• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
always use butter
  • Recipes
  • Air Fryer Resources
  • Blogging Resources
  • Subscribe!
  • About
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Air Fryer Resources
  • Blogging Resources
  • Subscribe!
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Air Fryer Resources
    • Blogging Resources
    • Subscribe!
    • About
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipe Roundups

    16 Easy 5-Ingredient Dinners for Effortless Nights

    By Emmeline Kemperyd updated December 10, 2025 · Published December 26, 2025 · Leave a Comment

    Cooking doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming. With just five simple ingredients, you can whip up a variety of satisfying dinners that are both easy to prepare and full of flavor. From hearty pasta dishes to simple chicken soups, these recipes prove that you can create delicious meals without a long grocery list.

    BBQ Chicken Flatbread

    5 Ingredient BBQ Chicken Flatbread
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    BBQ chicken flatbread comes together in about 20 minutes with just 5 simple ingredients. It's a tasty way to use up leftover grilled or shredded rotisserie chicken.

    Save This Recipe Form

    Want to save this recipe?

    Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get more great recipes from us each week!

    Get the recipe

    Creamy Pesto Pasta

    Creamy pesto pasta topped with cherry tomatoes.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Creamy pesto pasta is perfect for busy weeknights, needing only three ingredients and taking just 10 minutes to prepare. It's a simple and quick meal that everyone will enjoy.

    Get the recipe

    Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks + Legs

    Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks + Legs
    Photo Credit: Foodess.

    This meal comes together with just one dish and 5 easy ingredients, including chicken. It's perfect for busy nights when you want something simple and satisfying.

    Get the recipe

    Vegan Corn and Leek Soup

    Vegan Corn and Leek Soup
    Photo Credit: Tried and True Recipes.

    This corn and leek soup is easy to make and full of flavor from simmering the corn cobs in the broth. It's a comforting dish that's perfect for a quick meal.

    Get the recipe

    Pesto Salmon

    Pesto salmon on a serving platter.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Baked salmon with Greek yogurt and pesto is a simple and tasty option for busy nights. It's quick to prepare and perfect for when you need a meal without a lot of work.

    Get the recipe

    4-Ingredient Chili

    Chili.
    Photo credit: The Feathered Nester.

    This meal is budget-friendly and filling, using just 4 easy ingredients. It's perfect for when you want something simple and satisfying.

    Get the recipe

    Crispy Furikake Salmon

    Fruikake salmon.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This salmon dish is simple and quick to prepare with just three ingredients: salmon, soy sauce, and furikake seasoning. It's a great option for a fast and satisfying meal.

    Get the recipe

    No-Boil Ravioli Casserole

    This cheesy ravioli casserole is one of the simplest dishes you can make. With just four simple ingredients and store-bought shortcuts, you can prep this dish in 5 minutes, and eat in under 40!
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This dish is super easy to prepare. With only four ingredients and some ready-made options, you can have it ready in just 5 minutes and on the table in under 40.

    Get the recipe

    Caprese Chicken

    Caprese chicken.
    Photo credit: Seasonal Cravings.

    Caprese Chicken is a quick and tasty dinner option. With just a few ingredients, it comes together easily for a satisfying meal.

    Get the recipe

    Oven Baked Nachos

    Oven baked nachos with cheese and lime wedges.
    Photo Credit: Free Your Fork.

    These nachos are simple to prepare with just a few ingredients and can be baked quickly for a delicious snack. With store-bought tortilla chips, shredded cheese, salsa, and canned beans, you can easily put together a fun appetizer or a quick dinner.

    Get the recipe

    Easy Miso-Sesame Chickpeas

    Easy Miso-Sesame Chickpeas
    Photo Credit: Tried and True Recipes.

    These miso-sesame chickpeas are easy to whip up with just a handful of ingredients. They're flavorful and quick to prepare.

    Get the recipe

    Mini Calzones

    Mini Calzones
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    Mini calzones are super easy to whip up with store-bought biscuit dough, making them a great option for a quick weeknight meal. They're simple to prepare and perfect for when you need something tasty without spending a lot of time in the kitchen.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Soup

    5-Ingredient Chicken Soup
    Photo Credit: Tried and True Recipes.

    This soup is really easy to make and has a lighter feel compared to many other chicken soups.

    Get the recipe

    One-Pot Hummus Pasta

    Hummus pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Prepare a quick dinner in just 12 minutes with only 5 ingredients and one pot. This is a simple meal that won't take much time or effort.

    Get the recipe

    Tortellini Carbonara

    Tortellini carbonara.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This carbonara twist is quick to prepare and uses just a few simple ingredients along with tortellini. It's a great option for a speedy meal that doesn't take much effort.

    Get the recipe

    Crème Fraîche Carbonara

    Fake carbonara.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish gives a fun spin to the traditional carbonara. It's simple to whip up and perfect for a quick meal.

    Get the recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

    • Air fryer hasselback potatoes.
      19 Air Fryer Sides So Good You’ll Forget About the Oven
    • A spoonful of seafood pasta bake.
      24 Gourmet Casseroles That Will Make You Feel Right at Home
    • Mexican beef and rice casserole.
      37 Stupid Simple Ground Beef Recipes Your Family Will Love
    • Steak bites.
      26 Speedy Dinner Solutions for When Time Is Not on Your Side

    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, and The Feed Feed, among others.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    No Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Emmeline! I love tasty food, but I'm always in a hurry. And I have the quick and easy recipes to prove it!

    More about me →

    Readers Love These Recipes

    • instant pot turkey soup in a bowl
      Instant Pot Turkey Soup
    • Salty & Spicy Candied Walnuts
    • cajun alfredo sauce with pasta in a bowl
      Cajun Alfredo Sauce with Pasta
    • Cranberry muffins.
      Cranberry Muffins

    Our Favorite Holiday Recipes

    • duck breasts topped orange sauce
      Duck Breasts with Orange Sauce (Best Sauce for Duck!)
    • Butterball cookies on a blue plate with hazelnuts.
      Butterball Cookies (Snowball Cookies / Russian Tea Cakes)
    • saffron buns with glögg
      Lussekatter - Traditional Swedish Saffron Buns [Authentic Recipe]
    • Sliced air fryer roast beef.
      Herb Crusted Air Fryer Roast Beef

    We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    All affiliate links are always marked with "*" or "affiliate".

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    A collage of sites where always use butter content has been featured.

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Disclaimer
    • Disclosures
    • Editorial Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • info@alwaysusebutter.com
    • Pink Giraffe Ventures AB, Runstens Byväg 51, 147 91 Grödinge, Sweden
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Copyright © 2018-2025 Pink Giraffe Ventures AB