30 Five-Ingredient Recipes That Are Low-Stress and Super Easy to Make (2024)

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

This Italian classic takes a mere 20 minutes to whip up. Keep it in your back pocket for the laziest of nights.

Gimme Some Oven

You wouldn’t know this dish is meatless, but looks (and tastes) can be deceiving. Thanks to all that quinoa, it’s still packed with protein.

Foodie Crush

When you feel like diving face-first into a bowl of carbs, but also want to maintain a little bit of decorum, make this number. It has Parmesan, Caesar dressing and kale—you know, for your health.

Damn Delicious

There’s something about scallops that screams sophistication…even though they’re basically foolproof.

Recipe Tin Eats

Easy, healthy and delicious are our three favorite food groups. Serve this with steamed or roasted vegetables for bonus points.

Two Peas and Their Pod

If you haven’t yet boarded the zoodle train, it’s time to hop on. They’re low-carb, versatile and practically no-cook—this dish takes 20 minutes.

Gimme Some Oven

Store-bought salsa, refried beans and leftover chicken are your new best friends.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

With so few ingredients, it’s definitely worth seeking out corn on the cob, but frozen kernels will work in a pinch.

Photo: Michael Marquand/Styling: Caroline Lange

This decadent dish is as easy as cracking open one of those blue boxes, but so much tastier. (No smoked gouda on hand? You could use any good melting cheese in its place.)

Ambitious Kitchen

When you have a flavorful, garlic-spiked yogurt marinade, you don’t need much else.

Pinch of Yum

You had us a cheesy cauliflower, and again at kale pesto. We’d tell you the croutons are optional, but who are we kidding?

The Defined Dish

Minimal ingredients and maximum flavor are not mutually exclusive, thank you very much. (Bonus: You can make this one in your slow cooker if you want.)

Emily Morgan

While we’d happily eat a simple bowl of buttered noodles, this lemony, cheesy dish is proof that it’s not difficult to dress up pasta without a ton of effort.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

All hail the sheet tray meal, aka the lazy cook’s best-kept secret. With a few easy maneuvers, you’ll have medium-rare steak, tender beets and crunchy kale all at once.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

You love eggs but hate doing the dishes. Same, friend. We found the solution.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

Our advice? Bookmark this one for peach season, then make it for lunch on repeat.

Pinch of Yum

You’re 30 minutes away from a better-than-takeout dinner. The secret? A homemade masala paste you can (and should) make ahead.

Gimme Some Oven

Any kind of diced or shredded chicken will work in this recipe. Even the rotisserie chicken you picked up last time you were at the store.

The Clean Plate

Frittatas are one of our go-to dinners when we need to clean out the crisper drawer. This version calls for beet greens, but you can use any veggies you have on hand.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

We love the way the carrots soak up all that rendered, schmaltzy goodness from the chicken. We also love that it’s ready in 30 minutes, of course.

Erin McDowell

A few aromatics are all you need to make a tender, crispy roast chicken feel *that much* fancier. Just ask Ina Garten.

A New Way to Food

Instead of a million different spices, a can of chipotles in adobe gives this chicken its spicy flavor.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

While there’s nothing wrong with cooking a whole pot of macaroni just for yourself, this version is a lot faster and you don’t have to share.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

If you have a carton of eggs in your fridge, you’re one step closer to dinnertime.

Christopher Hirsheimer/Canal House Cook Something

The key to getting ultra-crispy skin is to cook the thighs low and slow, starting in a cold skillet. It might sound crazy, but it works.

Spoon Fork Bacon

Save that jarred marinara sauce for another night. With a little garlic and 30 minutes, you won’t even miss it.

The Defined Dish

Parmesan and black pepper strike again, and we’re not mad about it at all. This is kind of like risotto, but so much faster.

Ambitious Kitchen

Admit it: You love breakfast for dinner. It’s fast, easy and comforting, as all delicious dinners should be.

Minimalist Baker

No eggs, no dairy, no problem. This French toast is surprisingly nutritious, thanks to whole grain bread and flaxseed meal.

Pinch of Yum

We never thought we would have a crush on tofu, but here we are.

Senior Food Editor

Katherine Gillenis PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City...