24 Easy 5-Ingredient Dinners You Will Actually Want To Eat

You don't need tons of groceries to make a delicious meal.

If you're feeling overwhelmed or stressed out by the prospect of cooking dinner, let us help. Here are a handful of easy, doable recipes that come together with just five ingredients. There's no extra work and no fuss, but plenty of flavor.

1. 5-Ingredient BBQ Chicken-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

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Start with rotisserie chicken (or leftover chicken breasts) and sweet potato and you're halfway to a complete meal.

Recipe: 5-Ingredient BBQ Chicken-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

2. Cacio e Pepe

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This iconic Italian pasta dish calls for just spaghetti, olive oil, butter, and Pecorino cheese, plus plenty of black pepper and a bit of salt to taste.

Recipe: Cacio e Pepe

3. 5-Ingredient Zucchini Noodles With Spicy Peanut Sauce

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Pro tip: start with thick zucchini ribbons instead of spirals. They're better for sopping up all of the delicious and creamy peanut sauce.

Recipe: 5-Ingredient Zucchini Noodles With Spicy Peanut Sauce

4. Creamy Chicken Marsala

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Until now, you've probably only ordered this decadent chicken dish at Italian restaurants. Little did you know, you can whip it up in your very own kitchen with just chicken breasts, butter, dry white wine, cremini mushrooms, and cream. Get the recipe for chicken Marsala here.

5. Mediterranean Salmon In Foil

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Salmon, store-bought pesto, onion, tomato, and cherry tomatoes get cooked in tin foil so that the fish is perfectly tender and flaky. If you have extra ingredients in your fridge, consider adding capers, olives, sun-dried tomato, or fresh oregano. Get the recipe for Mediterranean salmon in foil here.

6. Garlic Shrimp Pasta

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This restaurant-quality pasta comes together with very minimal effort plus some ingredients in your pantry and freezer: Pappardelle (or any noodles), frozen shrimp, butter, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Get the recipe for garlic shrimp pasta here.

7. Easy Ravioli and Spinach Lasagna

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This shortcut lasagna calls for refrigerated cheese-filled ravioli in lieu of your traditional sheet noodles. Layer the ravioli with sausage, spinach, marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese, then toss it into the oven. Get the recipe for easy ravioli and spinach lasagna here.

8. Chicken Sausage and Orzo Skillet

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Even better than the fact that this recipe requires just five ingredients is that it can be cooked in a single skillet. It's no-fuss, no-mess, and totally satisfying. Get the recipe for chicken sausage and orzo skillet here.

9. Crock Pot Chicken Teriyaki

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Chicken breasts, olive oil, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and garlic is all you really need to make this Japanese-inspired chicken. If you have sesame seeds or green onion, use them for garnish and serve over your favorite grain. Get the recipe for Crock Pot chicken teriyaki here.

10. Chicken Feta Pasta

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Besides for olive oil, salt, and pepper from your pantry, this recipe calls for just chicken, marinated diced canned tomatoes, your favorite pasta, feta, and fresh basil. Get the recipe for chicken feta pasta here.

11. Black Bean Enchiladas

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These enchiladas are totally vegetarian, but if you're not following a meatless diet you can add shredded chicken, ground beef, or any protein you like best. Get the recipe for black bean enchiladas here.

12. Sausage and Tortellini Soup

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Forget about canned soup: You can whip up a seriously satisfying homemade version with almost no effort. Take this recipe, which calls for sausage, store-bought tortellini, kale, chicken broth, and heavy cream. Get the recipe for creamy sausage and tortellini soup here.

13. Meatball Pasta Bake

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This cheesy pasta casserole is so tasty, no one needs to know you used frozen meatballs. If you're feeling ambitious though, you can make them from scratch. Get the recipe for meatball pasta bake here.

14. Miso Roasted Salmon

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Miso paste, garlic, and ginger give this salmon an irresistible sweet-meets-salty flavor. Serve it with rice and your favorite roasted or steamed veggies. Get the recipe for miso roasted salmon here.

15. Honey Garlic Shrimp

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If you're not a huge fan of shrimp, this tangy, Asian-inspired marinade made with just ginger, garlic, honey, and soy sauce tastes great on pretty much anything. Get the recipe for honey garlic shrimp here.

16. Broccoli Chicken Mac 'n' Cheese

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Pasta shells, broccoli, cream, chicken, and your favorite cheese come together in this grown-up version of the classic childhood recipe. Get the recipe for broccoli chicken mac 'n' cheese here.

17. Easy Cochinita Pibil

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This shredded pork is so simple. It's made in the pressure cooker or slow cooker with just pork shoulder or pork loin, orange juice, lime juice, achiote paste, and cumin. Once cooked, serve it in tortillas, on rice, salad or hamburger buns. Get the recipe for easy cochinita pibil here.

18. Cilantro Lime Chicken and Rice Skillet

Sweetphi

One of the easiest recipes you'll ever make, it's easy to spice up this chicken and rice skillet with whatever extra ingredients are in your kitchen whether it's black beans, corn, salsa, avocado, etc... Get the recipe for cilantro lime rice and chicken skillet here.

19. Taco Casserole

Spice up this easy dinner with your favorite Mexican ingredients from avocado to jalapeños, but the only essential ingredients are crescent roll dough, ground meat, salsa, grated cheese, and taco seasoning. Get the recipe for taco casserole here.

20. Slow Cooker Steak Fajitas

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Start with a cheap cut of meat like London broil and toss it into the slow cooker with salsa, pepper, onion, and fajita seasoning. A few hours later, you'll have perfectly tender steak fajitas you can serve DIY-style with tortillas and your favorite toppings. Get the recipe for steak fajitas here.

21. Peanut Noodles

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Start with some noodles like udon, thick spaghetti, or lo mein and coleslaw mix or an asian vegetable medley. Toss the pasta and veggies in a sauce made of sesame oil, hoisin sauce, and peanut butter and call it dinner. Get the recipe for peanut noodles here.

22. Weeknight Niçoise Salad

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Canned tuna gets fancy with the help of lettuce, potatoes, hard boiled egg, and haricots verts. Get the recipe for weeknight Niçoise salad here.

23. Vegetarian Green Curry

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The best part about this recipe is its versatility. Though it calls for tofu, broccoli, and sweet potato, you can mix things up and add your favorite protein and veggies. Everything gets simmered in a mixture of coconut milk and Thai green curry paste. Get the recipe for vegetarian green curry here.

24. Pesto, Feta, and Arugula Pizza

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Homemade pizza is simple to make, and it can be a fun, family-friendly activity to entertain the kids or to spice up an at-home date night. If you start with store-bought dough, this meal couldn't be easier. Get the recipe for pesto, feta, and arugula pizza here.

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