How To Cook A Meal With Just Five Ingredients

Cooking a delicious meal with just five ingredients is totally doable! Here’s a simple approach:

Five-Ingredient Garlic Butter Pasta

Ingredients:

Spaghetti (or any pasta)

Garlic (4-5 cloves)

Butter (4-5 tbsp)

Parmesan cheese (grated)

Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

Instructions:

Cook the pasta: Boil a pot of salted water, cook the pasta until al dente, and save about 1 cup of pasta water before draining.

Prepare the garlic butter sauce: Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant (about 1 minute).

Combine pasta and sauce: Toss the drained pasta in the skillet with the garlic butter. Add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce.

Add cheese: Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until it melts into a creamy sauce.

Garnish: Sprinkle chopped parsley on top and serve immediately.

Five-Ingredient Baked Chicken Thighs with Veggies

Ingredients:

Bone-in chicken thighs

Olive oil

Garlic powder

Paprika

Mixed veggies (e.g., broccoli, carrots, and potatoes)

Instructions:

Preheat oven: Set the oven to 400°F (200°C).

Season the chicken: Drizzle chicken thighs with olive oil and season with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.

Prep veggies: Toss the veggies with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

Bake: Arrange chicken and veggies on a baking sheet. Bake for 35-40 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken reaches 165°F internally.

Serve: Plate the chicken with roasted veggies and enjoy!

Tips for Flexibility:

Swap the protein (chicken → fish, tofu).

Choose seasonal vegetables or herbs.

Keep pantry staples like salt, pepper, and oil handy—they don’t count as one of the five!

Principles of Five-Ingredient Cooking

Focus on flavor-packed ingredients: Ingredients like garlic, cheese, or spices bring more flavor without needing extras.

Use pantry staples smartly: Salt, pepper, and oil are often considered "freebies" and enhance your five ingredients.

Choose versatile ingredients: Proteins, vegetables, and grains can serve multiple purposes, like acting as both a filler and a flavor base.

Maximize cooking methods: Roasting, sautéing, grilling, or slow-cooking can deepen flavors without extra ingredients.

Expanded Recipe Options

1. Five-Ingredient One-Pan Roasted Salmon and Veggies

Ingredients:

Salmon fillets

Lemon

Olive oil

Green beans

Cherry tomatoes

Detailed Instructions:

Preheat oven: Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Prep ingredients: Toss green beans and cherry tomatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Arrange them on the baking sheet.

Prepare salmon: Place salmon fillets on the sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and squeeze lemon juice over the top.

Roast: Bake everything for 12-15 minutes or until the salmon is flaky and cooked through.

Serve: Plate the salmon alongside roasted veggies and garnish with an optional lemon slice for extra brightness.

2. Five-Ingredient Veggie Fried Rice

Ingredients:

Cooked rice (preferably day-old)

Eggs

Soy sauce

Frozen mixed vegetables

Sesame oil (or vegetable oil)

Detailed Instructions:

Heat oil: In a large skillet or wok, heat sesame oil over medium heat.

Scramble eggs: Push the eggs to one side of the pan once cooked through.

Add veggies and rice: Toss frozen vegetables into the skillet and cook until tender. Add the rice and stir to combine.

Season: Drizzle soy sauce over the mixture and stir until evenly coated and heated through.

Serve: Garnish with green onions (optional) and serve hot.

3. Five-Ingredient Sheet Pan Nachos

Ingredients:

Tortilla chips

Shredded cheese

Black beans

Jalapeños (fresh or pickled)

Salsa

Detailed Instructions:

Preheat oven: Set the oven to 375°F (190°C).

Layer nachos: Spread tortilla chips on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with black beans, shredded cheese, and sliced jalapeños.

Bake: Heat in the oven for 8-10 minutes, until the cheese melts.

Top with salsa: Drizzle salsa over the warm nachos and serve immediately.

4. Five-Ingredient Coconut Curry

Ingredients:

Coconut milk (1 can)

Curry paste (red, green, or yellow)

Chicken or tofu

Sweet potato (or pumpkin)

Spinach

Detailed Instructions:

Sauté curry paste: Heat a pan with oil and sauté the curry paste until fragrant (1-2 minutes).

Add coconut milk: Stir in the coconut milk and let it simmer.

Cook protein and sweet potato: Add diced chicken or tofu and sweet potato cubes. Simmer until the protein is cooked and the sweet potato is tender.

Finish with spinach: Toss in spinach leaves just before serving, allowing them to wilt slightly.

Serve: Pair with rice or bread if available (not included in the ingredient count).

Extra Ideas and Tips

Egg-Centric Meals:

Frittatas: Eggs + cheese + leftover veggies + a little cream or milk.

Shakshuka: Eggs poached in tomato sauce with spices and optional peppers.

Soup Simplicity:

Tomato soup: Canned tomatoes + broth + cream + garlic + herbs.

Potato soup: Potatoes + broth + onions + cream + bacon (optional).

Dessert:

Five-Ingredient Chocolate Mousse: Dark chocolate, cream, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract.

With the above recipes and guidance, you can create balanced meals with minimal ingredients while maximizing flavor! Let me know if you want even more variety!