20 Five-Ingredient Dinners That Actually Taste Impressive

    Simple to make, delicious to eat.

    Hannah Loewentheil
    by Hannah Loewentheil

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Do you ever look at a recipe with a lengthy ingredients list and feel instantly overwhelmed? Well, luckily it doesn't require a ton of groceries to cook a delicious meal. Here are a handful of five-ingredient recipes to whip up tonight.

    1. Lemon Panko Shrimp

    Apple of My Eye / Via apple-of-my-eye.com, Apple Of My Eye / Via apple-of-my-eye.com

    You could eat these shrimp on their own or serve them over some rice or pasta with a drizzle of lemon juice. Get the recipe.

    2. Crock Pot Pork and Roast Potatoes

    Sweet Phi / Via sweetphi.com

    Forget spending your whole night in the kitchen and let your slow cooker do the work for you. Get the recipe.

    3. Bacon Asparagus Pasta

    Gimme Some Oven / Via gimmesomeoven.com

    Pasta night has never been more delicious...or low effort. Get the recipe.

    4. Instant Pot Mac 'n' Cheese

    Little Spice Jar / Via littlespicejar.com

    Noodles, milk, butter, and mustard powder cook together in the Instant Pot. Add your favorite shredded cheese, let it melt, and chow down. Get the recipe.

    5. Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

    Camille Styles / Via camillestyles.com

    One-pan dinners are a total godsend. After all, you have better things to do than clean a bunch of dishes. Get the recipe.

    6. Shrimp and Cauliflower Grits

    40 Aprons / Via 40aprons.com

    This lightened-up version of a Southern classic calls for creamy cauliflower rice in place of corn grits. Get the recipe.

    7. Teriyaki Flank Steak

    The Suburban Soapbox / Via thesuburbansoapbox.com

    Chinese five spice blend gives this simple flank steak a serious kick. Get the recipe.

    8. Spaghetti Squash With Chorizo

    Hold The Grain / Via holdthegrain.com

    If you're craving pasta without the carbs, this spicy spaghetti squash should do the trick. Get the recipe.

    9. Honey Garlic Shrimp Skillet

    The Cooking Jar / Via thecookingjar.com

    Soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, and shrimp are all you need to make this sweet yet tangy dinner. Serve it over your favorite grain with stir-fry veggies. Get the recipe.

    10. Lemon Butter Scallops

    Damn Delicious / Via damndelicious.net

    You won't believe a recipe so simple could taste so sophisticated. These scallops are so rich and creamy they literally melt in your mouth. Get the recipe.

    11. Baked Ziti With Sausage

    Brown Eyed Baker / Via browneyedbaker.com

    Noodles, canned tomato sauce, mozzarella, Parmesan, and your favorite sausage come together into a seriously satisfying baked pasta. Get the recipe.

    12. Coconut Curry

    Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com

    This vegetarian main tastes delicious over basmati rice, cauliflower rice, or quinoa. Get the recipe.

    13. Mexican Brown Rice

    Kim's Cravings / Via kimscravings.com

    You can spice up this rice with whatever is in your kitchen like jalapeños, avocado, sun dried tomatoes, or even ground meat. Get the recipe.

    14. Butternut Squash Soup

    Cooking For Keeps / Via cookingforkeeps.com

    Looking for a comforting meal for a cozy night? This creamy squash soup is a winner. Get the recipe.

    15. Chicken Guacamole Taquitos

    Gimme Some Oven / Via gimmesomeoven.com

    If you're not a huge fan of chicken, you can use flank steak, grilled shrimp, or even a hearty vegetable like cauliflower, zucchini, or eggplant to keep things meatless. Get the recipe.

    16. Marinated Grilled Salmon

    Cooking Classy / Via cookingclassy.com

    This salmon marinade is made with soy sauce, Dijon mustard, olive oil, and garlic — four ingredients that are probably already in your pantry. Get the recipe.

    17. Flank Steak and Charred Corn Salad

    Sweet Phi / Via sweetphi.com

    Hearty, tasty, and oh-so fancy, you would never imagine this Southwestern steak dinner is so easy to throw together. Get the recipe.

    18. Egg and Avocado Spaghetti Squash Bowls

    iFood Real / Via ifoodreal.com

    Never underestimate the power of eggs for dinner, especially when they're baked into filling spaghetti squash bowls with avocado. If you're feeling creative, go ahead and add your favorite cheese. Get the recipe.

    19. Gnocchi, Broccoli, and White Bean Bake

    She Likes Food / Via shelikesfood.com

    Make a big batch of this gnocchi bake and freeze some for future lazy nights. Get the recipe.

    20. Pumpkin and Gouda Pizza

    Dishing Out Health / Via dishingouthealth.com

    Seasonal, straightforward, and satisfying, this cheesy, decadent pizza is a definite crowd-pleaser.