, or salt. Or if there are more than 5, make sure they're all food or spices. Buy only packaged foods with ingredients you can pronounce or recognize.

What can I make with barely any food in my house? ›

These simple dinner ideas use only a handful of ingredients so you can still whip up a meal using whatever you have in the cupboard.
  • 15-ingredient sausage rolls. ...
  • 2Creamy mushroom gnocchi. ...
  • 3Fast falafel bowl. ...
  • 45-ingredient satay beef skewers. ...
  • 55-ingredient meatball carbonara. ...
  • 6Speedy wild rice and salmon salad.

What is the healthiest thing to cook with? ›

Here are 5 nutrient-packed oils that deserve a spot in your pantry.
  • Olive Oil. Olive oil is popular for a reason. ...
  • Avocado Oil. Avocado oil boasts a lot of the same benefits as extra virgin olive oil, but with a higher smoking point, making it great for sauteing or pan frying. ...
  • Coconut Oil. ...
  • Sunflower Oil. ...
  • Butter.
Oct 25, 2023

What is the easiest type of food to make? ›

Easy staples of mine:
  • Eggs - scrambled and over easy.
  • spaghetti with meat sauce (brown meat and add a jar of sauce)
  • hamburgers on the grill.
  • tacos (hamburger meat and seasoning packet)
  • Bake a chicken breast with seasoning and microwave a bag of frozen veggies for side.
Jan 17, 2018

What can I make to eat simple? ›

Our Go-To Easy Dinner Idea? Soup!
  1. 5-Ingredient Chicken Tortilla Soup. As simple and easy as it sounds. ...
  2. Taco Soup. Like tacos, but soup! ...
  3. Tikka Masala Soup. Your favorite Indian chicken recipe, soup-ified. ...
  4. Tortellini Soup with Italian Sausage and Kale. Can we just call this “The Soup”?

What is 30 10 meal plan? ›

The 30/10 rule involves getting 30 grams of protein and 10 grams of fiber at each meal. A dietitian said it's legit, and the advice could help you build muscle and cut back on junk food. Fiber is important for digestion and fullness, and protein helps to build muscle.

Is 5 30 lunch or dinner? ›

1. What are the lunch break requirements under California labor law?
Hours WorkedLunch Break Required
Less than 5 hours
5 or more hours but less than 6 hours30-minute lunch break (waivable by employee)
6 or more hours but less than 10 hours30-minute lunch break required
2 more rows

Is 5 30 a good time for dinner? ›

Canadeo, who says the best time to eat dinner according to several studies is between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., agrees that leaning on the earlier side is better. “Researchers found that when eating earlier, they had better blood sugar regulation and improved fat metabolism, which is a factor in fat storage,” Canadeo says.

What is the 10 5 10 timer when eating? ›

10–5–10 rule: Eat for 10 minutes, take a break for 5 minutes — a complete halt on eating, and resume for another 10 minutes. By the end of these 25 minutes, there are high chances that you would have eaten less than you normally would have, and still feel “full”.

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