Bacon-wrapped chicken rolls on a white plate with homemade fries and ketchup on the side.
Food & Drink

50 recipes that you only need 5 ingredients or less to make

Written by:
Madison Troyer
October 19, 2022
Canva

50 recipes that you only need 5 ingredients or less to make

If you've been perusing the grocery store aisles lately, you've probably noticed that food prices are on the rise. According to the , grocery store prices rose 1.2% between 2023 and 2024. Though that figure falls well below the average increase of 2.7% per year, food-at-home costs in 2024 clocked in at almost 24% higher than in 2020. 

With filling your cart more expensive these days, buying fewer ingredients is one great way to save—and there are tons of high-quality dishes you can make with only a handful of ingredients. Just because our grocery budgets may not stretch like they once did, that doesn't mean our meals have to be meager. 

Here, Â鶹ԭ´´ has compiled a list of 50 recipes that you can make with only five ingredients or fewer from . From main dishes like savory casseroles and stuffed chicken to sides like naan bread and glazed carrots, these recipes will have you covered from breakfast through dessert—and they'll help you stay in budget too.

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Southern Fried Apples

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Total: 20 mins
- Servings: 4
- Number of ingredients: 4
-

Air Fryer Grilled Cheese with Mayo

- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 5 mins
- Total: 10 mins
- Servings: 2
- Yield: 2 grilled cheese sandwiches
- Number of ingredients: 3
-

Chicken Walnut Cheese Wrapped in Bacon

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 35 mins
- Total: 55 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 chicken pouches
- Number of ingredients: 4
-

Buttery Garlic Green Beans

- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Total: 15 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

Brown Sugar Ham Steak

- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 25 mins
- Servings: 2
- Number of ingredients: 3
-

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5-Ingredient Mexican Casserole

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 30 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

Peach Dump Cake

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 45 mins
- Total: 55 mins
- Servings: 24
- Yield: 1 9x13-inch cake
- Number of ingredients: 4
-

Old-Fashioned Chocolate Fudge

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Additional: 50 mins
- Total: 1 hr 25 mins
- Servings: 64
- Yield: 64 1-inch squares
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

Feta Chicken

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 3
-

The Perfect Basic Burger

- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Total: 20 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 burgers patties
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

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Crumbed Chicken Tenderloins (Air Fried)

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 12 mins
- Total: 27 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 8 tenderloins
- Number of ingredients: 4
-

Basic Biscuits

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Total: 25 mins
- Servings: 10
- Yield: 10 biscuits
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

World's Easiest and Most Amazing Two-Ingredient Dip

- Prep: 5 mins
- Total: 5 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 1 cup
- Number of ingredients: 2
-

Bacon Chicken II

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 45 mins
- Total: 1 hr
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 3
-

Easy Lemon-Pepper Chicken Wings

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Total: 20 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 12 chicken wings
- Number of ingredients: 4
-

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Kielbasa with Peppers and Potatoes

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 40 mins
- Servings: 6
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

Easy Tuna Casserole

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 8
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 4 hrs 10 mins
- Total: 4 hrs 20 mins
- Servings: 6
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

Honey Glazed Chicken

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Total: 20 mins
- Servings: 4
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

Pesto Chicken

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Total: 35 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 3
-

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Watergate Salad

- Prep: 5 mins
- Additional: 1 hr
- Total: 1 hr 5 mins
- Servings: 8
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

Smoked Cheese Ravioli

- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 25 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

Baked Salmon Fillets Dijon

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Total: 25 mins
- Servings: 4
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

Simple Baked Chicken Breasts

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Total: 35 mins
- Servings: 4
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Total: 25 mins
- Servings: 24
- Yield: 2 dozen cookies
- Number of ingredients: 3
-

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Éclair Cake

- Prep: 25 mins
- Additional: 4 hrs
- Total: 4 hrs 25 mins
- Servings: 14
- Yield: 1 9x13-inch pan
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

World's Best Honey Garlic Pork Chops

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Total: 25 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

Two-Ingredient Pizza Dough

- Prep: 15 mins
- Total: 15 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 3
-

Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino Copycat Recipe

- Prep: 5 mins
- Total: 5 mins
- Servings: 2
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

Blackberry Dump Cake

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 45 mins
- Total: 55 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 1 9x13-inch cake
- Number of ingredients: 4
-

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Easy Bake Fish

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 35 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

Two-Ingredient Naan

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 30 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 naan breads
- Number of ingredients: 2
-

Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs

- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 50 mins
- Additional: 5 mins
- Total: 1 hr
- Servings: 6
- Number of ingredients: 3
-

Air Fryer French Fries

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Additional: 25 mins
- Total: 1 hr
- Servings: 4
- Number of ingredients: 4
-

Tater Tots(R) Casserole

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 40 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

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Ground Beef Curly Noodle

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Total: 20 mins
- Servings: 4
- Number of ingredients: 4
-

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Total: 40 mins
- Servings: 6
- Number of ingredients: 4
-

Basic Mashed Potatoes

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 35 mins
- Servings: 4
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

Glazed Carrots

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Total: 25 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

- Prep: 5 mins
- Total: 5 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

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Simple Roasted Butternut Squash

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Total: 40 mins
- Servings: 4
- Number of ingredients: 4
-

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 4
-

Roasted Baby Potatoes

- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 25 mins
- Servings: 4
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

Chef John's French Fries

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Additional: 30 mins
- Total: 50 mins
- Servings: 2
- Number of ingredients: 3
-

Jamie's Sweet and Easy Corn on the Cob

- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Total: 15 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 3
-

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Apple Pie Cake-Mix Cake

- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 40 mins
- Additional: 15 mins
- Total: 1 hr
- Servings: 20
- Yield: 1 9x13-inch cake
- Number of ingredients: 3
-

Microwave Baked Potato

- Prep: 1 min
- Cook: 11 mins
- Total: 12 mins
- Servings: 1
- Yield: 1 serving
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

Cheese Sauce for Broccoli and Cauliflower

- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Total: 15 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

Baked Kale Chips

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 30 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 3
-

Air Fryer Roasted Garlic

- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 25 mins
- Servings: 4
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

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