This is a list of 15 easy 5 ingredient recipes or less for busy days. These meal ideas are quick and delicious and they involve real food, minimal dishes, and something better than delivery in no time.
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1) Avocado Toast
This is truly a breakfast choice that can almost become a personality trait. It is so easy to make and so customizable. It allows you to have a lot of fun with it. You're going to have your toast covered with an avocado spread, which is simply just avocado mashed up, seasoned however you want.
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You can do a variety of different toppings on here, from egg to vegetables, everything bagel seasoning. You can have fun with this one and really make it your own. It is a good nutritional breakfast that can be done in a hurry.
Ingredients
Method
- Toast the bread until golden and crisp.
- Mash the avocado with the lemon juice in a small bowl.
- Spread the avocado generously over each slice.
- Sprinkle with flaky salt and red pepper flakes and serve.
Notes
2) Caprese Salad
A caprese salad has three simple ingredients, and it is a way for you to capture the greatest tastes of summer. Having tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil with that balsamic glaze is such a refreshing and fun dish to make.
Ingredients
Method
- Arrange the tomato and mozzarella slices in an overlapping row on a platter.
- Tuck basil leaves between the slices.
- Drizzle everything with olive oil.
- Sprinkle with salt and serve right away.
Notes
3) Grilled Cheese Sandwich
A grilled cheese sandwich is a dependable comfort food, and it is going to land every single time for adults and children alike. I like to switch up my grilled cheese by trying different cheeses, and of course, you have to serve it with a classic tomato soup. My favorite is tomato basil, homemade or in the can. It works like a charm every single time.
Ingredients
Method
- Butter one side of each slice of bread.
- Place one slice butter-side down in a skillet over medium heat.
- Layer the cheese on top and add the second slice, butter-side up.
- Cook 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden and the cheese has melted.
- Slice in half and serve hot.
Notes
4) Pasta Aglio e Olio
You can class this one as an emergency dinner made from pantry staples, which is a perfect option for me as a busy mama.
Ingredients
Method
- Cook the spaghetti in salted water until al dente, reserving a cup of pasta water.
- Warm the olive oil with the garlic and red pepper flakes over low heat until fragrant and golden.
- Add the drained pasta to the pan along with a splash of pasta water.
- Toss until the pasta is glossy and coated.
- Stir in the parsley and serve.
Notes
5) Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
A peanut butter banana smoothie is another classic, and it tastes like dessert, but it's filling enough to hold you over. You can have this as a quick breakfast or a filling lunch. It has potassium, protein, and everything that you need in a pinch.
Ingredients
Method
- Add the bananas, peanut butter, milk, honey, and ice to a blender.
- Blend on high until completely smooth and creamy.
- Taste and add a little more honey if you like.
- Pour into glasses and serve cold.
Notes
6) Baked Chicken Breasts
These baked chicken breasts are so easy to make and endlessly versatile. You can spice these up any way you want. You can serve it with pasta, with rice, with potatoes, or a vegetable. You can really make this meal your own, and it is cost-effective and something that can be done in a hurry.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Rub the chicken breasts all over with olive oil.
- Mix the garlic powder, paprika, and salt and sprinkle over both sides.
- Place on a baking sheet and roast for 22 to 25 minutes, until cooked through.
- Let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
Notes
7) Tuna Salad
Next up is tuna salad, and this is a classic. I, of course, love to make this with hard-boiled eggs, celery, onion, and mayo. Whip that all together, put it on two slices of bread, and you have a very filling sandwich that is delicious. Even the kids love this one.
Ingredients
Method
- Flake the drained tuna into a bowl with a fork.
- Stir in the mayonnaise, celery, and lemon juice.
- Season with black pepper and mix until combined.
- Serve on bread, crackers, or a bed of greens.
Notes
8) Bean Burritos
This is another kid-approved dinner that gets requested by name in our house. I love to just use canned Rosarita refried beans. They have a flavor that the kids love.
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They're very easy to make, but if you want to put in a little extra effort, you can mash up either canned pinto beans or homemade ones. Put these in a tortilla with a handful of freshly shredded cheese, and you have a meal that is satisfying every single time.
Ingredients
Method
- Warm the refried beans in a saucepan with the cumin.
- Lay out the tortillas and spread beans down the center of each.
- Sprinkle with cheese and a spoonful of salsa.
- Fold in the sides and roll up tightly.
- Toast seam-side down in a dry skillet until golden, then serve.
Notes
9) Margherita Pizza
This one is a favorite in our household because it is really easy to make, and the best part is that you can use whatever crust you have on hand. It is a really easy replacement for calling in an order and you only have three toppings on this one, and that is tomato, mozzarella, and basil. This pizza is really good even though it's meatless; it's really filling, and everyone enjoys it.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 475°F.
- Spread the tomato sauce evenly over the crust.
- Arrange the mozzarella slices on top.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly.
- Scatter with fresh basil, drizzle with olive oil, and slice.
Notes
10) Greek Yogurt Parfait
A Greek yogurt parfait is another one that comes together really fast, and you can really make it your own. You can throw in different fruits on this, different types of granola, and really spruce this one up. It looks pretty, it tastes good, and it is a win every single time. It's a filling breakfast or a great snack filled with protein.
Ingredients
Method
- Spoon a layer of yogurt into the bottom of two glasses.
- Add a layer of berries and a sprinkle of granola.
- Repeat the layers until the glasses are full.
- Drizzle with honey and serve right away.
Notes
11) Honey Garlic Shrimp
This one is a sticky and sweet recipe that cooks faster than the pot of rice you're going to serve it with. Shrimp is really easy to overcook, and if you do, it becomes rubbery. All you want to do with it is achieve that perfect level of opaqueness. Put some honey and garlic on this one, and you have a flavor that nobody can deny.
Ingredients
Method
- Whisk the honey, garlic, and soy sauce together in a small bowl.
- Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the shrimp and cook 2 minutes per side until pink.
- Pour in the sauce and toss until the shrimp are glazed and sticky.
- Serve over rice or with steamed veggies.
Notes
12) Tomato Basil Soup
Tomato basil soup. Here it is. You're gonna wanna pair that one with that grilled cheese we just talked about. This has a flavor that is complex and well-rounded despite only taking 20 minutes of simmering. This is really easy to make. It is really family-friendly, and it is a dish that you want in your rotation.
Ingredients
Method
- Melt the butter in a pot over medium heat.
- Add the crushed tomatoes and broth and bring to a simmer.
- Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Blend until smooth with an immersion blender.
- Stir in the cream and basil, warm through, and serve.
Notes
13) Lemon Butter Fish
Here is a one-pan meal that feels upscale but requires little to no effort or cleanup. That's what makes it a win in our household. Putting lemon butter on fish just really gives it a flavor that everyone enjoys.
And it is the perfect summer meal because you have that lemon brightness just bringing everything to life. It is a feel-good dish that you want for dinner.
Ingredients
Method
- Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Place the fish in the pan and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side until flaky.
- Pour in the lemon juice and spoon the butter over the fish.
- Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Notes
14) Fried Rice
Here is another versatile meal that lets you turn last night's leftovers into tonight's dinner. If you have a protein that is left over, whether that be chicken or pork, you can cut that up, put it into instant rice with scrambled eggs, mixed vegetables, and some soy sauce, and you have a fried rice that is going to taste just as good as your takeout order.
Ingredients
Method
- Heat the sesame oil in a large skillet over high heat.
- Push everything aside and scramble the eggs in the empty space.
- Add the frozen vegetables and stir-fry for 2 minutes.
- Add the cold rice and soy sauce, breaking up any clumps.
- Stir-fry until everything is hot and slightly crisped, then serve.
Notes
15) Pancakes
Pancakes are, of course, a kid favorite. It is the meal that gets them out of bed on the weekend, and why not have some fun and occasionally serve it up for dinner as well? You can just have some fun with the kids. That's what we like to do every once in a while.
They get a kick out of just having this as a weeknight meal, but it makes for such a good breakfast that everyone enjoys. This recipe, in particular, will give you a fluffy texture that everyone is asking for again and again.
Ingredients
Method
- Whisk the flour, sugar, and baking powder together in a bowl.
- Stir in the milk and egg until just combined; a few lumps are fine.
- Heat a greased skillet over medium heat.
- Pour in 1/4 cup of batter per pancake and cook until bubbles form on top.
- Flip and cook another minute until golden, then serve with syrup.
