• 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

    12 Simple Dinner Party Recipes With Just 5 Ingredients

    By Emmeline Kemperyd updated February 25, 2026 · Published March 2, 2026 · Leave a Comment

    Planning a gathering can be a lot of work, especially when it comes to what to serve. These 19 easy recipes, each with five ingredients or less, will help you whip up delicious meals without the stress. Perfect for impressing your guests while keeping things simple, these dishes are sure to be a hit!

    Southern Oven-Fried Chicken

    SOUTHERN OVEN-FRIED CHICKEN.
    Photo credit: Grits and Pinecones.

    This baked chicken has a crispy coating and tender, tasty chicken, making it a great alternative to traditional fried chicken. It's a healthier option that still packs in all the flavor everyone loves!

    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

    Cheesy Tortellini Casserole

    Cheesy Tortellini Casserole
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish is easy to make, loaded with cheese, and really delicious. It's just right for a comforting dinner that everyone will enjoy.

    Get the recipe

    Crab Pasta

    Crab Pasta
    Photo Credit: Caroline's Cooking.

    This crab pasta comes together quickly with just a few ingredients, making it a light and tasty option for dinner. It's a satisfying dish that works well for a casual meal with friends or family.

    Get the recipe

    Sun-Dried Tomato Alfredo

    5-Ingredient Sun-Dried Tomato Alfredo
    Photo Credit: Girl Gone Gourmet.

    A simple sun-dried tomato alfredo pasta sauce makes for a great weeknight dinner when you're short on time. It's a quick and satisfying meal that everyone will enjoy.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Enchiladas with Green Sauce

    Chicken enchiladas with green sauce.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    These chicken enchiladas with green sauce are quick and easy to make. They're packed with garlic chicken, wrapped in tortillas, covered in cheese, and drenched in flavorful green chile sauce.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken

    Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Make this delicious cranberry chicken meal with just 4 ingredients - chicken breasts, French onion soup mix, French onion dressing, and cranberry sauce.

    Get the Recipe

    BBQ Chicken Flatbread

    5 Ingredient BBQ Chicken Flatbread
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    BBQ chicken flatbread is a simple and delicious meal that comes together fast with just five easy ingredients. It's perfect for using up any leftover grilled or rotisserie chicken you might have.

    Get the recipe

    Pesto Chicken Pasta

    Pesto Chicken Pasta
    Photo Credit: The Toasty Kitchen.

    Pesto Chicken Pasta is an easy dinner that comes together with just five ingredients. Combine bow tie pasta and chicken with a flavorful pesto sauce for a satisfying meal.

    Get the recipe

    Homemade Hamburgers

    air fryer hamburger.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    These burgers are easy to make and great for a laid-back dinner with friends. All you need is some ground beef, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.

    Get the recipe

    Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

    Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks + Legs
    Photo Credit: Foodess.

    Oven-baked BBQ chicken drumsticks are perfect for a quick weeknight meal or a casual dinner with friends. With just five ingredients, including the chicken, and one dish for the homemade honey BBQ sauce, it's an easy and tasty option.

    Get the recipe

    Creamy Pesto Pasta

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

    Creamy pesto pasta is a favorite for busy nights, combining pesto sauce with Greek yogurt for a rich flavor. With just three ingredients, it comes together in about 10 minutes, making it perfect for a quick meal - and still elegant enough for a dinner party.

    Get the recipe

    Brown Butter + Sage Chicken Penne Pasta

    Brown Butter + Sage Chicken Penne Pasta
    Photo Credit: Buy This Cook That.

    This recipe features a tasty combination of brown butter and sage that everyone will love. It's easy to make and perfect for a weeknight dinner that will bring smiles all around.

    Get the recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

    • Philly cheesesteak casserole.
      16 Satisfying Ground Beef Casseroles the Whole Family Will Enjoy
    • Smoked salmon spinach pasta.
      24 Quick Recipes That Taste Like Fine Dining
    • Chicken gnocchi soup.
      15 Slow Cooker Chicken Soups for Cozy, Comforting Meals
    • Creamy curry pasta.
      37 Creative Pasta Dishes That Are Unlike Anything You've Made Before

    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

    • lemon ricotta pasta on a green plate.
      10-Minute Lemon Ricotta Pasta
    • Air fryer steak tips on a plate.
      Air Fryer Steak Tips
    • pork chop on a plate
      Cast Iron Pork Chops with Mushrooms, Red Wine & Thyme
    • Ravioli casserole.
      No-Boil Ravioli Casserole

    Our Favorite Gameday Recipes

    • duck breasts topped orange sauce
      Duck Breasts with Orange Sauce (Best Sauce for Duck!)
    • Garlic butter shrimp pasta.
      Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
    • The 31 Best Valentine's Day Dinner Ideas for Busy People
    • pork chop on a plate
      Cast Iron Pork Chops with Mushrooms, Red Wine & Thyme

    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