SIMPLE RECIPES. A LITTLE MORE JOY AT THE TABLE.

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10 Five-Ingredient Dinners

A short shopping list is most useful when its rules are clear. Each recipe here uses five main ingredients; salt, pepper, water, and cooking oil are the only excluded basics. A packaged food such as salsa, pesto, or bread counts as one purchased ingredient even though its label contains several components. Optional sides, toppings, and variations are extra and are identified separately.

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AI-generated serving inspiration for Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
AI-generated serving inspiration; not a photograph of a tested recipe.

01

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

Five familiar ingredients turn into saucy shredded chicken for a simple bowl dinner.

Prep 10 min · Cook 5 hrs · Serves 6

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02

Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork

Pork shoulder slowly softens with onion and a tangy barbecue sauce.

Prep 10 min · Cook 8 hrs 15 min · Serves 8

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03

Slow Cooker Sausage and Beans

Smoked sausage and white beans simmer with tomatoes into a thick, simple supper.

Prep 10 min · Cook 6 hrs · Serves 6

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04

Lemon Chicken Skillet for Two

Two chicken cutlets with green beans and a bright lemon-butter pan sauce.

Prep 10 min · Cook 20 min · Serves 2

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05

Salmon and Green Beans for Two

Two salmon fillets roast beside green beans with a mild maple-mustard glaze.

Prep 10 min · Cook 18 min · Serves 2

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06

Pork Chops and Apples for Two

Pan-seared pork chops with softened apple slices and a quick mustard sauce.

Prep 10 min · Cook 20 min · Serves 2

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07

Chickpea Spinach Skillet for Two

Chickpeas and spinach warm in a tomato sauce for a quick pantry supper.

Prep 5 min · Cook 15 min · Serves 2

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08

Pesto Chicken Flatbreads for Two

Two crisp flatbreads topped with pesto, cooked chicken, tomatoes, and mozzarella.

Prep 10 min · Cook 12 min · Rest 2 min · Serves 2

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09

Black Bean Sweet Potatoes for Two

Microwave-baked sweet potatoes filled with warm black beans, salsa, and cheddar.

Prep 5 min · Cook 15 min · Serves 2

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10

Baked Cod and Tomatoes for Two

Two mild cod fillets bake with cherry tomatoes, white beans, and lemon.

Prep 10 min · Cook 22 min · Serves 2

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Make this collection work for you

  • Read packaged-food labels for allergens and salt levels.
  • Keep optional garnishes out of the five-ingredient count when planning your shopping.
  • Choose a salsa, pesto, or barbecue sauce you already enjoy, since it supplies much of the flavor.
  • Short ingredient lists do not always mean short cooking times; check the total time before choosing.

Frequently asked questions

Do salt and butter both count?

Salt, pepper, water, and cooking oil are excluded basics. Butter counts as one of the five main ingredients.

Does a side dish fit within the five ingredients?

Only the recipe itself is counted. Suggested bread, rice, salad, or other optional sides require their own ingredients.

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