5-Ingredient (or Less) Dinner Recipes

By The editors of MidwestLiving.com
January 29, 2013

Put together dinner in a hurry with these recipes for both main dishes—quesadillas, beef tenderloin, ravioli, salmon, ham and more—and sides.

Start Slideshow

1 of 24

Black Bean and Corn Quesadillas

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Bottled black bean and corn salsa spices up these quesadillas, ready in just 20 minutes. 

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 24

Super Simple Peachy Barbecue Chicken

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Just three ingredients produce a rich-flavored, sweet-tangy barbecue sauce for drumsticks in this easy chicken slow-cooker recipe.

3 of 24

Shrimp with Warm Coleslaw

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Add coleslaw, bacon and chives to shrimp for this quick and easy meal. 

Advertisement

4 of 24

Bean-and-Rice-Stuffed Peppers

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

With only five ingredients, these hearty stuffed peppers assemble in a snap. Team them with corn bread or whole wheat rolls, and dinner's done.

5 of 24

Honey-Sriracha Grilled Chicken Thighs

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Sweet and spicy! You only need five ingredients and a hot grill for a delicious weeknight entrée. 

6 of 24

Potato Chips Meet Fish

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

How do you get your family to eat fish? By serving them tilapia coated with potato chips, herbs and honey-mustard dressing.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 24

Pierogies with Meat Sauce

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Add watercress, sausage, cherry tomatoes and tomato sauce to a package of frozen potato-and-onion-filled pierogies for this colorful meal. 

8 of 24

Nacho Cheese Chicken Chowder

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This five-ingredient slow-cooker chowder goes together in minutes and then cooks two hours on high or four to five hours on low. Serve with breadsticks for dipping.

9 of 24

Quick Chicken Tortilla Bake

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Buy a deli chicken or use leftover chicken to combine with cheese, tortillas, condensed soup and diced tomatoes for this easy casserole.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 24

Ravioli with Peas and Lemon Pesto

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Peas, pesto, lemon zest and toasted hazelnuts add fresh flavor to ravioli.

11 of 24

Peppered Salmon with Roasted Root Vegetables

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Carrots, beets and orange juice concentrate top the fish in this dinner, ready in just 30 minutes.

12 of 24

Sausage Jambalaya

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Combine sausage, sweet peppers, celery, canned kidney beans and fire-roasted canned tomatoes in your slow-cooker for a spicy main dish. Our recipe also gives an alternative using meatballs, cannellini beans, onions and diced tomatoes.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 24

Beef Tenderloin with Balsamic Tomatoes

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Balsamic vinegar and fresh chopped tomatoes add just the right amount of flavor to this dinner for two. 

14 of 24

Barbecue Beef Wrap

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These wraps, made with leftover shredded roast beef and packaged broccoli slaw, can be made up to 24 hours in advance. Wrap tightly and chill.

15 of 24

Chicken Focaccia Bread Sandwiches

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Make these hearty sandwiches for a quick lunch or dinner. Add fresh fruit and a beverage for a picnic! 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 24

Gingered Beef & Broccoli Salad Bowl

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Use a wok or skillet to stir-fry sirloin steak strips and broccoli. Combine with salad greens, chopped sweet pepper and bottled ginger vinaigrette salad dressing for a meal that's on the table in 20 minutes.

17 of 24

Fish Fillets with Cucumber-Orange Salsa

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Make a quick salsa from cucumber, red onion, a chopped orange and seasoning blend to serve with fish filets.

18 of 24

Cheddar-Maple Squash

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

A little cheddar cheese, maple syrup, and turkey bacon dress up butternut squash for this side dish. 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 24

Broccoli with Orange-Cream Sauce

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Combine orange juice concentrate and sliced almonds with whipping cream for a rich side-dish sauce. If you're trying to cut calories and fat, use half-and-half or milk instead, but the sauce won't be as thick.

20 of 24

Skillet-Roasted Cauliflower and Squash

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Skillet-roasting boosts the flavor of the veggies in this side dish. Serve with your favorite meat.

21 of 24

Cherry-Stuffed Ham

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Place plumped dried cherries into slits in the ham and add them to the fruit sauce for a double sweet-tart touch.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 24

Asian Coleslaw

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Jazz up packaged coleslaw with a sliced sweet pepper, green onion, cilantro and sesame-ginger salad dressing.

23 of 24

Garlic-Roasted Asparagus

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Roasting brings out the natural sweetness of asparagus and garlic.

24 of 24

Thyme and Garlic Chicken

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Thyme, garlic, a little orange juice, and a splash of balsamic vinegar flavor these moist, fork-tender chicken breasts. 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

By The editors of MidwestLiving.com