20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less (2024)

All you need is 5 ingredients—aside from pantry staples like salt, pepper and oil—to make one of these delicious meals. Plus, they only take 30 minutes or less to prepare, so dinner tonight is bound to be a breeze. Recipes like our Creamy Chicken & Mushrooms and Teriyaki-Glazed Cod with Cauliflower Rice are healthy, tasty and easy choices for any night.

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Creamy Chicken & Mushrooms

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20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less (1)

Whether you scored wild mushrooms at the farmers' market, found cultivated maitake or shiitake at the supermarket or just have some baby bellas on hand, this healthy creamy chicken recipe is delicious with any of them. Serve over whole-wheat egg noodles or mashed potatoes.

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Black Bean Fajita Skillet

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20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less (2)

You can often find presliced and ready-to-cook fresh vegetables in your grocer's produce section. Use these to your advantage to cut down on dinnertime prep. Here, presliced fajita vegetables are sautéed with canned black beans and Southwest seasoning for a quick and easy Tex Mex-inspired meal. Plus, this recipe requires just three ingredients, not including basics like salt, pepper and oil. You can easily take your bowl up a notch by adding some cheese, sour cream or another tasty topping.

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Spinach & Egg Scramble with Raspberries

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20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less (3)

This quick egg scramble with hearty bread is one of the best breakfasts for weight loss. It combines protein-packed eggs and superfood raspberries with filling whole-grain toast and nutrient-rich spinach. The protein and fiber help fill you up and keep you going through the morning.

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Chicken & White Bean Soup

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20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less (4)

Once again, rotisserie chickens can really relieve the dinner-rush pressure-especially in this Italian-inspired soup that cries out for a piece of crusty bread and a glass of red wine.

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Baked Eggs in Tomato Sauce with Kale

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You can make these three-ingredient tomato-simmered eggs with things you probably already have on hand in your freezer and pantry. To make these baked eggs more like eggs in purgatory, look for a spicy tomato sauce and don't forget some whole-wheat bread for dipping.

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Cauliflower Gnocchi with Asparagus & Pesto

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20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less (6)

While the cauliflower gnocchi crisp up in a sauté pan, steam fresh asparagus in the microwave to keep it bright green and crisp-tender. Substitute frozen asparagus (or green beans or peas) in a pinch. Toss them together with prepared basil pesto for a satisfying supper.

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Teriyaki-Glazed Cod with Cauliflower Rice

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20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less (7)

This healthy fish recipe comes together fast with just three ingredients you can always have on hand in your freezer and fridge. Store-bought teriyaki glaze makes a great marinade for cod that doubles as a sauce for the cauliflower rice.

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Spaghetti Genovese

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20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less (8)

Traditionally, this Italian pasta recipe combines pasta and pesto with potatoes and green beans. In our recipe for Spaghetti Genovese we give pesto a nutritional boost by adding spinach and toss it all together with fiber-rich whole-wheat pasta for a warm, comforting weeknight meal. Serve with escarole and radicchio salad.

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White Bean-Sage Cauliflower Gnocchi

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20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less (9)

Turn lower-carb cauliflower gnocchi into a complete and satisfying meal with this riff on classic brown butter and sage gnocchi. We added beans to amp up the fiber and protein for a fast and healthy dinner.

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Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad with Chicken

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20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less (10)

In this healthy copycat of a takeout salad favorite we combine precooked (or leftover) chicken and poppy seed dressing with fresh greens, strawberries and goat cheese for an easy throw-together meal that's ready in 10 minutes.

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Chipotle-Orange Broccoli & Tofu

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20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less (11)

Chipotle peppers add kick to this tofu and broccoli stir-fry recipe. If you're shy about spice, cut back on the amount or leave them out completely. Serve over brown basmati rice.

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Grilled Salmon with Tomatoes & Basil

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20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less (12)

This recipe is so beautiful and yet so simple to prepare--it's perfect for entertaining. You just spread a side of salmon with minced garlic, sprinkle with fresh basil, then layer sliced tomatoes on top. Put it on the grill for 10 minutes and you're done!

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Cauliflower Gnocchi Caprese

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20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less (13)

This super-easy dish is perfect for summer. Store-bought frozen cauliflower gnocchi are crisped up in a pan, then tossed with mozzarella cheese, plenty of basil and balsamic vinegar for a hearty and healthy spin on the classic caprese salad.

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Curried Butternut Squash Soup with Crispy Halloumi

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20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less (14)

Take advantage of healthy convenience foods, such as pureed vegetable soups, to make a healthy meal in minutes. We enhance the flavor of boxed butternut squash soup with curry powder, then top it with irresistible halloumi cheese. Serve with warm whole-grain pita bread.

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Marinara Meat Sauce Topped Baked Potato

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20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less (15)

Break out of your pasta routine by subbing in a baked potato in this simple and satisfying dinner for one.

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Grilled Pizza with Summer Squash, Feta & Basil

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20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less (16)

Spreading roasted red pepper hummus on this easy grilled pizza makes a fast and easy base for tender summer squash and salty chunks of feta. Best of all? This healthy pizza is ready in 20 minutes.

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Shrimp Oreganata Cauliflower Gnocchi

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20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less (17)

This cauliflower gnocchi dinner is ready in just minutes on busy nights. A simple flavor-packed sauce marries the tender pasta with cooked shrimp. If you don't eat shrimp, use rotisserie chicken instead.

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Chili-Rubbed Tilapia with Asparagus & Lemon

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20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less (18)

Tilapia, a relatively plentiful fish, has the unfortunate reputation of being dull. All it needs is a spice rub, a familiar barbecuing technique that works just as well indoors. You could also use this rub on chicken breasts or toss it with lightly oiled shrimp before cooking.

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Egg Drop Soup with Instant Noodles, Spinach & Scallions

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20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less (19)

Whisking a beaten egg into simmering broth is a quick and easy way to add creaminess and protein to noodle soup mix. Add freshness with a handful of baby spinach at the end. This recipe can easily be doubled to serve 2 and use the whole package of noodles. To cut back on sodium, look for noodle varieties with less than 600 mg sodium per serving or use less of the seasoning packet.

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Pesto Ravioli with Spinach & Tomatoes

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20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less (20)

This easy ravioli recipe calls for just five ingredients but is loaded with fresh flavors. By using grape tomatoes, prewashed spinach and prepared pesto, we eliminate all prep work, making this 15-minute Caprese-inspired ravioli the ideal weeknight meal.

20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less (2024)

FAQs

What can I cook in 30 min? ›

30-minute meal recipes
  • Mustard-stuffed chicken. A star rating of 4.6 out of 5. ...
  • Air-fryer fish tacos. This is a premium piece of content available to registered users. ...
  • Coconut fish curry. ...
  • Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) ...
  • Air-fryer sweetcorn fritters. ...
  • 30 minute chicken & tarragon pasta. ...
  • Thai prawn noodles. ...
  • Pork noodle stir-fry.

What can be the five most suitable food items for your dinner? ›

Healthy Meals: The 10 Best Foods for Dinner
  • Salmon.
  • Sweet Potato.
  • Chickpeas.
  • Lentils.
  • Dark Leafy Greens.
  • Tempeh.
  • Wheat Berries.
  • Olive Oil.
Oct 3, 2022

What is easy to cook for 20 people? ›

19 Ideas For Easy Meals For Large Groups
  • Taco Bar.
  • Meatballs.
  • Butter Chicken.
  • Lasagna.
  • Chili.
  • Homemade Pizza.
  • Baked Pasta.
  • Skewers.
Apr 4, 2023

What's for dinner?: 30 minute quick and easy family meals.? ›

Quick and easy family recipes
  • Butter bean & chorizo stew. A star rating of 4.6 out of 5. ...
  • Quick pizza dough. A star rating of 5 out of 5. ...
  • Air-fryer meatballs. A star rating of 4.8 out of 5. ...
  • Air-fryer pork chops. ...
  • Air-fryer fish fingers. ...
  • Creamy chicken pasta. ...
  • Crispy noodle pancake. ...
  • Easy Thai prawn curry.

What should I cook for dinner when lazy? ›

30 lazy dinners to make on weeknights
  • Ramen carbonara. 4.75. 4.8. 30 Minute Cheesy Chicken Risoni. 4.3617. 4.4. ...
  • Thai Green Curry Chicken Noodle Soup. 4.857145. 4.9. Family Friendly Fried Rice. 4.285715. 4.3. ...
  • Sri Lankan Coconut & Cashew Chicken with Saffron Rice. 4.184615. 4.2. Potato Gems Shepherd's Pie. 4.2. 4.2.

What to make for dinner when nothing sounds good? ›

What to eat when nothing sounds good: 25 balanced meal ideas
  • Ham or turkey & cheese sandwich with a side of fruit.
  • Rotisserie chicken with frozen microwaveable rice and veggies.
  • “Adult Lunchable”: cheese, crackers, deli meat, raw fruits or veggies with dip.
  • Frozen chicken tenders or nuggets on top of a salad.
Jan 11, 2023

What should I make for dinner if I have no idea for dinner? ›

  • 1Mid-week lamb ragu. Turn lamb sausages into hearty ragu in this delicious 30 minute meal.
  • 230-min crispy beef and shiitake noodles. ...
  • 3Minute steaks with broccolini & cannellini bean. ...
  • 417-minute spiced lamb cutlets with couscous salad. ...
  • 5Speedy shepherd's pie. ...
  • 6Beef stroganoff. ...
  • 7Lamb kofte with beetroot hummus. ...
  • 8Lamb korma.

What's the cheapest thing to cook? ›

68 Easy And Cheap Dinner Ideas That You'll Want To Make On Repeat
  1. Buffalo Chickpea Wraps. ...
  2. 3-Ingredient Teriyaki Chicken. ...
  3. Garlic Veggie Rotini Pasta. ...
  4. Sweet Potato And Black Bean Burritos. ...
  5. Chili Lime Baked Tilapia With Avocado Crema. ...
  6. Barbecue Beer Can Chicken. ...
  7. Energy-Boosting Buddha Bowl. ...
  8. Zucchini Noodles with Kale Pesto.
May 3, 2024

What is the most easiest to cook? ›

17 Of The Easiest Recipes Of All Time (Seriously)
  • Smoked Gouda and Mushroom Quesadillas. ...
  • Sheet Pan Lemon Butter Veggies and Sausage. ...
  • Scrambled Egg Tacos. ...
  • 15-Minute Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry. ...
  • One-Pot Chicken and Rice with Artichokes. ...
  • Wild Rice and Leftover Turkey Soup. ...
  • Sticky Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp.
Jan 2, 2019

What should I do for the next 30 minutes? ›

30 Things You Can Do In 30 Minutes (Or Less)
  1. Fold laundry and put it away.
  2. Read a few chapters of a book.
  3. Do a spot clean of your house and put things away out of place.
  4. Do a face mask.
  5. Do a workout.
  6. Go walk for 30 minutes.
  7. Clean out and organize your dresser drawers (a few of them)

What cooks food in a short amount of time? ›

Techniques for Quick Cooking

Methods of this cooking technique include airfrying, deep-frying, baking, roasting, grilling, sauteing, searing, stir-frying and microwaving.

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