When you need a simple meal that's BIG on flavor, we got you covered! All these easy dinner recipes are less than 5 ingredients and taste delicious. Perfect for busy weeknights.
Sometimes I want to harness my inner Julia Child, and other times, I want to escape my kitchen as fast as possible. For example, if it's a gorgeous spring day, the last place I want to be is stuck indoors.
Whatever your reason, these easy dinner recipes require 5 ingredients and little to no brain-power.
Some of them are main dishes that need a bag of microwave-able rice to call it a meal - and that's just fine with me!
Easy Dinner Recipes
Because dinner doesn't need to be complicated to taste good!
1. Chicken & Broccoli Lasagna
A solid way to get your kids to eat their veggies - cover them in alfredo sauce! This 5-ingredient lasagna is ultra cheesy, bubbly, and comforting.
It's packed with chicken, broccoli, and mozzarella cheese. Enjoy as-is or serve with a side of store-bought garlic bread. Easy peasy!
2. Juicy Pan Seared Shrimp
Shrimp is one of my favorite proteins for a lightning-fast dinner. It cooks super quickly and it doesn't need much to give it a flavorful punch.
This pan-seared shrimp is ready to eat in 15 minutes flat. I like to serve it with steam-in-bag veggies and rice. It can also be thrown on a salad for a low-calorie protein.
3. Creamy Baked Ziti
Comfort food at it's best! This casserole-style baked ziti mixes alfredo, pasta sauce, ground beef, and cheese.
It's a hearty meal for adults and picky kids alike! And it's super easy to double the recipe for company or a large crowd.
Enjoy as-is or serve with a big, crunchy salad. My kids love crunchy romaine, Olive Garden's Italian dressing, and sliced baby carrots.
4. Provolone Grilled Cheese
Technically, this one is more than 5 ingredients, but that's due to spices! You can just season it with salt if you like.
Essential ingredients: Sourdough bread, unsalted butter, provolone cheese, and shredded gruyere.
This grilled cheese is to-die-for with a golden brown, crispy exterior and hot, melty provolone!
5. Slow Cooker Kalua Pork
You can throw this kalua pork on buns for an easy sandwich! It's super versatile and tastes great with nearly any side.
It's a great option if you like to meal prep at the beginning of your week, because it makes a big batch and it's freezer-friendly.
6. Lemon Pepper Salmon
It doesn't get any easier than lemon pepper salmon! It takes all of 5 minutes and 4 ingredients to make.
Throw it over some roasted veggies, white rice, or salad and dinner's ready!
7. Chicken Stuffed Peppers
Even my kids love these stuffed peppers! It's basically just a chicken taco, minus the shell.
They're family-friendly, low-carb, healthy, and stupid simple to make! If you want a little bit more bulk, add cooked rice.
These stuffed peppers are ready to eat in 30 minutes flat.
8. Crockpot Cream Cheese Salsa Chicken Tacos
These droolworthy tacos are made in your crockpot. All you need is salsa, chicken breasts, and cream cheese.
You can use the meat for tacos, quesadillas, nachos, or burrito bowls. Throw the shredded chicken in crispy taco shells and add cheese for a super quick meal.
9. Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
If you love shredded meat, but don't want to slow-cook it all day, an instant pot is the answer!
This BBQ shredded chicken takes 30 minutes from start to finish! And all you need are chicken breasts, barbecue sauce, and chicken broth.
Scoop some onto a baked potato for a delicious meal everyone will love!
10. Air Fryer Kielbasa
For those who live and die by their air fryer! Caramelized kielbasa, crispy potatoes, and sweet bell peppers. It's a simple meal with little to no prep work!
The great part about this recipe is it's customizable. Use any veggies you have on hand.
Brussels sprouts, broccoli, green beans, zucchini, and onions all work great!
11. Slow Cooker Mississippi Mud Roast
If you've had Mississippi mud pot roast, you know just how good this recipe is! If not, you're missing out. It's time to try it out!
The meat falls apart so easily and it's packed with flavor. Serve over store-bought mashed potatoes or white rice!
12. Pesto Salmon
This pesto salmon delivers so much flavor with minimal effort - like 2 minutes of hands-on time!
It's just salmon fillets, pesto, breadcrumbs, and parmesan! Serve it with roasted veggies or microwaveable rice for a complete meal.
13. Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
Ultra-creamy homemade macaroni and cheese! It's effortless yet so satisfying.
Any melting cheese works great in this recipe! But I highly recommend some gruyere and gouda in the mix. They add such great flavor.
14. Juicy Turkey Burgers
Juicy turkey burgers make a simple weeknight meal! The addition of mayo keeps the meat extra moist. These patties are ready-to-eat in 20 minutes.
Throw some fries in the oven and you're all set.
15. Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders
It's not rocket science to put chicken, bacon, and cheese together AND that's what makes this recipe SO great.
My kids gobble these up! And they taste even better when you slather them in barbecue sauce.
16. Spaghetti Squash Pizza Casserole
Spaghetti squash is surprisingly delicious when it's covered in pizza sauce, cheese, and more cheese!
I like to add ground beef to make it more filling. But you can add veggies or keep it simple with cheese and sauce.
17. Tomato Puff Pastry Tart
This tomato pesto tart is perfect for summer! It's a great way to use up garden-fresh tomatoes.
It's light and fresh, but indulgent with the puff pastry and cream cheese. Serve with a side salad!
Leave a Reply