Keep it simple and eat deliciously.
Making a delicious and impressive meal doesn't have to be a huge production. These recipes are simple and crave-worthy and all require just five ingredients or fewer plus the salt, pepper, and olive oil that are already in your pantry.
Bowl of Delicious / Via bowlofdelicious.com
Just toss your ingredients into the Crock Pot and wait for fall-off-the-bone pulled pork to cook itself.
4. Lemon Panko Shrimp
Apple of my Eye / Via apple-of-my-eye.com
Serve these crispy baked shrimp over orzo, rice, or your favorite grains for a satisfying meal.
Recipe: Lemon Panko Shrimp
5. Creamy Tomato Soup With Grilled Cheese Croutons
Hannah Loewentheil/BuzzFeed / Via buzzfeed.com
Jazz up your basic bowl of soup with the help of mini grilled cheese croutons. All you'll need is your favorite store bought tomato soup, sliced bread, cheese (like sharp cheddar), and butter for frying.
Recipe: Creamy Tomato Soup With Grilled Cheese Croutons
6. Lemon Butter Scallops
Damn Delicious / Via damndelicious.net
This might just be the easiest seafood dinner ever. Pan sear scallops for about two minutes per side in rich and zesty lemon butter sauce and enjoy.
Recipe: Lemon Butter Scallops
7. One-Pot Creamy Mushroom Pesto Pasta
Joe Lingeman via The Kitchn / Via thekitchn.com
This is a one-pot pasta literally anyone can make. Just dump the ingredients into boiling water, give 'em a twirl, and you'll have dinner on the table about 10 minutes later.
8. Pesto Spaghetti Squash Boats
Simply Quinoa / Via simplyquinoa.com
These spaghetti squash boats are extra filling thanks to quinoa, but you can easily leave the grains out and add in whatever vegetables are in your fridge like spinach or broccoli.
Recipe: Pesto Spaghetti Squash Boats
The Little Epicurean / Via thelittleepicurean.com
There's nothing like a big bowl of decadent, Parmesan-packed, bacon-filled carbonara to end a day on a high note.
Recipe: Spaghetti Carbonara
10. Upgraded Instant Ramen Soup
Hannah Loewentheil/BuzzFeed / Via buzzfeed.com
Take your favorite store bought instant ramen (I love Trader Joe's version), and upgrade it with the help of a soft boiled egg, your favorite protein like tofu or pork belly, and a veggie like scallions, mushrooms, or bok choy.
Recipe: Upgraded Instant Ramen Soup
Cup of Jo / Via cupofjo.com
This Greek-inspired shrimp dish comes together with just five ingredients in a single skillet, so it's pretty much a lazy dinner dream come true.
Recipe: Shrimp With Feta Cheese
12. Five-Ingredient Spicy Pork
Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com
Marinate a pork tenderloin in hot chili paste like sambal oelek or sriracha, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, and garlic, then give it a good sear in a sizzling hot pan until crispy. The longer you marinate, the better the flavor.
Recipe: Five-Ingredient Spicy Pork
Sweet Phi / Via sweetphi.com, Sweet Pho / Via sweetphi.com
Fact: you can enjoy breakfast tacos any darn time of day. Load these babies up with any of your favorite toppings from avocado to pico de gallo.
Recipe: Five-Ingredient Breakfast Tacos
14. Easy Crab Soup
Pip and Ebby / Via pipandebby.com
Five-ingredient, creamy jumbo lump crab soup in under 30 minutes? It's possible, and this recipe is proof.
Recipe: Easy Crab Soup
15. Pork Carnitas Tacos
Hannah Loewentheil/BuzzFeed / Via buzzfeed.com
Trader Joe's pre-cooked pork carnitas are a game-changer in the kitchen. Pair them with tortillas and slaw for an easy three-ingredient meal or add a few extra garnishes from your kitchen like avocado and lime.
Recipe: Pork Carnitas Tacos
16. Chicken Sausage and Orzo Skillet
Tipps In The Kitch / Via tippsinthekitch.com
Grab a box or orzo (or really any grain) and your go-to sausage and stir-fry it in garlic, chicken broth, and Parmesan. Bonus points if you add whatever leafy greens are sitting in your fridge.
Recipe: Chicken Sausage and Orzo Skillet
Rasa Malaysia / Via rasamalaysia.com
You can spice up this light and airy focaccia with whatever herbs or veggies are in your fridge. Try topping it with rosemary, garlic, and olives or a combination of caramelized onions and gorgonzola.
Recipe: Fluffy Focaccia Bread
Cook At Home Mom / Via cookathomemom.com
Ground sausage, mixed greens, grocery store gnocchi, and butternut squash form the bulk of this hearty and comforting skillet dinner.
Recipe: Gnocchi Sausage Skillet
19. Chicken Parmesan
The Cookie Rookie / Via thecookierookie.com
This chicken parm has a secret: it starts with frozen (or store bought) breaded chicken tenders.
Recipe: Chicken Parmesan
Cooking For Keeps / Via cookingforkeeps.com
You'd never guess that you can count the ingredients needed for this restaurant quality dish on a single hand.
Recipe: Cream Chicken Marsala
Recipe Tin Eats / Via recipetineats.com
Serve this sticky sweet marinated salmon over rice with your favorite vegetable.
Recipe: Honey Garlic Salmon
Eating Bird Food / Via eatingbirdfood.com
You can customize zucchini boats with any of your favorite ingredients. Add any ground meat and cheese or go for a vegetarian version with rice, beans, and salsa.
Recipe: Turkey Zucchini Boats
23. Creamy Kale Pasta
Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com
Garlic, almond milk, soaked cashews, kale, and pasta (plus olive oil, salt, and pepper) are the only ingredients you need to whip up this decadent dish with homemade sauce.
Recipe: Creamy Kale Pasta
24. Whole Roast Chicken With Carrots
The Modern Proper / Via themodernproper.com
Sometimes simple is best like in the case of this perfectly roast chicken featuring crispy, melt-in-your-mouth skin and tender meat. Plus, it feeds a whole family.
Recipe: Whole Roast Chicken With Carrots
25. One-Pot Puttanesca Pasta
Joe Lingeman via The Kitchn / Via thekitchn.com
This vegetarian pasta is super affordable yet it's bursting with flavor from juicy cherry tomatoes, salty capers, Castelvetrano olives, and savory parsley.
Recipe: One-Pot Puttanesca Pasta
The Seasoned Mom / Via theseasonedmom.com
Looking for a cheap and easy meal the whole family will love? Season bone-in pork chops with salt and pepper, dredge them in flour, and sear 'em in a hot skillet coated with melted butter.
Recipe: Pan-Fried Pork Chops
Cotter Crunch / Via cottercrunch.com
This easy yet delicious marinade is made with dijon mustard, honey, and olive oil. It tastes amazing on salmon or pretty much any fish like halibut, cod, or arctic char.
Recipe: Maple Mustard Salmon
28. Bacon Asparagus Pasta
Gimme Some Oven / Via gimmesomeoven.com
Everyone needs a few great one-pot pasta recipes. Bookmark this one and make it on repeat.
Recipe: Bacon Asparagus Pasta
29. Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Shredded Chicken
Joe Lingeman via The Kitchn / Via thekitchn.com
Throw some boneless skinless chicken breasts and a jar of salsa verde into your slow cooker and just wait for the magic to happen.
30. Cheesy Pasta Gratin
Cooking For Keeps / Via cookingforkeeps.com
Pasta + cream + Dijon + extra sharp cheddar + Parmesan = a cheesy, carb-filled dream come true.
Recipe: Cheesy Pasta Gratin
Sweet C Designs / Via sweetcsdesigns.com
Fish doesn't have to be fancy. This recipe calls for any flaky white fish that gets baked in diced tomatoes, onion, olive oil, and capers. Eat it over your favorite grain or taco-style in warm tortillas.
Recipe: One-Pot Tuscan Baked Fish
32. Kale Caesar Pasta Salad
Foodie Crush / Via foodiecrush.com
Grab a bottle of ranch dressing and mix it with pasta, kale, cherry tomatoes, and lots of grated Parmesan cheese.
Recipe: Kale Caesar Pasta Salad
Brown Eyed Baker / Via browneyedbaker.com
This heavenly pasta dish comes together with nothing more than ziti, sweet or spicy Italian sausage, tomato sauce, and lots and lots of mozzarella cheese.
Recipe: Baked Ziti With Sausage
Gimme Some Oven / Via gimmesomeoven.com
You can always swap out the chicken for your favorite protein from bacon to shrimp. Or just add a roasted vegetable like sweet potato or portobello mushroom to make them vegetarian.
Recipe: Chicken Guacamole Taquitos
35. Faux Roast Chicken
Cooking For Keeps / Via cookingforkeeps.com
This recipe calls for individual bone-in chicken pieces instead of the whole bird so you get all of the flavor or roasted chicken but in a fraction of the time.
Recipe: Faux Roast Chicken
36. Caprese Chicken
Seasonal Cravings / Via seasonalcravings.com
This light and fresh family-friendly meal comes together with just chicken breasts, juicy sliced tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and balsamic vinegar.
Recipe: Caprese Chicken
37. Pumpkin and Gouda Pizza
Dishing Out Health / Via dishingouthealth.com
Start with your favorite store-bought pizza dough and top it with canned pumpkin purée, gouda, and caramelized onions cooked in olive oil until sweet and golden.
Recipe: Pumpkin and Gouda Pizza
38. Thai Green Curry
Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com
This recipe is vegetarian and made with tofu, but you can always swap in anything from shrimp to chicken. Or you can get creative and play around with different vegetable combinations.
Recipe: Thai Green Curry
39. Spaghetti Squash Enchilada Bowls
Skinny Taste / Via skinnytaste.com
Even picky eaters won't feel like they're eating vegetables thanks to these cheesy, Mexican-inspired spaghetti squash bowls. Garnish them with whatever extra ingredients are in your fridge like diced avocado, cilantro, or jalapeños.
Recipe: Spaghetti Squash Enchilada Bowls
Dishing Out Health / Via dishingouthealth.com
This five-ingredient cauliflower makes for a filling side dish or vegetarian served with pita bread or over a bed of couscous.
41. Broccoli Cheese Soup
Wholesome Yum / Via wholesomeyum.com
This Panera Bread copycat recipe is guaranteed to impress. Make a big batch on Sunday and enjoy it throughout the week with some crispy bread for dunking.
Recipe: Broccoli Cheese Soup
42. Slow Cooker Pulled Buffalo Chicken
Joe Lingeman via The Kitchn / Via thekitchn.com
This true dump dinner is made with boneless chicken breasts, your favorite store bought hot sauce, butter, and chicken broth. Serve it over rice, on top of a salad, as sliders, or in in a wrap sandwich.
43. Easy Bean Soup
Coley Cooks / Via coleycooks.com
This filling soup comes together with inexpensive pantry ingredients, making it a perfect option for nights when you're low on fresh groceries.
Recipe: Easy Bean Soup
Chelsea's Messy Apron / Via chelseasmessyapron.com
Italian dressing, honey, and garlic are used for both the marinade and the basting sauce for this sweet and tangy grilled shrimp.
45. Curried Butternut Squash Soup
Chelsey Amer Nutrition / Via chelseyamernutrition.com
Coconut milk gives this vegan-friendly soup its creaminess and a dash of curry powder makes it delightfully spicy.
Recipe: Curried Butternut Squash Soup
Cooking For Keeps / Via cookingforkeeps.com
For an elegant meal worthy of your next dinner party, look no further. This crispy salmon and melt-in-your-mouth cauliflower is served over nutty faro and drizzled with your favorite store bought pesto.
Sweet Phi / Via sweetphi.com
Coconut milk, red or green curry pasta, microwave rice, shrimp, and frozen mixed vegetables are the only ingredients you need for this creamy, fragrant meal. You can always swap the shrimp for any protein you like best.
Recipe: Curry Shrimp and Veggies
The Recipe Critic / Via therecipecritic.com
If you're intimidated by the idea of cooking fish at home, this easy peasy recipe will quell your fears. Smother cod in a mixture of melted butter, olive oil, garlic and cajun seasoning, then bake it in the oven until fork-tender.
Recipe: Cajun Garlic Butter Cod
49. Five-Ingredient Chicken Piccata
Cooking For Keeps / Via cookingforkeeps.com
Before you order take-out tonight, consider this restaurant-quality chicken dish you can throw together with ingredients that are probably already in your fridge.
Recipe: Five-Ingredient Chicken Piccata
50. White Chicken Chili
Gimme Some Oven / Via gimmesomeoven.com
For game day (or any day) this easy, protein-packed white chicken chili is a clear winner.
Recipe: White Chicken Chili