Long day at work? Kids’ activities running late? We’ve all been there—staring at the fridge with no energy to cook. But here’s the good news: dinner doesn’t need to be complicated to be delicious. With just five ingredients (plus pantry basics like salt, pepper, and olive oil), you can whip up satisfying meals that save both time and stress.
Here are some easy, flavor-packed recipes you can make tonight:
1. Lemon Garlic Shrimp with Spinach
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Shrimp
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Fresh spinach
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Garlic
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Lemon
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Olive oil
How to make it: Sauté garlic in olive oil, toss in shrimp until pink, squeeze in lemon juice, and fold in fresh spinach until just wilted. Serve over rice or pasta if you want to stretch it further.
2. Caprese Chicken Bake
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Chicken breasts
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Fresh mozzarella
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Tomatoes
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Fresh basil
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Balsamic glaze
How to make it: Bake chicken until nearly cooked, then top with mozzarella and tomato slices. Return to the oven until melted, drizzle with balsamic glaze, and finish with fresh basil. Simple, elegant, and packed with flavor.
3. Beef & Broccoli Stir-Fry
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Sliced beef (like flank steak)
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Broccoli florets
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Soy sauce
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Garlic
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Sesame oil
How to make it: Cook beef in sesame oil, add broccoli and garlic, then splash with soy sauce. Serve over rice or noodles for a quick takeout-style dinner at home.
4. Pesto Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes
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Pasta of choice
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Cherry tomatoes
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Store-bought pesto
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Parmesan cheese
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Pine nuts (optional crunch!)
How to make it: Cook pasta, toss with pesto, fold in cherry tomatoes, sprinkle with Parmesan, and top with toasted pine nuts. Fresh, fast, and comforting.
5. Salmon with Honey Mustard Glaze
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Salmon fillets
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Dijon mustard
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Honey
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Garlic powder
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Lemon juice
How to make it: Mix honey, mustard, garlic powder, and lemon juice into a glaze. Spread over salmon fillets and bake until flaky. A restaurant-worthy meal in under 20 minutes.
The Bottom Line
Cooking on busy nights doesn’t have to mean takeout or bland shortcuts. With just a few quality ingredients, you can make meals that are fresh, flavorful, and family-approved. Next time your schedule feels packed, try one of these five-ingredient dinners and see how simple good eating can be.