These Easy 7-Ingredient Recipes Will Inspire You to Start Cooking Again (2024)

Seven ingredients (not counting salt, pepper, or oil) are all you need for a wholesome dinner that comes together in a flash. It's no coincidence there are as many ingredients as there are days of the week in these easy 7-ingredient recipes, as they are perfect any day of the week…even the busiest weeknights. These easy dinner recipes with only a few ingredients all start by having you pick through your panty and raid your refrigerator for what you already have on hand. Take the stress out of dinner with saucy skillet recipes, quick-prep pastas, shortcut salads and soups, and more easy meal ideas.

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Queso Fundido Torta

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Mexican dinner recipes in less than seven ingredients? Yes please! This Mexican sandwich packs in flavor with smoky chorizo, spicy poblano peppers, and melted queso Oaxaca.

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Air-Fryer Flank Steak and Fennel

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This easy steak dinner comes together in your air fryer for easy prep, and easier cooking. You'll only need lemon juice, flank steak, fennel, and red new potatoes to pull off this few ingredient dinner recipe. Season with a bit of salt and pepper for a truly delicious steak dinner.

The 8 Best Air Fryers of 2024 for Crispy, Golden Brown Food, According to Testing

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Pesto-Prosciutto Flatbread

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Refrigerated dough and store-bought pesto give you a head start to this 7-ingredient flatbread. Simply spread the pesto on the uncooked dough, add cooked prosciutto, and then sprinkle some cheese before it bakes in the oven for 16 minutes. Top with fresh arugula and a drizzle of lemon juice and olive oil.

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Taco Burger Sliders

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Think mini to save precious prep time. These taco-seasoned beef burgers grill in less than 10 minutes since they're slider-size. Melty cheese and store-bought salsa are just two of the six ingredients that make these few-ingredient burgers fiesta worthy.

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Herb-Roasted Shrimp

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This seafood dish is made with fewer than 7 ingredients and can be served as an appetizer or on its own for a main course. Start with some fresh or frozen shrimp and add in a few pantry staples to finish off this simple recipe. The fresh succotash relish is optional but adds tons of flavor!

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Chicken and Vegetable Sauté

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Looking for easy chicken recipes for dinner with few ingredients? Opt for chicken tenderloins (or slice full-size chicken breasts into thirds) to get this skillet dinner recipe on the table in 30 minutes. A can of white beans add protein, while carrots, broccoli, and onion boost the color and nutrition.

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Tuscan Tuna Salad

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This low-calorie tuna salad requires zero cooking! Just toss together white beans, canned tuna, lemon, arugula, and tomatoes for a fast and fresh salad. Prep a double batch and enjoy leftovers for lunch all week long.

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Quick Skillet Lasagna

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Five common pantry ingredients are all you need for this few ingredient lasagna that comes together in just 30 minutes. You'll just need a skillet and some will power not to dig in before this easy skillet dinner hits the table. Top the pasta with snipped fresh basil for a touch of freshness and a flavor boost.

Turkey Vegetable Casserole

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Herbed Chicken, Orzo, and Zucchini

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From stove top to table in just 20 minutes, this chicken skillet recipe proves that easy recipes with few ingredients for dinner can be speedy and tasty. This easy chicken dinner gains simple but sophisticated flavor from dried basil. Orzo and zucchini cooked with red wine vinegar and dill round out the nutritious meal.

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Maple-Mustard Turkey Thighs

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Season tender turkey thighs with a zippy coating of brown mustard and maple syrup. Quick-cooking tapioca thickens the spread that pairs equally well with hearty new potatoes. Best part? This few ingredient chicken dinner comes together in your slow cooker!

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Apple-Pecan Pork Chops

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Brown sugar and butter provide the sticky glaze for these few ingredient pork chops. You'll only need some apples (tart are best!), pork chops, pecans, brown sugar, and butter for this easy dinner recipe. Cracked black pepper helps balance the sweetness of fresh apples and pecans.

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Gingered Beef and Broccoli Salad Bowl

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Dress up the tender steak strips and crisp vegetables in this no-fuss salad recipe with bottled ginger vinaigrette. The steak cooks quickly in a wok, while the rest of the salad assembles easily in a large bowl. Shredded carrot and sesame seeds make delicious additions to the nutritious 5-ingredient dinner.

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Chopped Salad Taco

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Ditch the meat and grab a can of fiber-rich pinto beans for your next taco night. The versatile low-fat protein provides a blank slate for fresh sweet corn, zucchini, and homemade guacamole. These easy tacos only require six ingredients.

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Quick Meatball Minestrone

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You don't have to serve the optional crusty bread with this 7-ingredient soup recipe, but you'll be happy if you do. Using frozen foods like meatballs and mixed vegetables is a smart way to make a wholesome meal in minutes. Combine them with beef broth, beans, and pasta for a quick take on cozy minestrone soup.

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Garlic-Lime Pork with Farro and Kale

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Easy pork recipes for dinner with few ingredients can be healthy, too! Skip the pasta and opt for nutty, fiber-packed farro instead. The perfectly al dente whole grain gets a coating of peanut butter, honey, and lime juice before joining wilted kale and garlicky pork medallions.

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Chicken-Green Curry Noodle Soup

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Soups are one of the best few ingredient dinner recipes. This Thai-inspired recipe cooks in only 12 minutes. That's just long enough to cook the chicken breast strips and to get the rice noodles al dente in the chicken broth and coconut milk base.

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Quick Skillet Steaks with Mushrooms

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Red wine, garlic, and mushrooms combine for an impressive yet easy sauce for skillet-cooked steak. The fancy feast is ready in 30 minutes and contains less than 300 calories per serving. Top with fresh parsley (optional) for some added color.

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Ham and Sweet Potato Mini Flatbreads

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In these few ingredient "pizzas," mashed sweet potatoes stand in for the marinara sauce. Thin whole wheat sandwich rolls can act as the crust, but a pita or tortilla would also work well. Add a handful of spinach for extra vitamins and a drizzle of warm cranberry sauce for color and flavor.

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Chicken and Lemon-Broccoli Alfredo

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No now one will ever guess this flavorful one pot dinner calls for less than seven ingredients. Light Alfredo pasta sauce dresses up simple stove-top chicken and mushrooms. Broccoli cooked with fresh slices of lemon makes an easy (and healthy) side dish.

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Chicken and Asparagus Skillet Supper

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Minimal ingredients and minimal cook time make this one of our favorite few ingredient recipes. Asparagus, squash, and green onion add a fresh touch to this chicken and bacon combo. A splash of broth helps the meat stay juicy and flavorful.

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Grilled Salmon with Garden Mayonnaise

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In less than seven ingredients, you can have a delicious entrée and homemade sauce ready to go. A zippy mixture of celery, green onion, tarragon, lemon juice, and mayonnaise tops this simple salmon recipe. Serve the fish with fresh grilled asparagus.

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Chicken Breasts with Herbs

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This Italian-inspired dinner only requires seven ingredients. A quick sauté followed by a brief braising keeps these quick chicken breasts moist. A mixture of garlic, lemon, oregano, and parsley provides a fresh take on traditional gremolata.

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Chicken with Summer Squash

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A few fresh ingredients and pantry staples are all this few ingredient chicken recipe requires. Prepared rotisserie chicken is a shortcut to home-style cooking. Simply quarter the chicken and serve it on a bed of sautéed squash, cherry tomatoes, and arugula or spinach leaves.

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Smoked Turkey Panini

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Even with the optional walnuts, this mile-high panini can be made in less than seven ingredients. This turkey sandwich gets a fresh spin with thick-sliced country Italian bread and bruschetta topping. Heart-healthy walnuts add nutritious and delicious texture to the easy recipe.

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Pierogies with Meat Sauce

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A package of frozen potato pierogi is the freezer-shortcut your dinner rotation has been missing. Top them off with a quick chorizo meat sauce and halved fresh cherry tomatoes for a hint of sweetness.

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Huevos Rancheros Skillet

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If you're a fan of breakfast for dinner, try this easy vegetarian dinner idea. A cup frozen roasted sweet potatoes makes a hearty base for salsa, beans, and eggs. Serve this take on huevos rancheros with sliced avocado and corn tortillas.

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Feta-Stuffed Chicken Breasts

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A filling made with feta cheese, fresh basil, and sun dried tomatoes keeps this easy chicken recipe moist and juicy. Adding a bit of cream cheese ensures the filling is the right consistency for stuffing into the prepared chicken.

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Lemon Thyme Air-Fryer Rotisserie Chicken

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Skip the store-bought rotisserie chicken and make your own with just 10 minutes of prep. Cooking a whole chicken in your air fryer results in a juicy bird with crisp, golden skin. Flavor it with fresh thyme and lemon.

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Tomato-Tortellini Soup

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If you need an easy dinner idea that's as simple as opening a few packages and cans, this is the soup for you. Combine tortellini with cream cheese, chicken broth, and condensed tomato soup for a meal that's comforting, delicious, and above all, easy to make.

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One-Pot Ham and Greens Pasta

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One-pot meals are a must-have in your weeknight dinner playbook. Here, orecchiette pasta cooks with diced ham, garlic, and kale for a hearty and balances dinner. A purchased blackened seasoning blend lends flavor without a long ingredient list.

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Pesto Chicken and Radicchio Skewers

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Summer grilling recipes don't have to be complicated or difficult to make. This four ingredient dinner idea starts with purchased pesto sauce and boneless skinless chicken breasts. Skewer the meat with bitter radicchio wedges and grill until lightly charred and smoky.

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Cacio e Pepe

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Cacio e Pepe literally translates to "cheese and pepper" in Italian and you'll need just four ingredients to make it at home. Toss cooked spaghetti with olive oil, freshly ground black pepper, and Pecorino Romano cheese for a vegetarian dinner idea that's quick, easy, and delicious.