7 Incredibly Quick Easy Recipes Using 5 Ingredients or Less

Searching for delicious quick easy recipes? Well look no further!

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It’s a typical weekday evening. You’ve just finished a long day at work, and your energy levels are on empty. Your mind is still spinning with to-do lists, deadlines, and the stresses of the day. And then, the last thing you want to think about is what’s for dinner. But, inevitably, the question nags at you as you walk through the door. “What can I possibly cook in the middle of the chaos of weeknight life that doesn’t require hours of prep time or a mountain of ingredients?”

Weeknights are often a whirlwind of activity. For most people, the day doesn’t end when the clock strikes 5 p.m. There’s the commute home, the inevitable errands that must be ran (like picking up groceries, dropping off packages, or maybe even a quick stop at the dry cleaner). Once you’re home, there are often other obligations like helping kids with homework, walking the dog, catching up on laundry, or taking care of the million and one small tasks that need to get done. You barely have a moment to sit down and breathe, let alone plan and cook a big, complex meal.

And then, there’s the pressure to cook something nutritious. It can feel like an extra weight, as you want to avoid turning to takeout or frozen meals too often, but you don’t have the time, energy, or desire to cook something elaborate. Enter the challenge: making quick easy recipes for dinners on a weeknight that fits into the demands of the day, without adding to the stress.

This is where quick easy recipes come in to save the day.

Imagine this: you walk through the door, exhausted but relieved to be home. You glance at your watch, and you realize you have just 30 minutes before everyone needs to eat. In that moment, the last thing you want to do is start chopping vegetables, browning meat, or searching through cabinets for obscure ingredients.

With 5-ingredient or less recipes, you can have a meal on the table in no time. Recipes like Spaghetti Aglio e Olio or Cheese Quesadillas are simple, quick, and satisfying—just what you need after a long day. These dishes don’t require much more than basic pantry staples, and they can be thrown together with minimal effort.

In fact, the beauty of these recipes is that they don’t just save time, they also save you from decision fatigue. Instead of standing in front of the fridge, wondering what to make for the umpteenth time, you can follow a tried-and-true recipe that takes little effort. There’s no need to stress over what ingredients you’re missing or whether you need to make a special trip to the store. These recipes work with what you’ve got, and in some cases, you can swap out ingredients based on your preferences. That’s a major win on a busy weeknight.

By keeping things simple, you take away the mental burden of meal prep, and you can focus on other things—whether it’s catching up with family, relaxing with a good book, or simply enjoying the meal. One-pan dishes like Baked Chicken and Veggies or Sheet Pan Sausage and Peppers also make cleanup a breeze, which is an added bonus when your time is limited.

So, as the week progresses and the demands pile up, these 5-ingredient recipes can truly be a lifesaver. They offer simplicity, speed, and delicious results—everything you need to get through a hectic work week without sacrificing the quality of your meals. With just a few ingredients and minimal effort, you can bring a smile to your family’s face and make weeknight dinners a little less stressful.

Here are 7 incredibly quick easy dinner recipes with 5 ingredients or less—perfect for busy nights when you need a quick, tasty meal!

1. One-Pan Baked Chicken and Veggies

Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breasts
• 1 cup baby carrots
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• Olive oil
• Salt & pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Arrange chicken breasts, baby carrots, and broccoli on a baking sheet.
3. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
4. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the veggies are tender.

2. Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

Ingredients:

• 8 oz spaghetti
• 4 cloves garlic, sliced
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• Red pepper flakes
• Parsley (optional)

Instructions:

1. Cook spaghetti according to package instructions.
2. In a pan, heat olive oil over medium heat and sauté garlic until golden.
3. Toss cooked spaghetti in the garlic oil mixture, adding red pepper flakes.
4. Garnish with parsley (optional) and serve.

3. Taco Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef or turkey
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 bag mixed salad greens
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• Salsa

Instructions:

1. Cook ground beef or turkey in a pan and add taco seasoning according to packet instructions.
2. Place salad greens on a plate, top with seasoned meat, shredded cheese, and salsa.
3. Serve with tortilla chips or on its own!

4. Caprese Chicken

Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breasts
• 1 tomato, sliced
• 1/2 cup fresh mozzarella
• Fresh basil leaves
• Balsamic glaze (optional)

Instructions:

1. Cook chicken breasts in a pan until fully cooked.
2. Top each chicken breast with slices of tomato and mozzarella cheese.
3. Cover the pan for a minute or two until the cheese melts.
4. Garnish with basil leaves and drizzle with balsamic glaze if desired.

5. Breakfast-for-Dinner Scramble

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese
• 2 slices bacon (or sausage, optional)
• Salt & pepper

Instructions:

1. Cook bacon in a pan until crispy, then chop it into small pieces.
2. Whisk eggs, salt, and pepper together and pour into the pan.
3. Scramble the eggs and bacon together until cooked through, then sprinkle with cheese.
4. Serve with toast or as is!

6. Sheet Pan Sausage and Peppers

Ingredients:

• 4 sausages (your choice of variety)
• 1 bell pepper, sliced
• 1 onion, sliced
• Olive oil
• Salt & pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Arrange sausages, bell pepper, and onion on a baking sheet.
3. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
4. Bake for 20-25 minutes until sausages are cooked through and veggies are tender.

7. Garlic Butter Shrimp

Ingredients:

• 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup butter
• Lemon juice
• Parsley (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a pan, melt butter over medium heat and sauté garlic until fragrant.
2. Add shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until pink.
3. Squeeze in lemon juice and garnish with parsley if desired.
4. Serve with rice, pasta, or a side salad!

These recipes are quick, simple, and require minimal ingredients—perfect for when you want a fast and flavorful dinner without the fuss!