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.

Creamy Tomato Soup — 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.

01 of 21

Martha's 3-Ingredient Fettuccine Alfredo

Two servings of fettuccine pasta in a creamy Alfredo sauce served in shallow bowls each with a fork — 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.

02 of 21

5-Ingredient Barbecue Sauce

five-ingredient barbecue sauce — 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.

03 of 21

5-Ingredient Chocolate Chip Cookies

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.

04 of 21

Dijon Potato Salad

Bowl of a potato salad with herbs, placed on a striped napkin — Jacob Fox

Make this five-ingredient recipe for cookouts, picnics, or family dinner. It's tangy and mayo-free.

05 of 21

3-Ingredient Mango Sorbet

Three-Ingredient Mango Sorbet — 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.

06 of 21

Coconut Macaroons

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.

07 of 21

Sauteed Red Cabbage

sauteed red cabbage in bowl with spoon — 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.

08 of 21

Creamy Tomato Soup

Creamy Tomato Soup — 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.

09 of 21

Cathead Biscuits

Cathead biscuits — 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.

10 of 21

Spinach-Ricotta Dip

A serving dish with spinach dip and toasted bread slices on a cutting board — 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.

11 of 21

3-Ingredient Marinara

Basic Marinara Sauce — 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.

12 of 21

4-Ingredient Flourless Chocolate Cake

Flourless Chocolate Cake — 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.

13 of 21

French Martini

French Martini — Grant Webster

Many cocktails have just a few ingredients, but not many are as elegant as our French Martini.

14 of 21

Quick Creamy Broccoli Soup

multiple mugs of creamy broccoli soup on a white tray

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.

15 of 21

Cucumber Salad With Sour Cream and Dill

Cucumber salad with sour cream and dill in a white bowl — 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.

16 of 21

Cheese Ball

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.

17 of 21

Pineapple-Ginger Smoothie

Two glasses of smoothie placed on a marble surface the drink appears creamy and is likely made with pineapple and ginger — 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.

18 of 21

Sauteed Shrimp With Arugula and Tomatoes

Sauteed shrimp plate with arugula and cherry tomatoes — 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.

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Balsamic Mushrooms

Balsamic Mushrooms — 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.

20 of 21

Fennel and Orange Salad

Fennel and Orange Salad — 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.

21 of 21

Banana Fritters

Banana Fritters — 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.

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