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by Robin
Quick and easy weeknight dinner recipes are essential for families. When everyone is finally home from work and school we’re hungry and tired and need a meal fast. Plus when you have days that are busier, chances are you’re not in the mood to spend hours in the kitchen at night, cooking gourmet meals. I know I never am!
But here’s the good news. You can cook meals that are thrown together quickly but still taste amazing.
Having a selection of weeknight go-to dinner meals is essential to have for days when you just want to feed your family quickly.
Simplify your weeknight cooking routine with these 45+ 5 ingredient recipes. They are all simple to make, come together quickly (most of them are ready in under 20 minutes) and are super affordable!
45+ of the Best 5 Ingredient Recipes
5 Ingredient Recipes: Chicken and Turkey Recipes
1. Instant Pot BBQ Chicken from Us!
This whole chicken recipe is ready in ready quickly and tastes like it was done on the barbecue! Serve with a salad and fresh bread or rice – and you’ll have a great meal in a jiffy.
2. Delicious & Easy, One Pan Baked Feta Chicken Recipe (Just 5 Minutes to Prep!) from Us!
Baked Feta Chicken is a super flavorful baked chicken dish with only a handful of simple ingredients – and takes just 5 minutes of prep time! With lots of cherry tomatoes, creamy feta cheese and fresh herbs, this easy recipe is perfect served over pasta, rice or with a big side salad.
3. Five Ingredient Caprese Chicken from Seasonal Cravings
This Five Ingredient Caprese Chicken is super fast and only uses pantry staples. It’s healthy, gluten-free and kid-friendly.
4. Bacon Crusted Chicken from Wholesome Yum
This bacon chicken recipe is quick and easy, with just 5 ingredients. You’ll love your chicken breast with bacon crust on it!
5. 3-Ingredient Pomegranate Balsamic Chicken Thighs from Lively Table
These 3 ingredient pomegranate balsamic chicken thighs couldn’t be easier to make. They’re the perfect quick and healthy weeknight dinner paired with a side of veggies!
6. One Pan 5-Ingredient Chicken Skillet from Unicorns in the Kitchen
This one-pan 5-ingredient chicken skillet is perfect for weeknight dinners as it comes together in 30 minutes. The final addition of pepper rings gives a bold flavour to the dish – and are easily left off for pickier eaters.
7. Five Minute Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenders from Joyfilled Eats
Chicken tenderloins are perfect as a quick dinner. They cook fast and don’t require cutting or trimming first.
8. Creamy Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Peppers from Kitchen Gidget
Classic Chicken Alfredo is mixed with orzo pasta and mozzarella cheese, stuffed into bell peppers and baked to delicious gooey perfection! Easy enough for a weekday dinner yet fancy enough for that special meal.
9. 4-Ingredient Roast Chicken Dinner from My Kitchen Love
Easy and with almost zero prep, this 4-Ingredient Roast Chicken Dinner is sure to become a new family favourite. A fail-proof juicy whole roast chicken recipe that lets the oven do all the work!
10. 5-Ingredient Turkey Sliders from Unicorns in the Kitchen
These 5-ingredient Turkey Sliders are easy and perfect for parties, game days, or any other gatherings! The melted cheese and delicious smoked turkey make a wonderful combination!
11. Turkey Skillet Dinnerfrom Art From My Table
This Turkey Skillet Dinner is the perfect one-pot meal. It’s quick, easy, and super tasty. Dinner in 30 minutes.
12. Kid Pleasing Jelly Chicken from Us!
This is one of our kids’ favourite weeknight meals! So low prep it’s my favourite too.
13. Unprocessed and Easy Chicken Finger Recipe from Us!
Takes a few more minutes than frozen chicken fingers – but are totally worth it! Tender and kid-friendly.
5 Ingredient Meals: Meat Recipes
13. Ribs in the Instant Pot from Us!
This is our most popular recipe – and with good reason! It tastes just like barbecued ribs without the huge time investment.
14. Easy 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Pulled Pork from Fearless Dining
This slow cooker pulled pork is a delicious recipe that is so easy to make. Just 5 simple ingredients, a crockpot, and you have a delicious family dinner and leftovers too!
15. Quick and Easy 5-Ingredient Crock-Pot Roast from Fearless Dining
Crock-pot roast beef is juicy, tender, and absolutely delicious! If you love pot roast, this is the easiest pot roast recipe you will ever make.
16. Spaghetti Squash Meatball Casserole from My Life Cookbook
This spaghetti squash meatball casserole is an easy weeknight dinner you can make quickly with only 4 ingredients. And it’s a great gluten-free alternative to pasta.
17. Slow Cooker Marinara Pot Roast from My Life Cookbook
This slow cooker marinara pot roast just needs 5 ingredients to make a flavorful dinner. Pop into the slow cooker in the morning, cook a few side dishes and in just 20 minutes you can have a delicious wholesome meal.
18. Easy, Cheesy 5-Ingredient Pizza Pasta Bake from Two Healthy Kitchens
This incredibly quick and easy pizza pasta bake is an absolute lifesaver on busy nights! It’ll be in the oven in no time flat – you can even mix it all up right in the pan (and you don’t even have to precook the pasta)!
19. 5 Ingredient Slow Cooker Pot Roast from A Mindful Mom
Forget complicated meals! 5 ingredients are all it takes to get one of the most comforting, delicious easy Pot Roast you have EVER had–one of the BEST dinners you have ever had!
20. Keto Low Carb Pizza Casserole Recipe from Wholesome Yum
This easy low carb pizza casserole recipe requires just 5 ingredients. Find out how to make a delicious cauliflower pizza casserole – no crust needed!
21. Five-Ingredient Pasta With Bolognese Sauce from Bowl of Delicious
This 25-minute Pasta with Bolognese Sauce recipe uses only FIVE ingredients! It has the most authentic, delicious Italian taste and texture, with sauce that clings to every bite of pasta thanks to a few easy tricks (which can be used in other pasta recipes, too).
22. 5 Ingredient BBQ Pulled Pork Quesadillas from My Kitchen Love
Quick and easy 5 Ingredient BBQ Pulled Pork Quesadillas are made in just 15 minutes! A perfect healthy and easy meal solution for families.
23. Crock Pot Dump Chili by Us!
This is the meal I make when I have zero time to make a meal! Fast and delicious!
5 Ingredient Recipes: Fish/Seafood Recipes
24. Easy Bakes Parmesan Crusted Tilapia with Mayo from Wholesome Yum
Just 4 ingredients needed for this easy Parmesan crusted tilapia recipe in the oven. Add veggies for a sheet pan dinner. Only 15 minutes start to finish!
25. Chili Soy Salmon from The My Life Cookbook
Need a quick and easy dinner? This chilli soy salmon is awesome and only takes 4 ingredients and 15 minutes to make.
26. Four Ingredient Southern Style Oven-Baked Catfish from Bowl of Delicious
It’s inexpensive to make, slightly spicy, super crispy on the outside, and tender and flaky on the inside. It’s perfect in every way, especially in how easy it is to prepare.
27. Fast Fish Tacos from Recipe Girl
In Southern California, fish tacos are pretty much daily fare. You’ll find them in all kinds of restaurants prepared in a variety of ways. This is a fresh, healthy and simple way to prepare fish tacos.
28. 5-Ingredient Smoked Salmon Pasta from Sprinkles and Sprouts
Smoked salmon, cream, dill and peppery rocket are mixed with pasta for a speedy and elegant dinner!
29. Pressure Cooker Shrimp Risotto from Two Sleevers
Here’s a quick way to make a creamy shrimp risotto with no stirring in your pressure cooker or instant pot.
30. 5-Ingredient Garlic Parmesan Tilapia from The Seasoned Mom
This 5-Ingredient Garlic Parmesan Tilapia is about to bust through any of these roadblocks — making your weeknight dinners a bit less chaotic, a bit healthier, and a whole lot tastier!
31. One-Pan Fabulous Fish from Jamie Oliver
This colourful dish cook in only 15 minutes which makes it perfect for weeknights. Adding the tapenade and olive oil over the cooked dish is the perfect finish and makes this recipe to die for.
32. 5 Ingredient Fish Stick Wraps from Sweet Phi
It’s a super easy recipe that is ready and on the table in less than 15 minutes and the best part? You probably already have the ingredients to make this dish in your house!
5 Ingredient Recipes: Vegetarian Recipes
33. Quick and Easy Crustless Quiche by Us!
So easy you can make this half-asleep and in minutes! Fabulous for breakfast and dinner!
34. 15-Minute Cannellini Bean Stew from Simple Vegan Blog
It’s a super healthy, nutritious, quick and easy meal that is ready in less than 15 minutes. You can use canned cannellini beans, this is great if you are really busy and want to eat healthily.
35. Festive Tomato and Spinach Cauliflower Rice from My Life Cookbook
This festive tomato and spinach cauliflower rice only takes 15 minutes to make and is a delicious side dish. Cauliflower rice takes on the flavours sun-dried tomatoes and garlic and is topped with crunchy pine nuts.
36. Easy 5 Ingredient Baked Rotini from A Mindful Mom
5 Ingredient Baked Rotini: 5 ingredients is all you need to make a family-pleasing meal that can stretch to easily feed a crowd.
37. Five Ingredient Black Bean Croquettes from Healthy Seasonable Recipes
These crispy black bean croquettes are a super easy vegetarian appetizer to serve for a Cinco de Mayo party. Serve them with guacamole or salsa for dipping and watch them disappear in no time!
38. 3 Ingredient Vegan Chili from Create Mindfully
This easy comforting 3 Ingredient Vegan Chili is perfect for a road trip or if you want a quick meal. It is packed with protein to satisfy.
39. Four Ingredient Baked Gnocchi from Bowl of Delicious
You need to try this meal: It consists of only FOUR ingredients, it takes only 20 MINUTES, it’s CHEAP, and it’s easy (your kids can make it!). And it makes you feel like you are out for a fancy Italian meal with all the comfort food requirements of cheesy, tomato-saucy goodness.
40. Healthy 5-Ingredient Vegan Parmesan Zoodles from Yum Some
This healthy 5-ingredient vegan parmesan zoodles are super simple to make, full of goodness and flavour, and at under 100 caloriess a portion, make for a perfectly light and tasty weeknight supper.
41. Low Carb Vegetarian Zucchini Lasagna from Garden in the Kitchen
This Low Carb Vegetarian Zucchini Lasagna is a dairy-free, cheesy comforting meal made with only 5-ingredients!
42. Leek Tart from Martha Stewart
Store-bought pastry from the freezer case makes the buttery base for the leek tart. Scoring the dough defines the border, and pricking prevents the center from puffing up too much during baking.
43. Healthier Blueberry Banana Pancakes with Instant Pancake Mix from Us!
Breakfast for dinner is a time-saving winner! Our kids practically cheer when we serve these.
44. French Toast with Peach Sauce from Us!
Another breakfast for dinner that’s a hit at our place. You won’t believe how easy the peach sauce is!
5-Ingredient Meals: Soup Recipes
45. 5 Ingredient Pea and Mint Soup from Lauren Cooks
Who can ask for better than a delicious soup made with 5 ingredients? To me, 5 ingredient dinners are totally manageable, even on days you don’t feel like cooking at all.
46. Low Carb Mexican Chicken Soup from Low Carb Yum
No time for cooking? Try this ridiculously easy slow cooker Mexican chicken low carb soup recipe. It’s made with only 4 ingredients!
47. Easy Low Carb Taco Soup with Ranch Dressing from Wholesome Yum
See how to make taco soup on the stove – it takes only 20 minutes and 5 ingredients! The whole family will love this easy low carb taco soup recipe with ranch dressing.
48. 5-Ingredient Roasted Tomato Soup Recipe from Wholesome Yum
This 5-ingredient easy low carb tomato soup is bursting with roasted tomatoes & fresh basil. Low carb, gluten-free, grain-free & keto, with a paleo option.
49. 5 Ingredient Curry Peanut Pumpkin Soup from Create Mindfully
This easy comforting 5 Ingredient Curry Peanut Pumpkin Soup is perfect for a weeknight meal or to pack for a road trip.
50. 3-Ingredient Potato Soup from Yumsome
This 3-ingredient potato soup is delicious, nutritious, simple to make, and is really frugal too!
51. 3-Ingredient Tomato Tortellini Soup from Honey and Birch
3 Ingredient Tomato Tortellini Soup – if you’re short on time, make this soup! It only takes 15 minutes from start to finish and is full of flavour. Plus, 3 variations are included with easy additions for more soup deliciousness!
52. 3-Ingredient Black Bean Soup from Honey and Birch
This 3 ingredient black bean soup recipe is easy to make. It’s healthy, full of protein and flavour, and can be thrown together quickly! Plus, you can make it vegan by using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
53. 3-Ingredient Pinto Bean Soup from Create Mindfully
This recipe for 3 Ingredient Pinto Bean Soup is perfect for a road trip or if you want a quick meal. Make it mild or spicy depending upon the salsa you use.
Now that’s a ton of meal ideas, isn’t it?
Getting food on the table for your family doesn’t have to be complicated! These 5-ingredient meals is proof of that, and I’m sure your family would love the pleasure of eating any of them!
Need more quick, healthy family-friendly recipes? Here you go:
- 20+ Healthy Sheet Pan Dinners
- 15+ Vegan Sheet Pan Dinners
- 20+ Low and No Prep Instant Pot Recipes
- 20+ No Prep Slow Cooker Recipes