Dinner doesn’t need to be complicated, and these delicious 5-ingredient spring dinners prove just that. Fewer ingredients mean less prep, which means you can get a fuss-free meal on the table in no time. With crave-worthy options like Goldfish Chicken Tenders, 4-Ingredient Miso Buttered Noodles, and Salmon with Potatoes and Pesto, there’s something for everyone to enjoy any night of the week.
01 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Photo by Alex Huang / Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
Get Recipe: Goldfish Chicken Tenders
“While you could fry these, I prefer to bake them. The crackers get really crispy and form a satisfying crust, and cleanup is much easier if you bake them.” —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer
02 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond
Get Recipe: Frittata di Pasta (Pasta Frittata)
“I’ve made this dish with all kinds of pasta shapes. At home we especially love farfalle—the little butterfly-shaped pasta—but almost any leftover pasta works here. Spaghetti, linguine, penne, or rigatoni all cook beautifully in this skillet frittata. And don’t be afraid if your pasta has vegetables in it—it will taste even better when combined with the eggs. My husband just made a frittata with a leftover mushroom and thyme pasta, and it was so good!” —Shayma Saadat, Recipe Developer
03 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Christina Daley
Get Recipe: Salsa Chicken
“You can serve this salsa verde chicken in several ways. Set out a trivet and place the baking dish on the table for folks to serve themselves whole breasts. Serve alongside rice and beans, veggies like green beans or broccoli, and more. You can also shred the chicken, toss it with the sauce and cheese, and use it to fill tacos or burritos.” —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director
04 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Get Recipe: Artichoke and Lemon Pasta
“This lemon artichoke pasta has just enough zip to wake up your senses. The quartered artichokes give the dish a bit of savoriness from their brine, breaking up the monotony of plain ol’ pasta. But the dish’s brightness comes from lemon juice, with just a pinch of red pepper flakes for spice.” —Amanda Blum, Recipe Developer
05 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond
Get Recipe: Freezer Fish and Vegetable Bake
“This mid-week lifesaver dinner covers ALL the easy bases—no-thaw, freezer-to-oven, and assembled in one baking dish—with nary a single vegetable to chop. My childhood included many versions of this dinner, both in a baking dish and as a campfire-style “fish in foil” offering. It’s simple enough for even the most inexperienced cooks, and my family loves it.” —Lou Perseghin, Recipe Developer
06 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss
Get Recipe: 3-Ingredient Sheet Pan Caesar Bake
“A bag of frozen meatballs and a bag of frozen California blend vegetables—including carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower—get tossed in Caesar dressing. After a short bake in the oven, they get topped with optional parmesan cheese and chives, then served over rice. This recipe is great for meal prepping because it makes so much that I save the leftovers for my next three meals!” —Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer
07 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
Get Recipe: Poppy’s Chile Relleno Casserole
“Instead of stuffing and frying individual chiles, this casserole layers canned poblano chiles with Monterey Jack cheese. A simple mixture of eggs, evaporated milk, and flour replaces the whipped egg batter, baking into a rich, savory, gently spicy custard that complements the chiles beautifully. The result delivers Poppy’s love for spice without the labor.” —Anne Wolf, Recipe Developer
08 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen
Get Recipe: 4-Ingredient Miso Buttered Noodles
“With this simple addition, plain buttered pasta suddenly becomes a rich, savory, and deeply comforting meal with very little effort. The miso brings a subtle fermented depth that contrasts the sweet butter, while a sprinkle of parmesan adds a salty, cheesy finish. The sauce clings to the noodles in a silky, almost creamy way without any actual cream. It feels like a luxurious restaurant-worthy take on pasta, but I can eat it on the couch.” —Afton Cyrus, Senior Editor
09 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss
Get Recipe: Greek Lentil Salad
“All you need is canned lentils, cucumbers, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, and store-bought Greek dressing for the perfect fiber and flavor-packed dense bean salad. I love to make a big batch on Sundays and eat it for lunch over the next four days.” —Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer
10 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Photo by Alex Huang / Food Styling by Katie Wayne
Get Recipe: Cheesy Asparagus Puff Pies
“Your springtime asparagus journey needn’t start on the wrong foot: the reluctant asparagus eater in your life might give it a second chance in these cheesy pastries. Cutting the asparagus into small pieces eliminates any stringiness, and mixing those small bits with rice helps further accommodate textural issues. And of course, lots of cheese always helps.” —Lou Perseghin, Recipe Developer
11 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss
Get Recipe: Meatball Pesto Pasta
“I like to top this pasta with a ton of fresh basil, freshly grated parmesan cheese, and red pepper flakes. I serve it with a big, leafy salad dressed with Italian dressing or vinaigrette to contrast the richness of the pesto sauce.” —Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer
12 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond
Get Recipe: Cacio e Pepe Creamy Beans
“Little did he know, my grandfather was making his own version of cacio e pepe, albeit with white beans instead of pasta. It was one of the best, most comforting meals I remember to date, and I still make it all the time. Not only because cheese makes everything taste luscious, but also because it is so simple to throw together and fills you up!” —Annika Panikker, Recipe Developer
13 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Grace Elkus
Get Recipe: Lemony Zucchini Pasta with Cottage Cheese
“Like any good five-ingredient recipe, this one is ripe for adaptation. Jury still out on cottage cheese? Swap in ricotta. Basil plant looking droopy? Supplement with dill, mint, or chives. Even the zucchini can be replaced with yellow squash.” —Grace Elkus, Recipe Developer
14 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Coco Morante
Get Recipe: Garlic Butter Steak Bites
“When I’m serving steak bites, I follow a dinner formula of meat + starchy side + vegetable side. For the starchy side, we’ll usually have crispy potatoes, steamed rice, or buttered noodles, and for the vegetable dish, I’ll either air fry or steam some broccoli, cauliflower, or Brussels sprouts.” —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer
15 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Get Recipe: Chickpea Tomato Stew
“This tomato, roasted pepper, and garbanzo stew comes together in minutes, but the key is starting with the right canned tomatoes. Diced tomatoes are the easiest choice, because they require no prep and are the perfect consistency. Some of the tomato water will simmer off, becoming a savory and rich broth.” —Amanda Blum, Recipe Developer
16 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Coco Morante
Get Recipe: Gyoza Cabbage Bowls
“Vegetables plus dumplings is a great formula and easy to vary based on what you have on hand. Bite-sized broccoli florets, cauliflower rice, green beans, or sliced asparagus can take the place of the cabbage. While I usually go for pork or chicken gyoza, just about any Asian-style dumpling can top your vegetables. Vegetable gyoza, potstickers, soup dumplings, and shumai are all good options.” —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer
17 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond
Get Recipe: Rice Carbonara
“Classic pasta carbonara is a lazy-night staple in my kitchen. It’s a dish that takes minimal time and effort but still feels fancy, and it often saves me from resorting to takeout. But on one of these recent lazy nights, the concept of a rice carbonara came to me. A container full of rice left over from another recipe I had been working on was taunting me from the back of the fridge. I detest wasting food, and I always have bacon, eggs, and parmesan cheese on hand, so this seemed like a low-risk, high-reward experiment.” —Jamie Anulewicz, Recipe Developer
18 of 20
Credit: Matt Russell
Get Recipe: Yasmin Fahr’s Chicken Thighs with Chili Crisp
“When my friend, Ian, gifted me a jar of a new brand of chili crisp that he loved, I quickly became obsessed. Determined to see how many dishes I could make using this richly flavored, heat-filled condiment before I reached the bottom of the jar, I immediately made this simple chicken dinner with a kick.” —Yasmin Fahr, Recipe Developer
19 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Pearl Jones
Get Recipe: Salmon with Potatoes and Pesto
“The great thing about sheet pan meals is that many don’t require much in the way of prep. Yes, you’ll have to trim some green beans and wash a few potatoes for this recipe, but that’s it. Skipping tasks like chopping multiple vegetables and simmering and sautéing different components shortens the time spent tending to your dinner. That’s pretty great.” —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer
20 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu
Get Recipe: Shortcut Orange Chicken
“I personally prefer Tyson frozen chicken bites. They’re uniformly sized—similar to Panda Express’ orange chicken—and have enough craggly surface texture to hold onto the sauce without falling apart or sacrificing that delicious, crisp crunch. Because the breading is already perfected, I don’t have to worry about dredging or frying—a weeknight win!” —Frank Tiu, Recipe Developer
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Dining and Cooking