40+ Recipes with 5 Ingredients or less

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This collection of over 40 recipes with 5 ingredients or less are all about simplicity but with lots of flavor. Made with simple ingredients, minimal prep, but lots of wholesome goodness, you’ll find something you love here! These fast easy recipes with few ingredients will help you whip up meals, snacks, and desserts fuss-free.

These recipes prove that making food from scratch doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. They are perfect for anyone who might be running low on ingredients before the next grocery run or anyone who might be looking for some budget-friendly meals to feed a family. This roundup has everything from simple breakfasts to 5 ingredient dessert recipes to end the day on a sweet note. We can all use simple recipes with minimal ingredients on busy weekdays, and these are just too good not to share.

WHy you should cook more 5 Ingredient recipes

• Simple homemade meals are simply better. The great news is that 5 ingredient healthy recipes are simple, homemade, and flavorful. This means they’ll naturally be tastier and healthier than takeout or pre-packaged options.
• Quick meal solutions. These fast easy recipes with few ingredients are so quick to whip up. With very few key players to deal with, you can have a meal, snack, or dessert in as little as 10 minutes.
• Budget-friendly meals. Fewer ingredients often mean lower grocery bills, making these options cost-effective. Plus, you can use versatile ingredients across multiple recipes, reducing food waste and stretching your dollar even more.

Tips for making 5 ingredient recipes

1. Use good quality ingredients. These simple recipes only require a small amount of ingredients, so make sure they are good quality. Use organic ingredients whenever possible and the freshest available.
2. Gather the ingredients before you start. These recipes are quick and easy to make, I always find it so much easier to grab your ingredients before you start cooking so everything you need is ready. It also makes you feel more confident while cooking by having ingredients prepped.
3. Read the recipe twice before you start cooking. This will get you familiar with the steps, so you know the process and what to expect next.
4. Clean as you go. I always find it best to take breaks in between prepping and cooking to clean up around me. This is especially great when you’re waiting for water to boil or something to simmer. It will save time and stress later.

Best Recipes with 5 Ingredients

Simplify your meals with this roundup of 5 ingredient healthy recipes, starting with a quick and easy breakfast for the whole family. You’ll also love our 5 ingredient healthy dinners featuring chicken, beef, and seafood that will satisfy everyone at the table. And finish the night with one of our delightful 5 ingredient dessert recipes or a tasty snack before bed. Whether you’re short on time or ingredients, this collection has you covered!

Breakfast Recipes with 5 Ingredients

• The Incredible Egg – Eggs make an instant breakfast by themselves and their versatility is remarkable. You can make plain scrambled eggs, poached egg, or scrambled eggs with cottage cheese in minutes. You can also boil eggs or make sheet pan eggs on the weekend for an easy breakfast throughout the week.
• Crispy Feta Fried Eggs – If you haven’t tried the viral crispy fried feta eggs, you’re missing out! It combines the classic fried egg with the tanginess of feta cheese that has been crisped up in a pan for delicious texture and crunch. Cover that with a toasted tortilla and top with fresh dill for a quick and easy breakfast idea.
• Chocolate Protein Pancakes – Start your morning off right with these protein-packed pancakes. Each serving has a whopping 15 grams of protein and is made with oats, bananas, and chocolate protein powder. Serve with chia seed jam to make this sweet breakfast extra special.
• Avocado Toast with Eggs – Made with whole grain bread (or use your favorite bread), avocado, eggs, and whatever seasonings and toppings you desire. It’s a healthy breakfast that’s ready in 10 minutes and loaded with protein.
• Baked Eggs in Avocado – The only thing better than an avocado toast is eggs baked in the avocado. These green fruits are a great source of healthy fats, and the protein in eggs will keep you feeling full until lunchtime. Add your favorite additions like diced tomatoes, feta, and parsley, or keep it plain and fuss-free.
• Steel Cut Oatmeal – It’s no surprise we are big oatmeal fans. There’s nothing better than starting the day with a bowl of warm oatmeal with all your favorite tasty toppings. Learn how to cook steel-cut oats perfectly on the stovetop for a healthy and hearty breakfast. Drizzle homemade almond butter on top to make it extra decadent.
• Strawberry Banana Smoothie – This 4-ingredient smoothie is sweet, creamy, refreshing, and the perfect way to use fresh or frozen strawberries. It’s a great smoothie for breakfast, snack, or after a workout and is a total kid favorite. The best part? You probably have all the ingredients in your fridge right now!
• Sweet Potato Hash with Eggs – A simple, one-pan breakfast that delivers flavor and nourishment is my kind of breakfast. Sweet potato cubes are fried in a pan until nice and crispy followed by kale greens and eggs. It’s a wholesome breakfast that doesn’t require a lot of ingredients, prep time, or effort. Consider using boiled sweet potatoes to make this breakfast hash go quicker.
• Smoked Salmon Bagel – You can make this quick and easy breakfast as simple or fancy as you’d like. Keep it basic with your favorite bagel, cream cheese, smoked salmon, and fresh dill, or add more tasty toppings like capers, red onions, and cucumbers.

5 Ingredient Healthy Dinners

• 5 Ingredient Tomato Soup – With nothing else but canned crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth, onions, butter, and garlic, this soup is simple to make and absolutely delicious. Pair it with grilled cheese sandwich, and you have an easy and complete meal with minimal prep.
• Tuna Pasta – This pasta dish has slightly more than 5 ingredients, but most of them are pantry staples. Canned tuna is warmed in a skillet with garlic, lemon zest, and capers and tossed in spaghetti for a healthy dinner that comes together in 10 minutes.
• Air Fryer Steak – When it comes to 5 ingredient healthy recipes, an air fryer is your best friend. It cooks your food quickly and with less fat to get the same juicy and flavorful result as stove top cooking would. Make this steak recipe and see for yourself.
• Honey Lemon Salmon – Salmon fillets are coated in honey and lemon juice and seasoned with salt and pepper, then pan-seared in a skillet with coconut oil. This dish is an easy weeknight recipe that can be on your table in 20 minutes. Serve with a large salad or a side of brown rice to make it a complete meal.
• Grilled Lamb Chops – Marinated in a delicious blend of olive oil, fresh lemon, garlic, and mint, these lamb chops do not lack flavor. Serve this for a weekend party or switch up your weeknight dinners and treat your family to these most delicious, tender lamb chops.
• Ground Beef Casserole – Made with ground meat, pasta, onion, and garlic tossed in marinara sauce and topped with mozzarella cheese for comfort food that will nourish and satisfy everyone. It’s simple, quick, and oh-so-delicious.
• Pan Seared Halibut – Simple to make but so incredibly tasty. Consider this an impressive restaurant-quality halibut dish you can easily make at home. It’s seasoned with a simple blend of salt, pepper, parsley, and garlic and pan-seared to perfection for an easy weeknight meal or fancy special occasion dinner.
• Lentils and Rice – Lebanese mujadara is one of those 5 ingredient healthy recipes that’s incredibly simple yet flavorful. It’s made with just 3 main ingredients: rice, lentils, and onions to create a stunning dish with amazing texture and mouthwatering flavor.

Chicken Recipes with 5 Ingredients or Less

• Hummus Crusted Chicken – If you have leftover homemade hummus – give it new life with this easy weeknight meal. The hummus gives the chicken a nice crust and keeps the meat juicy and flavorful. Serve it with garlic-roasted potatoes or classic Caesar salad.
• Chicken Gyro – You’ll love how easily this chicken recipe comes together. With 5 simple ingredients plus salt and pepper, it is loaded with flavor. Cook the chicken on an indoor or outdoor grill and tuck them in pita bread, with add-ins, and lots of tzatziki sauce.
• Breaded Chicken – When it comes to chicken recipes with 5 ingredients or less, simple breaded chicken must be at the top of that list. This winning chicken dinner starts by coating the meat in eggs, flour, and breadcrumbs and pan-cooking in a hot skillet until perfectly golden brown.
• Za’atar Chicken – Get ready to enjoy an explosion of flavors with this easy dinner. Chicken drumsticks and thighs are perfectly seasoned with za’atar seasoning, olive oil, and salt and pepper for an easy and irresistibly delicious meal. Za’atar chicken goes well with mujadara, fattoush salad, and Lebanese rice.
• Dijon Chicken – The chicken breasts are marinated in a zesty sauce made with Dijon mustard, olive oil, and garlic, and seasoned with salt and pepper. It’s so flavorful and you’ll love how simple and quick this 5 ingredient chicken dinner comes together. Serve with a simple side dish like fresh garden salad or roasted Brussels sprouts to make it a complete meal.
• Skillet Cilantro Chicken – This Lebanese-inspired cilantro chicken starts with a simple and flavorful citrus and herb marinade and finished by cooking the chicken on the stovetop. Serve cilantro chicken over rice, lemon pasta, or pair it with a large salad like Mediterranean chopped salad to add more veggies to your meal.
• Sauteed Chicken with Mushrooms – You will love this easy one pan meal – it’s made with simple ingredients, loaded with flavor, and comes together in 30 minutes. Chicken is sauteed in the pan first, then the mushrooms and the vegetable broth ties it all together at the end for an easy weeknight meal that the whole family will love!
• Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan – Quick and easy to make, this chicken Parmesan always comes out crispy on the outside and juicy and delicious on the inside. It’s quick and effortless to prep it too! Pair it with cottage cheese alfredo pasta for an easy family meal that is perfectly comforting and oh-so-delicious!

5 Ingredient Dessert Recipes

• Vegan Vanilla Pudding – Ditch the instant pudding mix and make this homemade version instead. Made with almond milk, sugar, cornstarch, and vanilla extract, you’ll only need 5 minutes of prep time to make this vegan dessert.
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars – If you love peanut butter, you will love these no-bake bars. Made with just 4 ingredients and sweetened with maple syrup, they have a perfect fudgy consistency and a lovely peanut butter-chocolate combination. The hardest part is waiting for them to firm up in the fridge.
• Chocolate Chia Pudding – When it comes to 5 ingredient dessert recipes, pudding is at the top of the list. It’s creamy, simple to make, and oh-so-delightful! This is a chocolate version, made with chia seeds, and it’s just as satisfying and rich as vanilla pudding.
• Peanut Butter Cookies – Quick, easy to make, and so incredibly tasty. These 3-ingredient cookies are such a classic old-fashioned recipe made with only pantry staples and one bowl. They have a rich peanut butter taste, chewy texture on the inside, and perfectly crispy on the outside.
• Coconut Date Balls – These treats are so satisfying they can qualify as a healthy vegan snack. Soaked dates are blended with pecans and rolled in shredded coconut for a vegan and gluten-free dessert everyone will love.
• Watermelon Pizza – Honey-sweetened whipped cream cheese and ricotta icing and juicy watermelon already make an irresistible pair. Top that with your favorite fruit like kiwi and fresh berries, and you have a refreshing dessert that will be a hit wherever it’s served.
• Date Bark – Love Snickers candy but not the ingredients in it? I have a solution for you in this wholesome treat. Medjool dates provide a caramel-like flavor, while creamy peanut butter, crunchy almonds, and rich dark chocolate create a perfect mix of flavors and texture in every bite. You will be hooked with this 5 ingredient dessert recipe.
• Cottage Cheese Ice Cream – This is a hit – and for good reason. It’s high in protein and blends perfectly to create a smooth, creamy frozen dessert. The two main ingredients are honey and cottage cheese, and from there, the flavor options are only limited to your imagination.
• 2-Ingredient Chia Jello – A delicious vegan snack or dessert that’s actually good for you? Yes, please. Made with chia seeds, fruit juice, and an optional sweetener, this refreshing sweet treat is packed with nutrition and easy to whip up in a few minutes.

Snacks with 5 Ingredients or Less

• Whipped Cottage Cheese – Creamy, tangy, and oh-so-delicious with your favorite dipper. This snack recipe takes a basic ingredient and turns it into something so tasty and decadent. Add a touch of olive oil, garlic, some fresh herbs, and pair it with some veggie sticks or pita chips for a wonderful snack.
• Potato Tuna Cakes – With soft, pillowy interior and crispy crunch exterior, these tuna cakes check off all the boxes. Made with canned tuna, gold potatoes, shallots, panko breadcrumbs, and dill – these tuna cakes are satisfying in flavor and texture and make an excellent snack or appetizer. Serve with a squeeze of lemon or creamy tzatziki sauce.
• 5 Ingredient Raw Almond Joy Bites – These homemade Almond Joy bites are tasty and make a wholesome treat in the afternoon. Made with shredded coconut, honey, raw alonds, coconut oil, and chocolate, this delicious snack is light and easy to make.
• Air Fryer Cauliflower Tater Tots – These tasty bites make a simple snack in the afternoon or appetizer at a party. Made with cauliflower, Parmesan cheese, egg, breadcrumbs, and simple seasonings, they are cooked to crispy perfection in the air fryer. You’ll love them with homemade ranch dressing.
• Cream Cheese Fruit Dip – Skip the fruit dip with marshmallow fluff and powdered sugar and make this lightened-up version. This cream cheese fruit dip is sweetened with honey and has some protein, thanks to Greek yogurt. It’s creamy, decadent, and perfectly sweet.
• Roasted Chickpeas – Chickpeas aren’t just for the hummus. When perfectly roasted, they make a wonderful snack. And with 4 different flavor variations, you’ll certainly find one that you and your family will love!
• Stuffed Dates – Medjool dates are stuffed with your choice of delicious fixings for a satisfying snack any time of day. Try ricotta almond and coconut, goat cheese pistachio, cashew butter cacao, or peanut butter chocolate. All four flavors have very minimal ingredients and can be quickly whipped up in no time.

frequently asked questions

I hope these easy recipes with 5 ingredients or less are helpful in making mealtime and snack time a breeze. It’s amazing how much flavor and nutrition can be packed into a dish made with such minimal ingredients! Whether you’re searching for fast easy recipes with few ingredients to feed a crowd or 5 ingredient healthy dinners on a busy weeknight – this roundup has it all. Don’t forget to finish the night with one of the 5 ingredient recipes dessert lovers will go crazy over!

full list of recipes

Check out the picture cards for all the recipes listed above. You can click on any of the recipes cards to take you directly to those recipes.

For more similar roundup of recipes, be sure to check out: Easy Pantry Meals, Healthy Recipes with Canned Beans, Easy No-Bake Desserts, and Leftover Friendly Meal Ideas.

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