A meal plan of 5-ingredient dinners.
Five-ingredient dinners prove that a short ingredient list can still make a flavorful meal. The trick is choosing ingredients that each do a lot of work, like a bold sauce, a fresh herb, a squeeze of citrus or a spice blend, and pairing them with a good protein and a vegetable. Fewer ingredients also mean a shorter shopping list and less prep.
This sample week has five dinners, each using five main ingredients plus oil, salt and pepper, which are assumed to be in your pantry. Proteins include salmon, chicken, chickpeas, shrimp and eggs. Each recipe relies on one strong flavor ingredient, such as pesto, curry paste, miso or harissa, to deliver depth without a long list. Because there are so few ingredients, quality matters: choose ripe vegetables, a good-quality sauce or paste and fresh herbs where they appear. These dinners are also a great way for beginner cooks to build confidence.
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A sample week of five dinners.
One idea for Monday to Friday, with roughly how long each takes and why it earns its place. Swap any night; ARK Table rebuilds the list.
- Monday25 min
Pesto salmon with cherry tomatoes and green beans
A good jar of pesto seasons the fish and the vegetables at once, so one tray needs nothing else.
- Tuesday35 min
Harissa chicken thighs with chickpeas and spinach
Harissa brings heat and smoke in a single spoonful, and the chickpeas soak up the pan juices.
- Wednesday20 min
Thai red curry with shrimp and vegetables
Curry paste and coconut milk make a complete sauce, and frozen vegetables mean no chopping at all.
- Thursday25 min
Miso-glazed tofu with broccoli and rice
Miso is salty, sweet and savory at once, so the glaze needs no other seasoning.
- Friday25 min
Spinach and feta frittata with salad
Feta seasons the eggs as it melts, and the leftovers make a cold lunch the next day.
Sample dinners for planning inspiration. Times are approximate and include prep.
Making this week your own.
Five-ingredient dinners are a great way to discover which flavor ingredients your family loves. Try a different pesto, curry paste or spice blend each week, and note the favorites. Once you’ve found a few, you can mix and match them with different proteins and vegetables to build dozens of simple, short-list dinners from the same small set of ingredients.
These dinners also work well for nights when someone else in the family is cooking, since the recipes are short and easy to follow.
Remember that a short list doesn’t mean small portions. Add a grain or bread on the side if your family needs more.
Tips that make this week work.
Let one ingredient carry the flavor
Pesto, curry paste, miso, harissa or a spice blend gives a short recipe big flavor.
Count the pantry basics separately
Oil, salt and pepper don’t count. Keep them stocked so five ingredients is really five.
Buy quality where it counts
With fewer ingredients, choose the best sauce, freshest fish and ripest vegetables you can.
Use frozen vegetables
Frozen vegetables are one ingredient, already prepped and ready to go.
Keep a few flavor ingredients on hand
A jar of pesto, a curry paste, harissa and miso give you four different five-ingredient dinners with very little planning.
Questions, answered.
Do 5-ingredient recipes count salt and oil?
Usually not. Most five-ingredient recipes assume oil, salt and pepper are already in your pantry.
Are 5-ingredient dinners filling?
Yes, when each includes a good protein, a vegetable and a grain or legume. Serve with bread or rice if you need more.
Can ARK Table plan short-ingredient dinners?
Yes. You can ask ARK Table or Noah for dinners with fewer ingredients, and the grocery list stays short.
Related meal plans.
See all 50 meal plans- BeginnersA meal plan for beginner cooksA beginner-friendly meal plan: five simple dinners that each teach a core cooking skill, with clear steps and no special equipment.
- 30-minute dinnersA meal plan of 30-minute dinnersA week of family dinners on the table in 30 minutes or less: quick-cooking proteins, one-pan methods and smart shortcuts. Five sample nights.
- Single parentsA meal plan for single parentsA realistic dinner plan for single parents: one cook, short evenings, kid-friendly food and dinners that stretch into lunches. Sample week and tips.
- Under $100 a weekA meal plan for under $100 a weekFive family dinners planned to fit a $100 weekly dinner budget: low-cost proteins, shared ingredients and a tally-as-you-plan method.
Plan your own week, free.
Tell ARK Table who’s at the table and how much time you have. It plans the dinners, sizes every portion and builds one grocery list for any store.
Savings meter: up to $4,400/yr*
*Illustrative family-of-four budgets. Your savings will vary.
ARK Table by ARK Wellness is a food-planning tool, not medical advice. If you follow a diet set by your doctor or care team, their guidance comes first.