5 Simple and Delicious Meals You Can Make with Only Five Ingredients

Nothing beats a home-cooked meal.

But if you’re a busy parent or student, you don’t have time to cook hard recipes that call for a ton of ingredients, and then there’s the budget.

Making a healthy and simple recipe seems like no easy feat, but there’s so many recipes you can make with just 5 ingredients!

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5 Simple and Delicious Meals You Can Make with Only Five Ingredients

Here are five simple recipes for delicious dinners and easy meals that you can enjoy with a five-ingredient list.

Let’s get started!

1. Buffalo Chicken Dip

Thirty minutes is all you need to make this savory and delicious meal. Get your leftover chicken and follow this quick recipe.

• 8 ounces of cream cheese
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup hot sauce
• 3 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
• Crackers

1. Set the oven to 350°.
2. Combine the cream cheese, sour cream, hot sauce, and chicken in a bowl.
3. Spray a baking dish with cooking oil and place chicken in it.
4. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until heated through.
5. Serve with crackers.

2. Maple-Peach Glazed Ham

Add this quick ham recipe to your weekend meals. Totally an easy family favorite!

• 2 cups orange marmalade or peach jam
• 1 fully cooked ham with the bone in
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• chili pepper powder (optional)

1. Set the oven to 325°.
2. In a roasting pan, place ham on a rack and bake for 1 hr 45 mins to 2 hrs and 15 mins.
3. Meanwhile, combine orange juice, syrup, preserves, and chile pepper in a small pot.
4. Take the ham out of the oven, get 3/4 cup of the glaze, and brush it on it. Return it to the oven.
5. Bake uncovered for another 15-20 minutes and brush often with the leftover glaze.

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3. Peanut Butter Oatmeal

This peanut butter oatmeal can be your go-to comfort food and even the perfect complete meal for busy days with simple ingredients. Great way to jumpstart your day.

• 1 cup old-fashioned oats
• creamy peanut butter
• honey
• ground flaxseed
• 1/2 ground cinnamon

1. Boil water with salt in a pot.
2. Cook oats for 5 minutes over medium heat while stirring occasionally.
3. Place oats in a bowl and add the peanut butter, honey, flaxseed, and cinnamon.
4. Makes 2 servings.

4. Spaghetti Squash and Sausage 

Level up this simple meal with fewer ingredients without extra work for a side or main dish!

• 4 pounds spaghetti squash 
• 14 ounces of smoked sausage, sliced
• 1 cup pico de gallo
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper

1. Put the squash on a microwave-safe plate and microwave for 15-20 minutes or until tender.
2. Let the squash cool, and use a fork to separate strands.
3. In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat.
4. Add sausage and cook for 4-5 minutes.
5. Combine squash, pico de gallo, salt, and pepper to the sausage and enjoy.

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5. Pot Roast

Slow cookers are a great way to make a great meal with few ingredients. Just set it and forget it!

• 2 boneless beef chuck roasts
• 1 envelope ranch and Italian salad dressing mix
• 1 envelope brown gravy mix
• 1/2 cup water
• Fresh parsley (optional)

1. Put chuck roasts in a slow cooker.
2. Place gravy mix and salad dressings in a small bowl, and add the water.
3. Pour over meat and slow cook on low heat.
4. Best for weeknight meals or if you’re running out of easy dinners on busy nights.

Save More, Do Less!

It’s not just about the taste—eating home-cooked meals is much cheaper and can save you more time and money than eating at a restaurant. Also, preparing home cooked meals for your family means you can always opt for healthier ingredients and you know what’s in the food you serve your family!

So, next time you’re craving a home-cooked meal but don’t have the time or inclination to prepare something fancy, reach for these healthy recipes instead.