All it takes is 20 minutes and a handful of ingredients to make these tasty and nutritious dinner recipes. With only 5 ingredients or less (excluding staples like salt, pepper and oil), you can enjoy a satisfying meal with ease. Recipes like our Stuffed Sweet Potato with Hummus Dressing and 3-Ingredient Goat Cheese Pasta with Broccoli are healthy and delicious choices for tonight.
01of 20
Spinach & Feta Scrambled Egg Pitas
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/5694957-5408b715e8394cf3ae77e40ea9c0d04b.jpg "20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 20 Minutes or Less (1)")
This meatless dinner comes together in only 15 minutes, thanks to the convenience of frozen chopped spinach and crumbled feta. We've added a flavorful burst of sun-dried tomato tapenade to spread over the whole-wheat pita before nestling the scrambled eggs inside. If you can't find it, basil pesto or sun-dried tomato pesto also work well.
02of 20
Seared Salmon with Green Peppercorn Sauce
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/4473519-e67e45aacfe849d697d13596020ba81a.jpg "20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 20 Minutes or Less (2)")
A simple sauce of piquant green peppercorns, lemon juice and butter tops this seared salmon recipe. Green peppercorns come from the same plant as black ones, but are harvested before they mature. Typically packed in vinegar, they have a refreshingly sharp flavor. Look for them near the capers in most supermarkets. Serve with smashed red potatoes and sautéed kale.
03of 20
3-Ingredient Teriyaki Edamame Sauté
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/EW-3-Ingredient-Dinners-for-Diabetes_Teriyaki-Edamame-Saute-06e5cf454b5f42c5a459d83e69fcd5ad.jpg "20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 20 Minutes or Less (3)")
Whip up this high-fiber, plant-based stir-fry for a quick and convenient dinner. Look for bottled teriyaki sauce labeled less sodium or reduced sodium to cut back on the salt without sacrificing flavor.
04of 20
Stuffed Sweet Potato with Hummus Dressing
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/4565006-246ba274a2b645fdad6a9d0274a41b88.jpg "20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 20 Minutes or Less (4)")
Hearty yet simple to prepare, this stuffed sweet potato with black beans, kale and hummus dressing is a fantastic 5-ingredient lunch for one!
05of 20
Black Bean Fajita Skillet
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/black-bean-fajita-skillet-2000-d9b1144ed07949eba8517ce8f3834ed4.jpg "20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 20 Minutes or Less (5)")
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.
06of 20
Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad with Chicken
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/5050775-a32b2829c5f849b0a07c8b26502727c3.jpg "20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 20 Minutes or Less (6)")
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.
07of 20
3-Ingredient Goat Cheese Pasta with Broccoli
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/goat-cheese-pasta-broc-5d189a287959471389195cb6f6a5dfae.jpg "20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 20 Minutes or Less (7)")
Swap out regular pasta for pasta made with chickpeas and you'll more than triple the fiber and double the protein in this simple, satisfying dish. Be sure to save some of the pasta water to make a sauce. Feel free to use frozen broccoli in a pinch (you can blanch the broccoli in the same water you use to cook the pasta).
08of 20
White Bean-Sage Cauliflower Gnocchi
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/6248025-a2e897451a4b466e8ae3a68b45809e28.jpg "20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 20 Minutes or Less (8)")
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.
09of 20
Pesto Ravioli with Spinach & Tomatoes
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/66919651-f0e2484ae8234a79bec68268ac2533c8.jpg "20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 20 Minutes or Less (9)")
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.
10of 20
3-Ingredient Roasted Red Pepper Soup with Chickpeas
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/roasted-red-pepper-soup-w-chickpeas-e691188a63cc4e86a9d79f5cadab3ac0.jpg "20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 20 Minutes or Less (10)")
Boxed blended soups are the perfect canvas for simple stir-ins to make them more substantial and satisfying. Here, roasted red pepper soup is jazzed up with canned chickpeas and fresh baby spinach for a fast, comforting meal.
11of 20
Black Bean Quesadillas
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/3926485-970b04d852e84ad59756905121455934.jpg "20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 20 Minutes or Less (11)")
In a hurry? These satisfying quesadillas take just 15 minutes to make. We like them with black beans, but pinto beans work well too. If you like a little heat, be sure to use pepper Jack cheese in the filling. Serve with: A little sour cream and a mixed green salad.
12of 20
Curried Butternut Squash Soup with Crispy Halloumi
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/6183595-601c8836207c4406a827e19013c35bce.jpg "20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 20 Minutes or Less (12)")
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.
13of 20
Spinach-Artichoke-Sausage Cauliflower Gnocchi
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/6249492-5043da16e9564075a8ade94e527f9344.jpg "20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 20 Minutes or Less (13)")
Hearty and piquant, this quick cauliflower gnocchi dinner incorporates several healthy convenience ingredients, including turkey sausage and tender artichoke hearts, so dinner is on your table fast.
14of 20
3-Ingredient Green Goddess White Bean Salad
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/grn-goddess-white-bean-salad-bf674b94c3024978a3f16c2afbca2fe0.jpg "20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 20 Minutes or Less (14)")
Bagged salad and slaw blends are great shortcut ingredients for adding variety without needing to wash and chop lots of different vegetables. Toss a kale-and-broccoli slaw mix with canned white beans and yogurt-based green goddess dressing for a crunchy main-dish salad in minutes.
15of 20
Teriyaki-Glazed Cod with Cauliflower Rice
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/5342885-50bbf05cf7a6434287a40725da37e837.jpg "20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 20 Minutes or Less (15)")
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.
16of 20
Florentine Ravioli
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/3727775-eec6562716f140fcb8711e5647986c6a.jpg "20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 20 Minutes or Less (16)")
The flavors of Italy are best expressed in simplicity: a dash of spices, a little oil and dinner's on the table in minutes--especially if you use frozen spinach and frozen ravioli or tortellini.
17of 20
3-Ingredient Sweet Potato & Brussels Sprout Hash with Chicken Sausage
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/sweet-potato-brussels-sprout-hash-1e97aa2add114ccd9c25cf0b1b778e7c.jpg "20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 20 Minutes or Less (17)")
Apple-flavored chicken sausage adds flavor and protein in this quick dinner hash that uses a bag of shaved Brussels sprouts as its hearty, high-fiber base. Steaming the cubed sweet potatoes in the microwave cuts way down on total cook time.
18of 20
Bacon and Avocado Topped Baked Potato
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/7860853-c43d1d2e93554fbb92497c008eb34e5f.jpg "20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 20 Minutes or Less (18)")
A baked russet potato is topped with crumbled bacon, diced avocado, salsa, and shredded Colby Jack cheese--a meal in itself!
19of 20
3-Ingredient Chicken Caesar Flatbread
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/EW-3-Ing-Diabetes-Dinners-Pantry-Staples_Chix-Caesar-Flatbread-2000-6f49874cb01243bb8809b62189cafc79.jpg "20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 20 Minutes or Less (19)")
A frozen cauliflower-based pizza crust becomes the crispy base for this no-fuss flatbread. Pick up a Caesar-style salad kit to save yourself the hassle of needing to buy lots of other ingredients (everything's included in the kit!), and use rotisserie chicken breast to simplify prep even more.
20of 20
Chili-Rubbed Tilapia with Asparagus & Lemon
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/3746453-d982d7f4c03548ad83e1b7c30b4ac121.jpg "20 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners in 20 Minutes or Less (20)")
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.
