5 Ingredient Dinners: 14 Easy Meals So Good You Will Stop Ordering Takeout

Some nights you open the fridge, stare at it and think about ordering pizza. These 5 ingredient dinners are your way out. Each one uses five main ingredients or fewer, not counting salt, pepper and oil, and most are on the table in about 30 minutes. Fewer ingredients means a shorter shopping list, less money spent and fewer dishes. They are the recipes home cooks save and make again and again. Want more family favorites? Browse these Sunday dinner classics too. Let us make tonight the easy night..

5 Ingredient Dinners Start With Lemon Butter Salmon

Salmon is the queen of easy dinners. A hot pan, a little butter and a squeeze of lemon are all it needs. Sear it until the outside is golden, flip once, and dinner is almost done. Roast asparagus at the same time and serve it all with plain rice to soak up the buttery juices. It feels like a restaurant plate, yet it costs less and takes 20 minutes. How do you like your salmon: A) crispy, B) medium, C) well done?

You will need: 4 salmon fillets, 1 bunch asparagus, 3 tbsp butter, 1 lemon, 1 cup rice (plus salt, pepper and oil)

How to make it: Cook the rice. Season the salmon with salt and pepper. Sear it in a hot oiled pan for 4 minutes, flip, add butter and cook 3 more minutes, spooning the butter over the top. Roast the asparagus with oil at 425 F for 10 minutes. Squeeze lemon over everything.

5 Ingredient Dinners: Honey Garlic Chicken

Sticky, sweet and garlicky, this chicken tastes like takeout but costs a fraction. Chicken thighs stay juicy even if you cook them a little too long, so it is hard to mess up. The sauce is just honey, soy sauce and garlic, cooked down until it clings to every piece. A sprinkle of sesame seeds makes it look fancy. Serve it with rice or steamed greens. Would you pick this over takeout tonight?

You will need: 2 lb boneless chicken thighs, 1/3 cup honey, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 4 cloves garlic, 1 tbsp sesame seeds

How to make it: Brown the chicken in an oiled pan for 5 minutes per side. Mix the honey, soy sauce and minced garlic and pour it into the pan. Simmer for 5 minutes, turning the chicken, until the sauce is thick and sticky. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Cheesy Baked Tomato Pasta

This is the meal you make when everyone is tired and hungry. Pasta, a jar of good marinara and a pile of mozzarella go into one dish and bake until bubbling. A spoon of ricotta makes it creamy, and parmesan gives the top a salty crust. It reheats well, so leftovers make a great lunch. Serve it with crusty bread for scooping. Is the crispy cheese corner your favorite bite too?

You will need: 1 lb penne, 1 jar (24 oz) marinara, 1 cup ricotta, 2 cups shredded mozzarella, 1/2 cup parmesan

How to make it: Boil the penne for 2 minutes less than the package says. Mix it with the marinara and ricotta. Spread it in a baking dish and top with mozzarella and parmesan. Bake at 400 F for 20 minutes until bubbling and golden.

5 Ingredient Dinners in a Slow Cooker: Salsa Chicken

Dump, set and forget. Chicken breasts cook slowly in a jar of salsa until they shred with a fork. The salsa does all the seasoning work, so you do not need a spice cabinet. Stir in a little cream cheese at the end for a silky sauce. Pile it on rice, roll it into tortillas or spoon it over a baked potato. Which salsa would you use: A) mild, B) medium, C) hot?

You will need: 2 lb chicken breasts, 1 jar (16 oz) salsa, 4 oz cream cheese, 1 cup shredded cheddar, 2 cups cooked rice

How to make it: Put the chicken in a slow cooker and pour the salsa on top. Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours. Shred the chicken with two forks and stir in the cream cheese. Top with cheddar and serve over rice.

Honey Dijon Pork Tenderloin

Pork tenderloin is lean, cheap and cooks in about 25 minutes, which makes it one of the best weeknight roasts. A coat of Dijon mustard, honey and garlic turns into a golden, tangy crust in the oven. Let it rest before slicing so the juices stay inside. Cook it to 145 F and it will be juicy and slightly pink in the center, which is safe and just right.

You will need: 1 1/2 lb pork tenderloin, 2 tbsp Dijon mustard, 2 tbsp honey, 2 cloves garlic, 1 tsp dried rosemary

How to make it: Mix the mustard, honey, garlic and rosemary. Season the pork with salt and pepper and sear it in an oiled oven safe pan on all sides. Brush with the mustard mix. Roast at 400 F for 15 to 20 minutes until it reaches 145 F. Rest 5 minutes, then slice.

5 Ingredient Dinners From the Sea: Garlic Butter Shrimp Spaghetti

Shrimp cook in about three minutes, which makes them perfect for busy nights. Toss them with garlic butter and spaghetti and you have a meal that feels like date night. Frozen shrimp work great, just thaw them in cold water first. A squeeze of lemon at the end makes everything taste bright and fresh. Would you serve this for date night or a regular Tuesday?

You will need: 12 oz spaghetti, 1 lb large shrimp, 4 tbsp butter, 5 cloves garlic, 1 lemon

How to make it: Cook the spaghetti and save 1/2 cup of the water. Sear the shrimp in an oiled pan for 1 minute per side and remove. Melt the butter, add the garlic and cook 1 minute. Add the pasta, shrimp, lemon juice and a splash of pasta water and toss well.

Pepper Steak With Garlic Greens

A good steak needs very little help. Press cracked black pepper into the meat, sear it hard and finish with butter and garlic. While it rests, toss bok choy or any green vegetable in the same pan to soak up the drippings. Nothing goes to waste and you wash only one pan. It is a steakhouse meal for the price of a home cooked one. How do you like your steak cooked?

You will need: 2 sirloin or ribeye steaks, 1 tbsp cracked black pepper, 2 tbsp butter, 3 cloves garlic, 1 lb bok choy or green beans

How to make it: Pat the steaks dry, salt them and press pepper into both sides. Sear in a very hot oiled pan for 3 to 4 minutes per side. Add butter and garlic and spoon it over the steaks. Rest the steaks and cook the greens in the same pan for 3 minutes.

5 Ingredient Dinners From Italy: Spaghetti Carbonara

Real Roman carbonara has no cream at all. The silky sauce comes from eggs and cheese tossed with hot pasta off the heat. Crispy bits of pancetta or bacon add salt and crunch. It takes a little practice to keep the eggs from scrambling, but the trick is simple: take the pan off the heat before you add them. Once you nail it, you will make it every week.

You will need: 12 oz spaghetti, 4 oz pancetta or bacon, 3 eggs, 1 cup grated pecorino or parmesan, 1 tsp black pepper

How to make it: Cook the spaghetti and save 1 cup of the water. Crisp the pancetta in a pan. Whisk the eggs, cheese and pepper. Add the hot pasta to the pancetta pan, take it off the heat, then stir in the egg mix and a splash of pasta water until creamy.

Loaded Baked Potato Night

A baked potato becomes a full meal when you load it up. Crispy skin, fluffy inside, melted cheddar, bacon and a cool spoon of sour cream. Add steamed broccoli if you want some green. Kids love building their own, and it is one of the cheapest meals you can make. Bake the potatoes in the oven or speed things up in the microwave. What is your must have topping?

You will need: 4 large russet potatoes, 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar, 6 slices bacon, 1/2 cup sour cream, 2 green onions

How to make it: Rub the potatoes with oil and salt and bake at 425 F for 50 to 60 minutes until tender. Cook the bacon until crisp and crumble it. Split the potatoes, fluff the insides and top with cheddar, bacon, sour cream and sliced green onions.

5 Ingredient Dinners With Leftovers: Egg Fried Rice

Day old rice is the secret to great fried rice, so this is the perfect use for leftovers. Fresh rice gets mushy, but cold rice fries up into separate, toasty grains. Eggs add protein, and frozen peas and corn add color with zero chopping. A splash of soy sauce brings it all together. It is ready in 10 minutes and costs only a few dollars. Do you have leftover rice in your fridge right now?

You will need: 4 cups cold cooked rice, 3 eggs, 1 cup frozen peas and corn, 3 tbsp soy sauce, 3 green onions

How to make it: Heat oil in a large pan or wok until very hot. Scramble the eggs and push them to the side. Add the rice and the peas and corn and fry for 4 minutes, pressing it into the pan. Stir in the soy sauce and green onions and toss everything together.

Tomato Soup With Cheesy Toast

Tomato soup and cheesy toast is pure childhood comfort. This soup is made from canned tomatoes simmered with onion and finished with a little cream, so it tastes richer than anything from a can. Melt cheddar on thick slices of bread under the broiler for dunking. It is the kind of meal that feels like a hug on a cold, rainy night. Quick poll: A) dunk, B) dip, C) eat them separately?

You will need: 2 cans (28 oz) whole tomatoes, 1 onion, 1/2 cup cream, 4 thick slices bread, 1 cup shredded cheddar

How to make it: Cook the chopped onion in oil until soft. Add the tomatoes with their juice and simmer 15 minutes. Blend until smooth and stir in the cream. Top the bread with cheddar and broil for 2 to 3 minutes until bubbly. Serve the toast with the soup.

Upgraded Ramen Bowl

Instant ramen does not have to be a sad meal. Add a jammy soft boiled egg, a handful of spinach and a spoon of miso and it becomes a real, warming bowl. Use only half the seasoning packet to cut the salt, and let the miso add flavor instead. It is ready in 10 minutes and costs about two dollars a bowl. Have you ever tried ramen with a soft boiled egg?

You will need: 2 packs instant ramen, 2 eggs, 2 cups spinach, 1 tbsp miso paste, 2 green onions

How to make it: Boil the eggs for 6 1/2 minutes, then cool them in ice water and peel. Cook the noodles in 4 cups of water with half a seasoning packet and the miso. Stir in the spinach for 1 minute. Pour into bowls and top with halved eggs and green onions.

Garlic Rosemary Lamb Chops

Lamb chops look like a special occasion meal, yet they cook in under 10 minutes. Rub them with garlic, rosemary and olive oil and sear them in a hot pan. They are best pink in the middle, so do not overcook them. Serve them as little lollipops that people can pick up by the bone. Would you make these for a holiday, or for a Wednesday just because?

You will need: 8 lamb rib chops, 4 cloves garlic, 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, 1 lemon, 1/4 cup olive oil

How to make it: Mix the minced garlic, chopped rosemary, lemon zest and oil and rub it on the chops. Rest for 20 minutes. Sear in a hot pan for 3 minutes per side for medium rare. Rest 5 minutes and squeeze lemon on top.

5 Ingredient Dinners Without Meat: Creamy Mushroom Pasta

Mushrooms browned in butter taste deep, savory and almost meaty. Toss them with cream, parmesan and pasta and you have a cozy vegetarian meal in 20 minutes. Let the mushrooms sit in the pan without stirring so they get golden edges. A handful of arugula on top adds a fresh, peppery bite. This is proof that you do not need meat to feel full. Would your family notice there is no meat?

You will need: 12 oz fettuccine, 1 lb mushrooms, 3/4 cup heavy cream, 3/4 cup parmesan, 2 tbsp butter

How to make it: Cook the pasta and save 1/2 cup of the water. Brown the sliced mushrooms in butter for 8 minutes without stirring too much. Add the cream and simmer 2 minutes. Toss in the pasta, parmesan and pasta water. Season and top with arugula if you like.