32 Dinner Recipes You Can Prep in Just 5 Minutes (2024)

Home Recipes Meal Types Dinner

Skip spending tons of time in the kitchen prepping dinner. These easy recipes are ready to cook in a mere five minutes!

1/31

Favorite Grilled Pork Chops

This recipe is my favorite out of all my grilled pork chop recipes. I start preparing this entree the night before I plan to grill it.—Erica Svejda, Janesville, Wisconsin

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2/31

Herbed Slow-Cooker Chicken

I use my slow cooker to prepare these well-seasoned chicken breasts that cook up moist and tender. My daughter, who has two young sons to keep up with, shared this great recipe with me several years ago. I now rely on cooking chicken in a Crock Pot many days a week.—Sundra Hauck, Bogalusa, Louisiana

3/31

Beef Barley Lentil Soup

I serve this soup often to family and friends on cold nights, along with homemade rolls and a green salad. For variety, you can substitute jicama for the potatoes. —Judy Metzentine, The Dalles, Oregon

4/31

Glazed Cornish Hens

If you're looking to add a touch of elegance to your holiday dinner table, our Test Kitchen experts suggest these Cornish game hens topped with a sweet apricot glaze. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

5/31

Buffalo Pulled Chicken

This slow cooker dump dinner is one of my go-to's. The lighter chicken is a nice alternative to pulled pork. —Kim Ciepluch, Kenosha, Wisconsin

6/31

Baked Chicken and Mushrooms

I made up this dish years ago, and it still remains the family's favorite healthy baked chicken recipes. It's a fast weeknight meal, but the fresh mushrooms and sherry make it special enough for a weekend dinner party. —Lise Prestine of South Bend, Indiana

7/31

Savory Pork Roast

I love this herbed roast so much that I make it as often as I can. It's wonderful for special occasions, particularly when served with sweet potatoes and corn muffins. —Edie DeSpain, Logan, Utah

8/31

Slow-Cooked Coffee Pot Roast

My family raves about my gravy when I prepare this recipe. Whenever I'm fishing for compliments, this pot roast is a sure hit! —Janet Dominick, Bagley, Minnesota

9/31

Buffalo Chicken Wing Soup

My husband and I love buffalo chicken wings, so we created a soup with the same zippy flavor. It’s very popular with guests. Start with a small amount of hot sauce, then add more if needed to suit your family’s tastes.
—Pat Farmer, Falconer, New York

10/31

Sugar-Glazed Ham

This old-fashioned ham glaze gives a pretty golden brown coating—just like Grandma used to make. The mustard and vinegar complement the brown sugar which adds a tangy flavor to this glazed ham recipe. Be prepared to serve seconds! —Carol Strong Battle, Heathville, Virginia

11/31

Dinner in a Bag

I get a head start on this family-pleasing dinner by assembling ready-to-grab pantry kits. I measure dry macaroni and the spice mixture into separate containers, storing them in a paper bag with canned tomatoes. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon

12/31

Skillet Bow Tie Lasagna

This quick recipe tastes just like lasagna, but you make it on the stove. It's very tasty and is always a hit with my family. —Arleta Schurle, Clay Center, Kansas

13/31

14/31

Texas Black Bean Soup

This hearty meatless stew made with convenient canned items is perfect for spicing up a family gathering on a cool day. It tastes as if it's made with love and yet it requires so little time and attention. —Pamela Scott, Garland, Texas.

15/31

No-Fuss Chicken

This recipe could hardly be simpler to prepare. The chicken gets a wonderful tangy taste, and no one will know you used convenient ingredients like a bottle of salad dressing and onion soup mix...unless you tell them. —Marilyn Dick, Centralia, Missouri

16/31

Hearty Skillet Supper

When the weather starts turning cooler, I start to hear requests for this dish. The light soy, onion and garlic flavors blend nicely with fresh carrots and potatoes in this budget-minded recipe. —Pat Jensen, Cottonwood, Minnesota

17/31

Buttery Onion Soup

I developed this recipe when I once had an abundance of sweet onions. I like making it for guests, but sometimes I'll halve the recipe and make some just for me! —Sharon Berthelote, Sunburst, Montana

18/31

Spanish Rice Dinner

Spanish Rice Dinner has been a family favorite since I discovered it in our church cookbook. I always have the ingredients on hand, and it reheats very well in the microwave. —Jeri Dobrowski, Beach, North Dakota.

19/31

Moist Cranberry Pork Roast

I love to serve this tender, flavorful pork to guests. You don’t have to toil away in the kitchen to prepare it, yet it tastes like a gourmet meal. —Kimberley Scasny, Douglasville, Georgia

20/31

Beef Barbecue

We like to keep our freezer stocked with plenty of beef roasts. When we’re not in the mood for pot roast, I fix these satisfying sandwiches instead. The meat cooks in a tasty sauce while I’m at work. Then I just shred the beef and serve it on rolls. —Karen Walker, Sterling, Virginia

21/31

The Best Baby Back Ribs

I first marinate each rack of ribs, then add a zesty rub before grilling them. They always turn out moist and flavorful. —Iola Egle, Bella Vista, Arkansas

22/31

Maple-Peach Glazed Ham

This is one of my husband's favorite recipes. He makes it regularly for his group of friends on the weekends because it's so good and easy. —Bonnie Hawkins, Elkhorn, Wisconsin

23/31

Oven-Barbecued Pork Tenderloins

My family still savors and prepares this luscious heirloom recipe. —Ruby Williams, Bogalusa, Louisiana

24/31

Easy Marinated Grilled Flank Steak

Friends shared this three-ingredient marinade years ago, and it’s been a favorite since. Serve this steak with salad and grilled potatoes for a quick meal. —Beverly Dietz, Surprise, Arizona

25/31

Plum-Glazed Lamb

Fruity and flavorful, this wonderful glaze is simple to prepare, and its hint of garlic really complements the lamb. The recipe makes enough glaze to baste the lamb during roasting and leaves plenty to pass when serving. —Ann Eastman Greenville, California

26/31

‘Mmm, mmm good’ is what family and friends say when I serve these juicy chop. I like them for another reason, too—they’re easy to prepare ahead of time! —Helen Carpenter, Albuquerque, New Mexico

27/31

Baby Back Ribs

Slow-cook the ribs during the day and they will be ready to finish on the grill when you get home. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

28/31

Saucy Grilled Pork Chops

My mamaw in Kentucky used this "dip," as she called it, on many grilled meats including chicken and steak. —Misty Schneider, Bayport, Minnesota

29/31

Spinach and Sausage Lentil Soup

During the cooler months of the year, this soup makes regular appearances on our dinner table. It is approved by all, including my picky 6-year-old. —Kalyn Gensic, Ardmore, Oklahoma

30/31

Pork Loin with Raspberry Sauce

Raspberries add rub red color and fruity sweetness to the sauce that enhances this savory pork roast. This is an easy way to transform everyday pork into a special-occasion main dish. —Florence Nurczyk, Toronto, Ohio

31/31

Grilled Lemon Chicken

The secret behind the flavor of this poultry dish is a citrusy one. I use lemonade concentrate! —Linda Nilsen, Anoka, Minnesota

As Senior Shopping Editor, Katie connects Taste of Home readers with the best gifts, deals and home products on the market. An avid foodie and a holiday enthusiast, Katie is an expert at cultivating meaningful moments.When she’s out of the office, you’ll find her exploring Wisconsin, trying out new vegetarian recipes and watching Christmas movies.