5-Ingredient Meals
Incredible meals with just 5 ingredients (plus pantry staples). Simple shopping, minimal prep, maximum flavor.
Browse 5-Ingredient Recipes →The Rules
5 Main Ingredients
Every recipe uses 5 or fewer main ingredients. These are the things you need to buy.
Pantry Staples Don’t Count
Salt, pepper, oil, butter, garlic, and basic spices are free. You already have them.
Water Doesn’t Count
Water, ice, and basic cooking liquids don't count toward the 5 ingredients.
5-Ingredient Recipe Collections
🥩 Protein Mains (5 Ingredients)
- Lemon herb chicken — Chicken thighs, lemon, rosemary, honey, butter
- Garlic butter salmon — Salmon, butter, garlic, lemon, dill
- Soy glazed pork chops — Pork chops, soy sauce, honey, ginger, sesame
- Baked meatballs — Ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, parmesan, marinara
- Sheet pan sausage — Sausage, potatoes, peppers, onion, oil
- Teriyaki chicken — Chicken, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, ginger
🍝 Pasta & Noodles (5 Ingredients)
- Cacio e pepe — Pasta, pecorino, black pepper, butter, pasta water
- Aglio e olio — Spaghetti, garlic, olive oil, chili flakes, parsley
- Butter noodles — Egg noodles, butter, parmesan, parsley, lemon
- Pesto pasta — Pasta, pesto, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, basil
- Creamy tomato pasta — Pasta, canned tomatoes, cream, garlic, basil
- Macaroni and cheese — Macaroni, cheddar, milk, butter, mustard
🥗 Salads & Bowls (5 Ingredients)
- Caprese — Tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, olive oil, balsamic
- Cucumber salad — Cucumbers, red onion, dill, vinegar, sour cream
- Black bean bowl — Black beans, rice, avocado, salsa, lime
- Greek chopped salad — Cucumber, tomatoes, feta, olives, oregano
- Tuna salad — Canned tuna, mayo, celery, lemon, bread
🍲 Soups & Stews (5 Ingredients)
- Tomato soup — Canned tomatoes, onion, broth, cream, basil
- Potato leek soup — Potatoes, leeks, broth, cream, chives
- Black bean soup — Black beans, onion, broth, cumin, lime
- Chicken noodle — Chicken, egg noodles, carrots, celery, broth
- Lentil soup — Red lentils, onion, tomatoes, cumin, lemon
🌮 Quick Wraps & Sandwiches (5 Ingredients)
- Quesadillas — Tortillas, cheese, chicken, salsa, sour cream
- BLT — Bread, bacon, lettuce, tomato, mayo
- Grilled cheese & tomato soup — Bread, cheese, butter, canned tomatoes, cream
- Hummus wraps — Tortillas, hummus, cucumber, tomatoes, feta
- Egg salad sandwiches — Eggs, mayo, mustard, celery, bread
🥞 Breakfast (5 Ingredients)
- Banana pancakes — Banana, eggs, flour, baking powder, maple syrup
- Yogurt parfait — Greek yogurt, granola, berries, honey, nuts
- Avocado toast — Bread, avocado, eggs, lemon, chili flakes
- Omelette — Eggs, cheese, spinach, mushrooms, butter
- Overnight oats — Oats, milk, chia seeds, banana, peanut butter
The 5-Ingredient Pantry Essentials
These don’t count toward your 5 ingredients. Keep them stocked at all times.
Salt & Pepper
Foundation of all seasoning.
Olive Oil
Cooking fat for sautéing, roasting, dressings.
Butter
Adds richness to everything. Always have it.
Garlic
Fresh or pre-minced. Flavor base for most dishes.
Onions
The universal aromatic. Adds depth to every dish.
Soy Sauce
Instant umami. Stir-fries, marinades, sauces.
Vinegar
Acid brightens flavors. Apple cider or white wine.
Basic Spices
Cumin, paprika, chili powder, Italian seasoning, cinnamon.
Tips for 5-Ingredient Cooking
Quality Over Quantity
Fewer ingredients means each one matters more. Buy the best you can afford. Fresh tomatoes beat canned in a caprese.
Season Aggressively
With fewer ingredients, seasoning carries more weight. Taste constantly. Salt early. Add acid (lemon/vinegar) at the end.
Technique Matters More
A well-seared chicken thigh with salt beats a 20-ingredient dish cooked poorly. Master heat control.
Build Flavor with Heat
Browning, caramelizing, and charring create flavor that extra ingredients can’t match. Don’t rush the sear.