5-Ingredient Weeknight Dinners: Fast, Flavorful, Foolproof

These recipes use five core ingredients (excluding salt, pepper, oil, and water) and aim for 15–30 minutes on the clock. Each one includes smart swaps and optional add‑ons if time allows.

1) Lemon-Garlic Butter Shrimp with Orzo

• Ingredients: shrimp, orzo, lemon, garlic, butter.
• Method: Boil orzo. Sauté garlic in butter, add shrimp 2–3 min until pink. Toss with lemon juice/zest and cooked orzo.
• Swaps: orzo → couscous; shrimp → chicken strips (cook longer).
• Add‑ons: parsley, chili flakes, peas.
• Time: 20 minutes.

2) One‑Pan Honey-Soy Glazed Chicken and Green Beans

• Ingredients: chicken thighs, green beans, soy sauce, honey, garlic.
• Method: Pan‑sear chicken, add beans. Stir soy, honey, minced garlic; pour and reduce to glaze.
• Swaps: thighs → tofu or salmon; green beans → broccoli.
• Add‑ons: sesame seeds, scallions, ginger.
• Time: 25 minutes.

3) Creamy Tomato Basil Gnocchi

• Ingredients: shelf‑stable gnocchi, canned crushed tomatoes, cream, basil, parmesan.
• Method: Brown gnocchi in a little oil. Add tomatoes and cream, simmer 3–4 min. Finish with basil and parmesan.
• Swaps: cream → coconut milk; basil → spinach.
• Add‑ons: garlic, chili flakes, mozzarella pearls.
• Time: 15 minutes.

4) Chili-Lime Salmon with Corn Salad

• Ingredients: salmon fillets, canned corn, red onion, lime, chili powder.
• Method: Rub salmon with chili powder, salt, oil; roast or pan‑sear 8–10 min. Toss corn with chopped onion and lime.
• Swaps: salmon → chicken breast (cook through); corn → black beans.
• Add‑ons: cilantro, avocado, feta.
• Time: 20 minutes.

5) Caprese Chicken Skillet

• Ingredients: chicken cutlets, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, balsamic glaze.
• Method: Sear cutlets. Add tomatoes to blister, melt mozzarella on top, finish with basil and balsamic drizzle.
• Swaps: chicken → turkey or tofu; mozzarella → provolone.
• Add‑ons: garlic, spinach, crusty bread.
• Time: 22 minutes.

6) Spicy Peanut Noodles

• Ingredients: noodles (udon/spaghetti), peanut butter, soy sauce, chili paste, lime.
• Method: Cook noodles. Whisk sauce (peanut butter + soy + chili + lime + splash hot water). Toss and serve.
• Swaps: peanut → tahini or almond; chili paste → sriracha.
• Add‑ons: cucumber, scallions, rotisserie chicken.
• Time: 15 minutes.

7) Sausage, Pepper & Potato Sheet Pan

• Ingredients: smoked sausage, baby potatoes, bell peppers, onion, Italian seasoning.
• Method: Toss with oil and seasoning; roast at 220°C/425°F until potatoes are tender and edges crisp.
• Swaps: sausage → firm tofu or chickpeas; potatoes → sweet potatoes.
• Add‑ons: garlic, balsamic splash, parsley.
• Time: 30 minutes (hands‑off).

8) Creamy Pesto Tortellini

• Ingredients: cheese tortellini, pesto, cream, cherry tomatoes, parmesan.
• Method: Boil tortellini 2–3 min. Warm pesto + cream in pan, toss pasta, fold in halved tomatoes and parmesan.
• Swaps: cream → milk + butter; tomatoes → peas.
• Add‑ons: spinach, grilled chicken.
• Time: 12–15 minutes.

9) Black Bean Tacos with Quick Slaw

• Ingredients: tortillas, black beans, cabbage slaw mix, lime, chipotle in adobo.
• Method: Warm beans with chopped chipotle. Toss slaw with lime, oil, salt. Fill tortillas and serve.
• Swaps: beans → lentils; chipotle → chili powder + smoked paprika.
• Add‑ons: avocado, queso fresco, cilantro.
• Time: 15 minutes.

10) Garlicky Spinach & Egg Fried Rice

• Ingredients: day‑old rice, eggs, spinach, garlic, soy sauce.
• Method: Scramble eggs; set aside. Sauté garlic, add rice to crisp, wilt spinach, splash soy, fold eggs back in.
• Swaps: spinach → frozen peas; soy → tamari/coconut aminos.
• Add‑ons: sesame oil, scallions, chili oil.
• Time: 15 minutes.

Shopping Shortcuts

• Keep a “5‑ingredient” shelf: canned tomatoes/beans, pasta/gnocchi, rice, tortillas.
• Protein shortcuts: rotisserie chicken, smoked sausage, canned tuna/beans, frozen shrimp.
• Flavor boosters: pesto, chili paste, balsamic glaze, soy sauce, lemon/lime.
• Dairy that works hard: cream, parmesan, mozzarella, yogurt.

Pantry‑Freebie Spice Kit (Optional but Mighty)

Keep a tiny kit for big flavor without “extra ingredients” bloat:

• Garlic powder, onion powder
• Chili flakes, smoked paprika
• Italian seasoning, cumin
• Soy sauce or tamari, vinegar, honey

Batch‑Cook Once, Eat Twice

• Double rice or roasted potatoes for quick fried rice or hash later in the week.
• Cook extra chicken/shrimp to drop into salads, wraps, or pastas.
• Freeze half a sauce (pesto, tomato base) in ice‑cube trays.