50 Five-Ingredient Recipes That Aren't Overly Complicated But Still Taste Amazing

    Keep it simple and eat deliciously.

    Hannah Loewentheil
    by Hannah Loewentheil

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Making a delicious and impressive meal doesn't have to be a huge production. These recipes are simple and crave-worthy and all require just five ingredients or fewer plus the salt, pepper, and olive oil that are already in your pantry.

    1. Pappardelle With Burrata and Burst Cherry Tomatoes

    A plate of pasta with cherry tomatoes, burrata, and basil.
    Pina Bresciani / Via pinabresciani.com

    One word: burrata. Need I say more?

    Recipe: Pappardelle With Burrata and Burst Cherry Tomatoes

    2. Three-Ingredient Dinner Rolls

    Love Life and Good Food / Via lifeloveandgoodfood.com

    Make a big batch of these easy as can be dinner rolls, which call for nothing more than mayonnaise, self-rising flour, and milk.

    Recipe: Three-Ingredient Dinner Rolls

    3. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches

    Bowl of Delicious / Via bowlofdelicious.com

    Just toss your ingredients into the Crock Pot and wait for fall-off-the-bone pulled pork to cook itself.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches

    4. Lemon Panko Shrimp

    A plate of panko breaded shrimp.
    Apple of my Eye / Via apple-of-my-eye.com

    Serve these crispy baked shrimp over orzo, rice, or your favorite grains for a satisfying meal.

    Recipe: Lemon Panko Shrimp

    5. Creamy Tomato Soup With Grilled Cheese Croutons

    A bowl of tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons.
    Hannah Loewentheil/BuzzFeed / Via buzzfeed.com

    Jazz up your basic bowl of soup with the help of mini grilled cheese croutons. All you'll need is your favorite store bought tomato soup, sliced bread, cheese (like sharp cheddar), and butter for frying.

    Recipe: Creamy Tomato Soup With Grilled Cheese Croutons

    6. Lemon Butter Scallops

    Lemon butter scallops in a skillet.
    Damn Delicious / Via damndelicious.net

    This might just be the easiest seafood dinner ever. Pan sear scallops for about two minutes per side in rich and zesty lemon butter sauce and enjoy.

    Recipe: Lemon Butter Scallops

    7. One-Pot Creamy Mushroom Pesto Pasta

    Joe Lingeman via The Kitchn / Via thekitchn.com

    This is a one-pot pasta literally anyone can make. Just dump the ingredients into boiling water, give 'em a twirl, and you'll have dinner on the table about 10 minutes later.

    Recipe: One-Pot Creamy Mushroom Pesto Pasta

    8. Pesto Spaghetti Squash Boats

    Baked spaghetti squash with pesto and quinoa.
    Simply Quinoa / Via simplyquinoa.com

    These spaghetti squash boats are extra filling thanks to quinoa, but you can easily leave the grains out and add in whatever vegetables are in your fridge like spinach or broccoli.

    Recipe: Pesto Spaghetti Squash Boats

    9. Spaghetti Carbonara

    The Little Epicurean / Via thelittleepicurean.com

    There's nothing like a big bowl of decadent, Parmesan-packed, bacon-filled carbonara to end a day on a high note.

    Recipe: Spaghetti Carbonara

    10. Upgraded Instant Ramen Soup

    Hannah Loewentheil/BuzzFeed / Via buzzfeed.com

    Take your favorite store bought instant ramen (I love Trader Joe's version), and upgrade it with the help of a soft boiled egg, your favorite protein like tofu or pork belly, and a veggie like scallions, mushrooms, or bok choy.

    Recipe: Upgraded Instant Ramen Soup

    11. Shrimp With Feta Cheese

    Cup of Jo / Via cupofjo.com

    This Greek-inspired shrimp dish comes together with just five ingredients in a single skillet, so it's pretty much a lazy dinner dream come true.

    Recipe: Shrimp With Feta Cheese

    12. Five-Ingredient Spicy Pork

    Spicy pork over rice with vegetables.
    Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com

    Marinate a pork tenderloin in hot chili paste like sambal oelek or sriracha, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, and garlic, then give it a good sear in a sizzling hot pan until crispy. The longer you marinate, the better the flavor.

    Recipe: Five-Ingredient Spicy Pork

    13. Five-Ingredient Breakfast Tacos

    Sweet Phi / Via sweetphi.com, Sweet Pho / Via sweetphi.com

    Fact: you can enjoy breakfast tacos any darn time of day. Load these babies up with any of your favorite toppings from avocado to pico de gallo.

    Recipe: Five-Ingredient Breakfast Tacos

    14. Easy Crab Soup

    A bowl of crab soup with crackers on the side.
    Pip and Ebby / Via pipandebby.com

    Five-ingredient, creamy jumbo lump crab soup in under 30 minutes? It's possible, and this recipe is proof.

    Recipe: Easy Crab Soup

    15. Pork Carnitas Tacos

    Hannah Loewentheil/BuzzFeed / Via buzzfeed.com

    Trader Joe's pre-cooked pork carnitas are a game-changer in the kitchen. Pair them with tortillas and slaw for an easy three-ingredient meal or add a few extra garnishes from your kitchen like avocado and lime.

    Recipe: Pork Carnitas Tacos

    16. Chicken Sausage and Orzo Skillet

    A skillet with orzo, arugula, and chicken sausage.
    Tipps In The Kitch / Via tippsinthekitch.com

    Grab a box or orzo (or really any grain) and your go-to sausage and stir-fry it in garlic, chicken broth, and Parmesan. Bonus points if you add whatever leafy greens are sitting in your fridge.

    Recipe: Chicken Sausage and Orzo Skillet

    17. Fluffy Focaccia Bread

    Rasa Malaysia / Via rasamalaysia.com

    You can spice up this light and airy focaccia with whatever herbs or veggies are in your fridge. Try topping it with rosemary, garlic, and olives or a combination of caramelized onions and gorgonzola.

    Recipe: Fluffy Focaccia Bread

    18. Gnocchi Sausage Skillet

    Cook At Home Mom / Via cookathomemom.com

    Ground sausage, mixed greens, grocery store gnocchi, and butternut squash form the bulk of this hearty and comforting skillet dinner.

    Recipe: Gnocchi Sausage Skillet

    19. Chicken Parmesan

    The Cookie Rookie
    The Cookie Rookie / Via thecookierookie.com

    This chicken parm has a secret: it starts with frozen (or store bought) breaded chicken tenders.

    Recipe: Chicken Parmesan

    20. Cream Chicken Marsala

    Cooking For Keeps / Via cookingforkeeps.com

    You'd never guess that you can count the ingredients needed for this restaurant quality dish on a single hand.

    Recipe: Cream Chicken Marsala

    21. Honey Garlic Salmon

    Recipe Tin Eats / Via recipetineats.com

    Serve this sticky sweet marinated salmon over rice with your favorite vegetable.

    Recipe: Honey Garlic Salmon

    22. Turkey Zucchini Boats

    Eating Bird Food / Via eatingbirdfood.com

    You can customize zucchini boats with any of your favorite ingredients. Add any ground meat and cheese or go for a vegetarian version with rice, beans, and salsa.

    Recipe: Turkey Zucchini Boats

    23. Creamy Kale Pasta

    A bowl of creamy kale pasta.
    Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com

    Garlic, almond milk, soaked cashews, kale, and pasta (plus olive oil, salt, and pepper) are the only ingredients you need to whip up this decadent dish with homemade sauce.

    Recipe: Creamy Kale Pasta

    24. Whole Roast Chicken With Carrots

    A whole roast chicken over carrots.
    The Modern Proper / Via themodernproper.com

    Sometimes simple is best like in the case of this perfectly roast chicken featuring crispy, melt-in-your-mouth skin and tender meat. Plus, it feeds a whole family.

    Recipe: Whole Roast Chicken With Carrots

    25. One-Pot Puttanesca Pasta

    A before and after shot of one-pot puttanesca pasta.
    Joe Lingeman via The Kitchn / Via thekitchn.com

    This vegetarian pasta is super affordable yet it's bursting with flavor from juicy cherry tomatoes, salty capers, Castelvetrano olives, and savory parsley.

    Recipe: One-Pot Puttanesca Pasta

    26. Pan-Fried Pork Chops

    The Seasoned Mom / Via theseasonedmom.com

    Looking for a cheap and easy meal the whole family will love? Season bone-in pork chops with salt and pepper, dredge them in flour, and sear 'em in a hot skillet coated with melted butter.

    Recipe: Pan-Fried Pork Chops

    27. Maple Mustard Salmon

    Cotter Crunch / Via cottercrunch.com

    This easy yet delicious marinade is made with dijon mustard, honey, and olive oil. It tastes amazing on salmon or pretty much any fish like halibut, cod, or arctic char.

    Recipe: Maple Mustard Salmon

    28. Bacon Asparagus Pasta

    One pot pasta with bacon, asparagus, and cheese.
    Gimme Some Oven / Via gimmesomeoven.com

    Everyone needs a few great one-pot pasta recipes. Bookmark this one and make it on repeat.

    Recipe: Bacon Asparagus Pasta

    29. Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Shredded Chicken

    A before and after shot of slow cooker salsa chicken.
    Joe Lingeman via The Kitchn / Via thekitchn.com

    Throw some boneless skinless chicken breasts and a jar of salsa verde into your slow cooker and just wait for the magic to happen.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Shredded Chicken

    30. Cheesy Pasta Gratin

    A plate of very cheesy pasta.
    Cooking For Keeps / Via cookingforkeeps.com

    Pasta + cream + Dijon + extra sharp cheddar + Parmesan = a cheesy, carb-filled dream come true.

    Recipe: Cheesy Pasta Gratin

    31. One-Pot Tuscan Baked Fish

    Sweet C Designs / Via sweetcsdesigns.com

    Fish doesn't have to be fancy. This recipe calls for any flaky white fish that gets baked in diced tomatoes, onion, olive oil, and capers. Eat it over your favorite grain or taco-style in warm tortillas.

    Recipe: One-Pot Tuscan Baked Fish

    32. Kale Caesar Pasta Salad

    Pasta salad with tomatoes, kale, Parmesan, and dressing.
    Foodie Crush / Via foodiecrush.com

    Grab a bottle of ranch dressing and mix it with pasta, kale, cherry tomatoes, and lots of grated Parmesan cheese.

    Recipe: Kale Caesar Pasta Salad

    33. Baked Ziti With Sausage

    Brown Eyed Baker / Via browneyedbaker.com

    This heavenly pasta dish comes together with nothing more than ziti, sweet or spicy Italian sausage, tomato sauce, and lots and lots of mozzarella cheese.

    Recipe: Baked Ziti With Sausage

    34. Chicken Guacamole Taquitos

    Gimme Some Oven / Via gimmesomeoven.com

    You can always swap out the chicken for your favorite protein from bacon to shrimp. Or just add a roasted vegetable like sweet potato or portobello mushroom to make them vegetarian.

    Recipe: Chicken Guacamole Taquitos

    35. Faux Roast Chicken

    Roast chicken pieces over potatoes.
    Cooking For Keeps / Via cookingforkeeps.com

    This recipe calls for individual bone-in chicken pieces instead of the whole bird so you get all of the flavor or roasted chicken but in a fraction of the time.

    Recipe: Faux Roast Chicken

    36. Caprese Chicken

    Three pieces of grilled Caprese chicken.
    Seasonal Cravings / Via seasonalcravings.com

    This light and fresh family-friendly meal comes together with just chicken breasts, juicy sliced tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and balsamic vinegar.

    Recipe: Caprese Chicken

    37. Pumpkin and Gouda Pizza

    A pumpkin and gouda pizza cut into slices.
    Dishing Out Health / Via dishingouthealth.com

    Start with your favorite store-bought pizza dough and top it with canned pumpkin purée, gouda, and caramelized onions cooked in olive oil until sweet and golden.

    Recipe: Pumpkin and Gouda Pizza

    38. Thai Green Curry

    Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com

    This recipe is vegetarian and made with tofu, but you can always swap in anything from shrimp to chicken. Or you can get creative and play around with different vegetable combinations.

    Recipe: Thai Green Curry

    39. Spaghetti Squash Enchilada Bowls

    A cheesy enchilada spaghetti squash bowl.
    Skinny Taste / Via skinnytaste.com

    Even picky eaters won't feel like they're eating vegetables thanks to these cheesy, Mexican-inspired spaghetti squash bowls. Garnish them with whatever extra ingredients are in your fridge like diced avocado, cilantro, or jalapeños.

    Recipe: Spaghetti Squash Enchilada Bowls

    40. Moroccan Cauliflower With Tahini Honey

    Dishing Out Health / Via dishingouthealth.com

    This five-ingredient cauliflower makes for a filling side dish or vegetarian served with pita bread or over a bed of couscous.

    Recipe: Moroccan Cauliflower With Tahini Honey

    41. Broccoli Cheese Soup

    A bowl of broccoli cheese soup.
    Wholesome Yum / Via wholesomeyum.com

    This Panera Bread copycat recipe is guaranteed to impress. Make a big batch on Sunday and enjoy it throughout the week with some crispy bread for dunking.

    Recipe: Broccoli Cheese Soup

    42. Slow Cooker Pulled Buffalo Chicken

    A before and after show of pulled buffalo chicken.
    Joe Lingeman via The Kitchn / Via thekitchn.com

    This true dump dinner is made with boneless chicken breasts, your favorite store bought hot sauce, butter, and chicken broth. Serve it over rice, on top of a salad, as sliders, or in in a wrap sandwich.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Pulled Buffalo Chicken

    43. Easy Bean Soup

    A bowl of bean and veggie soup with bacon.
    Coley Cooks / Via coleycooks.com

    This filling soup comes together with inexpensive pantry ingredients, making it a perfect option for nights when you're low on fresh groceries.

    Recipe: Easy Bean Soup

    Chelsea's Messy Apron / Via chelseasmessyapron.com

    Italian dressing, honey, and garlic are used for both the marinade and the basting sauce for this sweet and tangy grilled shrimp.

    Recipe: Four-Ingredient Sweet Honey Garlic Shrimp

    45. Curried Butternut Squash Soup

    Two bowls of curried butternut squash soup.
    Chelsey Amer Nutrition / Via chelseyamernutrition.com

    Coconut milk gives this vegan-friendly soup its creaminess and a dash of curry powder makes it delightfully spicy.

    Recipe: Curried Butternut Squash Soup

    Cooking For Keeps / Via cookingforkeeps.com

    For an elegant meal worthy of your next dinner party, look no further. This crispy salmon and melt-in-your-mouth cauliflower is served over nutty faro and drizzled with your favorite store bought pesto.

    Recipe: Crispy Salmon With Pesto and Cauliflower

    47. Curry Shrimp and Veggies

    Sweet Phi / Via sweetphi.com

    Coconut milk, red or green curry pasta, microwave rice, shrimp, and frozen mixed vegetables are the only ingredients you need for this creamy, fragrant meal. You can always swap the shrimp for any protein you like best.

    Recipe: Curry Shrimp and Veggies

    48. Cajun Garlic Butter Cod

    The Recipe Critic / Via therecipecritic.com

    If you're intimidated by the idea of cooking fish at home, this easy peasy recipe will quell your fears. Smother cod in a mixture of melted butter, olive oil, garlic and cajun seasoning, then bake it in the oven until fork-tender.

    Recipe: Cajun Garlic Butter Cod

    49. Five-Ingredient Chicken Piccata

    Chicken piccata in a skillet.
    Cooking For Keeps / Via cookingforkeeps.com

    Before you order take-out tonight, consider this restaurant-quality chicken dish you can throw together with ingredients that are probably already in your fridge.

    Recipe: Five-Ingredient Chicken Piccata

    50. White Chicken Chili

    A bowl of white chicken chili with avocado and cilantro.
    Gimme Some Oven / Via gimmesomeoven.com

    For game day (or any day) this easy, protein-packed white chicken chili is a clear winner.

    Recipe: White Chicken Chili