73 5-Ingredient Meals for Minimalists With Big Appetites
What if you could go grocery shopping without a mile-long list? For these simple five-ingredient meals, you can literally count your grocery items on one hand, folks. But here are the ground rules: salt, pepper, sugar, and one cooking fat don’t count. Why? Because you already have those in your pantry (...or you should). You could spend a lot of time and energy counting and arguing about this (suspect) math, or just go with it and make some awesome meals. Because your life—or at least, your easy dinners—can be simpler.
A few of these recipes require even fewer than five ingredients. But while our list includes breakfast and lunches, some of the recipes below are for the main dish only. Don’t worry—we have plenty of easy side dishes and simple salads to round them out. (Easy desserts? Yep, we’ve got those too.) But first, let’s get onto dinner.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman1/73Inside-Out Kimchi Grilled Cheese
Photograph by Emma Fishman, Food styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop styling by Sophie Leng3/73Cacio e Pepe Rösti
All the peppery, cheesy pleasure of the Roman classic in crispy, sliceable potato form. Serve with a fried egg or a simple green salad.
Photo by Oriana Koren, food styling by Lillian Kang, prop styling by Jillian Knox6/73Sweet Potato Grits
Mashed, roasted sweet potato gives these grits heft and, well, earthy sweetness. They are a meal unto themselves, but if you're so inclined, a fried egg, fillet of steamed fish, or sliced rotisserie chicken breast wouldn't be unwelcome.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Bowl from Heath Ceramics8/73Grilled Shrimp With Old Bay and Aioli
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova11/73Party Steak With Grilled Scallion Salsa Verde
Photo by Marcus Nilsson, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Amy Wilson13/73Tomato Toast With Chives and Sesame Seeds
Alex Lau16/73Gochujang-Marinated Skirt Steak
Gochujang is the powerhouse ingredient—spicy, sweet, and savory—that makes this easy steak dinner possible. Wrap slices of the cooked meat in warm tortillas for Korean-inspired tacos.
17/73Jam Toaster Tarts
Alex Lau18/73Buttery Roast Chicken
Buttery, yes. But did we mention that the butter is mixed with breadcrumbs, lemon zest, and thyme, and stuffed under the skin? Serve this decadent bird with our favorite mashed potatoes.
Photo by Laura Murray, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Sophie Strangio19/73Pasta With Brown Butter, Whole Lemon, and Parmesan
Photo by Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh, Food Styling by Simon Andrews21/73BA’s Best Risotto
If you can bear to make two 5-ingredient recipes, this buttery stovetop mushroom side dish makes a great risotto topper.
Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott25/73Fluffy Omelet
This easy breakfast also makes a great addition to grain bowls. Plus getting the whole family into saying, “it's not a regular omelet, it's a fluffy omelet,” can't be beat.
Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling by Andy Baraghani, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski33/73Grilled Bistecca with Herby Fish Sauce
Why baste your steak with fish sauce? It’s called umami. Complement this porterhouse with something sweet and tangy, like marinated red peppers.
Photo by Michael Graydon and Nikole Herriott36/73Fettuccine Alfredo
There are no tricks or cheats in this classic pasta recipe. It's just noodles enveloped with a sauce made from starchy pasta water, butter, and Parmesan cheese. Watch it all come together here.
Photo by Alex Lau41/73Basil Pesto Recipe
You could toss this easy sauce with spaghetti or ravioli, layer it into a lasagna, etc.—or you could use it to dress white or black beans or spoon over cooked pork tenderloin, salmon, or tilapia. Your choice.
Eva Kolenko42/73Skillet Roast Chicken with Fennel, Parsnips, and Scallions
Are cast-iron dinners the original sheet-pan dinners? All we know is chicken fat makes vegetables taste gooood.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime43/73Bucatini Alla Griccia With Fava Beans
Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski44/73Brown Butter–Basted Steak
You probably shouldn't consider this steakhouse-style rib eye a full meal, but we're not here to judge. Still, how about some serving some garlicky green beans on the side?
Marcus Nilsson45/73Cast-Iron Roast Chicken With Crispy Potatoes
A testament to why knife cuts matter: These thinly sliced potatoes soak in flavor from the chicken drippings, becoming a gratin-like side dish in the process.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime47/73Green-Garlic-Rubbed Buttery Roast Chicken
Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott59/73Rice with Parsley, Almonds, and Apricots
Use whatever mix of nuts and dried fruit you have to make this easy rice dish suit your mood (and your cupboard). Then pack it up for lunch with a boiled egg and never look back.
Peden + Munk64/73Honeydew and Lox
This recipe puts a spin on prosciutto and melon by swapping in smoked salmon for the salty dry-cured ham.
Alex Lau65/73Herbed Chickpeas
Crispy, salty, creamy, and full of protein, you should consider these chickpeas a base for a host of meals: Serve smashed on toast, tossed with pasta, topped with a fried egg, or in a bowl with meatballs and roasted vegetables.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Maya Rossi71/73Twice-Baked Potatoes
