57 Simple Dinner Ideas with 5 Ingredients (or Less!)

Read Time: 25 mins

57 Simple Dinner Ideas with 5 Ingredients (or Less!)2/57 One-Pot Mac and Cheese 7 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved One-Pot Mac and Cheese Recipe photo by Nicole Perry for Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 10 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This one-pot mac and cheese is a family favorite, and my 3-year-old is always thrilled to see it coming to the dinner table. We love to add sliced smoked sausage to this creamy mac recipe! —Ashley Lecker, Green Bay, Wisconsin Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 344 calories, 14g fat (8g saturated fat), 42mg cholesterol, 450mg sodium,

39g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 2g fiber), 16g protein

39g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 2g fiber), 16g protein. 3/57 Shrimp Alfredo 12 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Easy Shrimp Alfredo Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Instead of buying a jar of sauce, make it from scratch for this easy shrimp Alfredo recipe. The garlic aroma will call your family to the table. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 788 calories, 51g fat (31g saturated fat), 317mg cholesterol, 573mg sodium, 45g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 38g protein. 4/57 Grilled Flank Steak

Marinate it and grill or broil it!

7 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved JOSH RINK FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 30 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: How to cook flank steak? Easy! Marinate it and grill or broil it! This marinated steak is so moist that it will become one of your favorite ways to serve beef. —Heather Ahrens, Columbus, Ohio Nutrition Facts: 3 ounces cooked beef: 186 calories, 8g fat (4g saturated fat), 54mg cholesterol, 471mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 0 fiber), 23g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat. 5/57 Chicken with Rosemary Butter Sauce 68 Reviews Contest Winner

You’ll love the mellow sauce!

Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 25 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This elegant rosemary chicken requires minimal effort but will win you major compliments. You’ll love the mellow sauce! —Connie McDowell, Greenwood, Delaware Nutrition Facts: 1 chicken breast half: 411 calories, 26g fat (15g saturated fat), 158mg cholesterol, 183mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 35g protein. 6/57 Breaded Pork Chops 74 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Breaded Pork Chops Recipe photo by Kristina Vanni for Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These

The breading makes them crispy outside and tender and juicy inside

traditional pork chops have a wonderful home-cooked flavor like the ones Mom used to make. The breading makes them crispy outside and tender and juicy inside. Why not treat your family to some breaded pork chops tonight? —Deborah Amrine, Grand Haven, Michigan Nutrition Facts: 1 pork chop: 405 calories, 22g fat (5g saturated fat), 115mg cholesterol, 233mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 36g protein. 7/57 Baked Fish 16 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Fast Baked Fish Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: We always have

a good supply of fresh fish, so I make fish recipes often

a good supply of fresh fish, so I make fish recipes often. This recipe is my favorite because it is moist, tender and flavorful. —Judie Anglen, Riverton, Wyoming Nutrition Facts: 1 each: 270 calories, 17g fat (7g saturated fat), 110mg cholesterol, 540mg sodium, 0 carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 28g protein. 8/57 Buffalo Chicken Sliders 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Buffalo Chicken Sliders Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 3 hours 20 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I got the idea for these sliders from my mom and dad, who’d made a

similar recipe for a family get-together

similar recipe for a family get-together. To make it special, I sometimes use several types of Buffalo sauce and let my guests mix and match their favorites. —Christina Addison, Blanchester, Ohio Nutrition Facts: 2 sliders: 396 calories, 15g fat (8g saturated fat), 92mg cholesterol, 873mg sodium, 44g carbohydrate (24g sugars, 2g fiber), 24g protein. 9/57 Fruited Pot Roast Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 6 hours 15 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This is a wonderful variation of classic pot roast. My family really enjoys it. The fruit is a nice change

Every week I try to serve a new healthy fish

from the usual vegetables that normally accompany this dish.—Linda South, Pineville, North Carolina Nutrition Facts: 4 ounces cooked beef with 1/2 cup fruit mixture: 394 calories, 15g fat (6g saturated fat), 98mg cholesterol, 302mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (28g sugars, 2g fiber), 30g protein. 10/57 Crispy Dill Tilapia 6 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Every week I try to serve a new healthy fish. With its fresh dill and delicious panko bread crumb herb crust, this dish with mild tilapia is a winner. —Tamara Huron,

Diabetic exchanges: 5 lean meat, 1-1/2 fat, 1/2 starch

New Market, Alabama Nutrition Facts: 1 fillet: 256 calories, 9g fat (2g saturated fat), 83mg cholesterol, 251mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 34g protein. Diabetic exchanges: 5 lean meat, 1-1/2 fat, 1/2 starch. 11/57 Nutty Cheese Tortellini 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Nutty Cheese Tortellini Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 3 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I like to plant Italian flat-leaf parsley in a long terra-cotta planter so I always have some on hand. It adds bright, fresh flavor to this pasta dish. —Barbara Penatzer, Vestal, New York

What will no one guess?

Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 650 calories, 48g fat (25g saturated fat), 123mg cholesterol, 677mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 3g fiber), 17g protein. 12/57 Orange Pomegranate Salmon 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved DAN ROBERTS FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 35 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: A colorful, festive salmon dish makes an impressive addition to your holiday table—and it is as delicious as it is beautiful. What will no one guess? How easy it is to cook. I serve this with roasted baby potatoes and asparagus for a showstopping meal that is wonderful

for special occasions

for special occasions. —Thomas Faglon, Somerset, New Jersey Nutrition Facts: 4 ounces cooked salmon: 307 calories, 19g fat (3g saturated fat), 76mg cholesterol, 274mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 1g fiber), 26g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 4 lean meat, 1-1/2 fat, 1/2 fruit. 13/57 Artichoke Chicken Pesto Pizza 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved TASTE OF HOME Total Time 15 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Make pizza night an upscale affair with this fun twist on the traditional pie. A prebaked crust and prepared pesto keep things quick and easy. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho Nutrition Facts:

I have used all flavors of pork tenderloin for this recipe

1 piece: 381 calories, 20g fat (6g saturated fat), 45mg cholesterol, 880mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 4g fiber), 23g protein. 14/57 Peppered Pork with Mushroom Sauce 7 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Peppered Pork with Mushroom Sauce Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Using preseasoned pork tenderloin gives us flavorful, quick and satisfying meals without a big mess or leftovers. I have used all flavors of pork tenderloin for this recipe. Making the sauce doesn’t take much extra time and results are well worth it. —Jolene

Roszel, Helena, Montana Nutrition Facts: 3 ounces cooked pork with 1/4 cup sauce: 208 calories, 11g fat (2g saturated fat), 55mg cholesterol, 785mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 21g protein. 15/57 Sausage and Sauerkraut 44 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Sausage and Sauerkraut Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I created this tasty, quick and easy sauerkraut and sausage dish so I can throw it together in no time on those extra-busy nights. — Mary Lyon, Spotsylvania, Virginia Nutrition Facts: 1-1/2 cups: 567 calories, 38g

The colorful vegetables give the hash a bold look to match its flavor

fat (14g saturated fat), 76mg cholesterol, 2043mg sodium, 36g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 6g fiber), 20g protein. 16/57 Sausage Hash 9 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Sausage Hash Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: We always have plenty of pork sausage around, so when I need a quick supper, I use this handy recipe. The colorful vegetables give the hash a bold look to match its flavor. —Virginia Krites, Cridersville, Ohio Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 245 calories, 14g fat (5g saturated fat), 27mg cholesterol, 519mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate

(5g sugars, 3g fiber), 8g protein

(5g sugars, 3g fiber), 8g protein. 17/57 Black Bean and Beef Tostadas 7 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Black Bean and Beef Tostadas Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: You only need a handful of ingredients to make one of our family’s favorites. It’s also easy to double for company! —Susan Brown, Kansas City, Kansas Nutrition Facts: 2 tostadas: 392 calories, 14g fat (4g saturated fat), 35mg cholesterol, 1011mg sodium, 46g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 10g fiber), 23g protein. 18/57 Herbed Pork Chops 6 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved

💡 Frequently Asked Questions

⭐ Expert Tips

• Include seasonal or trendy variations to keep your meals exciting.

• Highlight prep shortcuts or time-saving techniques for busy cooks.

• Consider dietary restrictions and include substitution suggestions.

✅ Key Takeaways

• These dinner ideas are perfect for impressing guests or enjoying special occasions.

• Choose recipes that match your skill level and available kitchen tools.

• Presentation and taste both contribute to a memorable dining experience.

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