What’s for dinner? These easy 5-ingredient dinner recipes will help answer that question with less stress (and less prep time!).
Coming soon: Busy nights.
If the life of a parent with school-aged kids was a movie marquis, that’s what it would say. And it’s true. For us, it’s already starting, even though school doesn’t begin for another eight days.
Yes, I am counting.
You don’t even have to be a busy parent to have busy nights though. They happen to so many people. Teachers going back to school. Folks who work in politics at election time. Accountants at tax time. Retail workers at back to school and during the holiday season. I could go on and on.
But if there’s one thing I know with great certainty, it’s that a little planning ahead and a lot of easy, simple recipes help make those busy nights a little easier.
Do you meal plan? It’s a good way to take some of the stress out of the week. When you know what you will be making for dinner ahead of time, you can make sure you have all the ingredients ready to cook when the time comes.
I highly recommend it. You can also meal prep for other meals too. Lunch meal prep, snack meal prep … it all makes everyday life a little easier.
That’s where these easy 5-ingredient dinner recipes from Sarah’s Cucina Bella and other reliable food bloggers come in.
With just five ingredients or less, these don’t take a lot of prep work to get cooking. Plus, many are ready in 30 minutes or less (easy peasy!). There’s something for everyone — vegetarian, chicken, pork, beef, fish …
So check them out, try a few that appeal to your family and have an easier evening. And if you are looking for more easy, 5-ingredient dinner recipes, check out my cookbook, The Super Easy 5-Ingredient Cookbook, published last year by Rockridge Press. Also, check out my resource on meal prep lunch ideas for more delicious tips.
5-Ingredient Dinner Recipes
One of my most popular recipes, these sticky drumsticks are a crowd-pleaser with a mouthwatering glaze. By combining the marmalade with soy sauce and rice vinegar, the sharp tartness is toned down and a richness is added without losing the orange flavor. This recipe was inspired by one in Every Day Food, April 2009.
Creamy and smooth, with a slight sweetness from the leeks, this recipe for Super Easy Potato Leek Soup is a cinch to make. Dress it up with fresh herbs and/or hot sauce to make it your own.
Creamy, bold Cambozola cheese combines with succulent Black Forest ham, sweet roasted red peppers and savory lettuce in this satisfying wrap.
Are you getting your grill on this season? These easy Grilled Chicken, Pineapple and Ham Kabobs are a delicious way to enjoy a sweet-savory meal from the grill.
With just five ingredients (oil, salt and pepper don’t count!), Chicken Snow Pea Skillet is a perfect stress-free dinner for tonight. Serve this easy, garlicky stir-fry with rice or mashed potatoes.
What’s for dinner? These Quick and Easy Chicken Pizza Wraps take minutes to whip up and are filled with big pizza flavor. Easy and tasty!
This version of chicken cordon bleu is a little healthier (no breading and grilled!) and a lot faster. Better yet, with the salty ham and creamy Swiss cheese on the seasoned breasts, it’s satisfying and flavorful.
Thinly sliced chicken breasts are cooked to tender and then smothered with salsa and cheddar cheese in this 10-Minute Salsa Chicken recipe.
It’s the contrasts in this salad that make it delightful: the sugary sweetness of the sweet potatoes, the tang of the lime juice, the earthy cilantro. Though it can be enjoyed hot or cold, we like it best hot.
Chicken, ham and cheese ... this is one of those combinations that just gets me excited. And the addition of honey mustard? It makes this quick and easy recipe for Chicken Cordon Bleu Wraps just perfect.
Creamy avocado, tangy pickled radishes and a sweet teriyaki glazed salmon come together in this rice bowl for a satisfying and delicious dinner.
Rubbed with compound butter made with garlic, basil and salt, this tender roasted salmon recipe is a delightful, flavorful, comforting dinner.
Fresh salmon is boiled with a rich glaze in this recipe for Honey Hoisin Broiled Salmon.
In just 20 minutes (or less) you can make this recipe for Easy Roasted Teriyaki Salmon — perfect for dinner anytime. It’s perfect served with a nice salad.
With just two ingredients and about 20 minutes, this Grilled Pesto-Topped Salmon recipe can be on your table. It’s delicious with a big tossed salad.
Alaskan Sockeye salmon is broiled with a sweet-salty rub in this quick and easy recipe for Broiled Sockeye Salmon. Perfect for dinner!
Looking for a delicious flounder recipe for busy nights? Oven Poached Flounder with Garlic and Olive Oil is a quick and easy recipe – and flavorful too
Gluten-free Sweet Chicken is an easy gluten-free dinner to make, with only 5 ingredients! If you’re looking for a go-to easy chicken recipe, this one from My Gluten-Free Kitchen is it!
This vegan recipe from Cadry's Kitchen is so simple, you could get the kids involved with it. Everyone can add their own toppings, and dinner is ready to go in 10 minutes!
The sweet caramelized onions pair perfectly with the slightly sweet and salty gorgonzola cheese in this easy pizza recipe from Olive and Artichoke.
Fork tender, melt in your mouth, Shugary Sweets says this is the BEST Mississippi Pot Roast recipe. A Naturally low-carb dinner idea made in the slow cooker!
Three Ingredient Tuna Burgers from The Mama Maven are perfect for a quick and healthy weeknight dinner. It's a total kid pleaser too!
These meatball subs from Beyond the Chicken Coop are quick, easy and delicious. They can be made with your favorite meatballs and marinara sauce.
BBQ Beef Tortilla Pie is super hearty and done in about 30 minutes. It's a great weeknight dinner recipe from My Sequined Life that has lots of wiggle room for you to make it your own.
This enchilada chicken recipe from Meg's Everyday Indulgence is weeknight perfection. Only 5 ingredients and 30 minutes needed for this flavorful dish.
These 5-ingredient spinach and ricotta stuffed shells from Happy Kitchen is a quick and simple vegetarian pasta dinner that is perfect for a busy weeknight or a special occasion.
This pork chop recipe from Mom Advice has all the Italian flavors you love and is easily prepared on the grill.
Kate
Monday 26th of August 2019
I literally did a double take on air fryer pizza. I'm aaaaalllll in!