These 5-Ingredient Recipes Prove That Simple Can Still Be Spectacular From cookies to cocktails to salads, soups, and sides, these dishes are quick but delicious. Close Credit: Brie Goldman Sometimes you need an easy recipe. When you're tired or pressed for time (or both!)—or maybe just don't have the patience to put a complicated dish together. Luckily, some of our favorite recipes have remarkably short ingredient lists. We’ve gathered them together here, from cookies to cocktails, vegetable side dishes to versatile sauces, even creamy soups. Consider them a quick fix for when you need an appetizer, dessert, dinner, or a drink, and fast. Without a lot of ingredients, these recipes come together speedily—and the results are always delicious. 28 Healthy and Delicious Dinners You Can Make in 30 Minutes or Less 01 of 21 Martha's 3-Ingredient Fettuccine Alfredo Credit: Carson Downing It's a Martha classic; her three-ingredient fettuccine Alfredo is an exercise in simplicity. Butter, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, and pasta are the only three ingredients you'll need to make this recipe. The result is a silky, decadent dish. Get Recipe 02 of 21 5-Ingredient Barbecue Sauce Credit: Con Poulos Five ingredients and 15 minutes, and you'll have a classic barbecue sauce. Grab ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and paprika, and mix. Then, decide how you'll use this versatile sauce. Get Recipe 03 of 21 5-Ingredient Chocolate Chip Cookies Credit: Aaron Dyer Not only are these cookies made with just five ingredients, they're also gluten-free (no flour here!). They're also really, really good. Get Recipe 04 of 21 Dijon Potato Salad Credit: Jacob Fox Make this five-ingredient recipe for cookouts, picnics, or family dinner. It's tangy and mayo-free. Get Recipe 05 of 21 3-Ingredient Mango Sorbet Credit: Nico Schinco You'll soon know this recipe by heart, it's that easy. Cubes of frozen mango are blended with maple syrup or agave, plus lemon juice. Get Recipe 06 of 21 Coconut Macaroons Credit: Bryan Gardner These irresistible treats are made with four ingredients, five if you dip them in chocolate. They're also very quick and easy to make. Get Recipe 07 of 21 Sauteed Red Cabbage Credit: Julia Hartbeck A colorful and healthy side dish that's ready in 20 minutes. Thinly sliced red cabbage is sautéed with a little red wine vinegar and finished with light brown sugar, creating a sweet-and-sour flavor that pairs well with all kinds of main dishes. Get Recipe 08 of 21 Creamy Tomato Soup Credit: Brie Goldman It's comfort food in a bowl, one of our most popular recipes, and a lesson in how easy yet delicious home cooking can be. Our creamy tomato soup is made with five basic ingredients: butter, onion, garlic, canned tomatoes, and stock or water. Heavy cream is optional for serving. Get Recipe 09 of 21 Cathead Biscuits Credit: Jason Donnelly These extra-large buttermilk biscuits are rolled and cut out. In addition to buttermilk, you'll need flour, baking powder, butter, and salt. Get Recipe 10 of 21 Spinach-Ricotta Dip Credit: Jason Donnelly An easy, healthy take on the classic hot spinach dip. We use ricotta cheese rather than the usual cream cheese or mayonnaise, plus the greens (spinach, kale or chard), Dijon mustard, and nutmeg. Serve this bubbly, lightly browned dip with crackers or crostini. Get Recipe 11 of 21 3-Ingredient Marinara Credit: Johnny Miller Just add pasta! This simple sauce will be the star of any dish. Be sure to use good-quality whole peeled canned tomatoes and olive oil, as you'll taste the difference. Get Recipe 12 of 21 4-Ingredient Flourless Chocolate Cake Credit: Jason Donnelly No one will believe this rich dessert was made with four ingredients! It's worthy of any birthday or special dinner. Unsalted butter, bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, eggs, and granulated sugar are transformed into a rich, chocolaty dessert that's also light and luscious. Get Recipe 13 of 21 French Martini Credit: Grant Webster Many cocktails have just a few ingredients, but not many are as elegant as our French Martini. Get Recipe 14 of 21 Quick Creamy Broccoli Soup Creamy yet dairy-free, our broccoli soup calls for pureeing broccoli and chicken broth with a small amount of oats to thicken the soup and create a velvety texture. It's ready in 30 minutes. Get Recipe 15 of 21 Cucumber Salad With Sour Cream and Dill Credit: Carson Downing Creamy and crunchy and oh so easy to make, this salad stars at potlucks year-round. It's also a great side dish for a family dinner. Get Recipe 16 of 21 Cheese Ball A retro appetizer that's always a crowd pleaser, this party starter only takes 20 minutes to make, but you will need to make it ahead so it has time to chill in the refrigerator. Get Recipe 17 of 21 Pineapple-Ginger Smoothie Credit: Kelsey Hansen Smoothies can get complicated, but not this one. Pineapple (fresh or frozen), pineapple juice, yogurt, fresh ginger, and cinnamon blend up into a punchy, refreshing, and sweet way to start your day. Get Recipe 18 of 21 Sauteed Shrimp With Arugula and Tomatoes Credit: Jacob Fox It doesn't get much easier, quicker, or tastier than this five-ingredient dinner that will be on the table in 20 minutes. It's light and summery but also nutritious. Get Recipe 19 of 21 Balsamic Mushrooms Credit: Jake Sternquist The ultimate easy side dish, our balsamic mushrooms recipe needs 5 minutes of prep and 5 minutes to cook. It has just a few ingredients, including balsamic vinegar, and elevates everyday white mushrooms. Get Recipe 20 of 21 Fennel and Orange Salad Credit: Brie Goldman Fennel, oranges, olive oil, and white-wine vinegar are combined to make a crunchy, tangy side that comes together in mere minutes. Enjoy it with anything from roasted salmon to baked tofu to marinated chicken thighs. Get Recipe Follow us to see more of our stories on Google. Follow Us On Google 21 of 21 Banana Fritters Credit: Jake Sternquist Like pancakes but better! That's these banana fritters. They're made with ripe bananas, flour, baking powder, and oil—that's it. Get Recipe Explore more: Food & Cooking Recipes Quick & Easy Recipes