20 5-Ingredient December Dinners for When You're Too Tired to Cook

When every single minute of your schedule is packed with events let us help you get dinner on the table.

By
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora's passion for cooking began early on as a young girl, working in the kitchen at her father's Greek diner in Brooklyn, NY. Her recipes have appeared on Delish, Spruce Eats, Today.com, Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon, Dinnerly, Simply Recipes, and in various cookbooks.
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Published December 14, 2025
Theodora Kaloudis
Bowl of cheesy baked tacos on a plate topped with sour cream and cilantro at a table setting with a bowl of lime wedges and shredded lettuce, bowl of sour cream, bowl of salsa, bowl of salsa, and a bunch of cilantro

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

When you have parties to host and attend, and presents to buy this December, getting dinner on the table should be as simple as possible. We’re talking about five-ingredient dinners that come together in about 30 minutes. Fast pastas, skillet meals, and sheet pan dinners, these are the recipes that will help get you through the busy holiday season.

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  • Creamy Gnocchi With Bacon and Peas

    Creamy Skillet Gnocchi With Bacon and Peas in a skillet with a spoon at a table setting with a stack of plates, a bowl of chopped chives, and a small plate of bacon pieces

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy II / Food Styling by Ana Kelly / Prop Styling by Shell Royster

    “While potato gnocchi is the most traditional, you’ll also encounter cauliflower gnocchi in some grocery stores. Choose whichever type you like, but if the gnocchi is frozen, follow the cooking instructions on each package, as they can vary quite a bit.” —Sara Bir, former Senior Editor

  • Brown Butter Cacio e Pepe

    Plate of Brown Butter Cacio e Pepe with Some Noodles Wrapped around a Fork, and Next to It, a Kitchen Towel, a Glass of Wine, and Two Small Bowls (One with Cracked Black Pepper and Another with Shredded Parmesan)

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    “A green salad and crusty bread are a no-fuss pairing for brown butter cacio e pepe. You can also serve this as a side (think: rustic mac & cheese) with chicken and roasted broccoli.” —Sharon Lehman, Recipe Developer

  • Broccoli Pasta

    Closeup overhead shot of a bowl of rigatoni pasta with broccoli and parmesan cheese

    Simply Recipes / Molly Adams

    “The key to this recipe is to cook the broccoli just enough so that it is soft enough to mash, but still retains its bright green flavor. If you are currently in a phase where green vegetables are a hard no (I see you!), feel free to use cauliflower instead.” —Molly Adams, Recipe Developer

  • Spaghetti With Tuna and White Beans

    Pasta with tuna, white beans, herbs, and breadcrumbs in a bowl, fork resting on the side.

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    “This is the quintessential affordable pantry dinner, made exclusively with staples I keep stocked at all times: pasta, canned tuna, and canned white beans. It’s delicious with just those simple ingredients, but I also love adding a few extra garnishes to make it even more satisfying.” —Stephanie A Ganz, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 5 of 20 below

  • Skillet Cacio e Pepe Tortellini With Wilted Greens

    Skillet Cacio e Pepe Tortellini With Wilted Greens in a Pot With a Serving Spoon, All on a White Kitchen Towel on the Counter, and Next to It, a Bowl of Cracked Pepper, a Glass of Water, and a Block of Pecorino Romani Cheese

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    “Here, fresh or frozen tortellini cooks right in the skillet, while the water it cooks in simmers into a starchy, glossy sauce. Tender wilted greens not only add color, but bulk up the pasta to turn it into a true one-pan dinner. This is a comforting, feel-good meal that’s fit for the busiest of weeknights.” —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

  • Sheet Pan Salmon and Broccolini

    Angled view of a light blue plate of a cooked salmon filet topped with chili crisp and stems of broccolini with a fork holding a bite of salmon

    Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond

    “Now that peanut sauce is easy to find at the supermarket, I frequently pick up a bottle instead of making my own. Lee Kum Lee is a Chinese sauce that is easy to find and inexpensive, so I keep a couple of bottles in the pantry.” —Robin Asbell, Recipe Developer

  • Turkey Taco Bowls

    Plate of 5-ingredient turkey taco bowl at a table setting with a glass of water, bowl of lime wedges, and a fork on a table napkin

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy II / Food Styling by Ana Kelly / Prop Styling by Shell Royster

    “For our vegetarian friends, we love draining extra-firm tofu, grating it on the large holes of a box grater, and sauteing it in a pan! The resulting texture is very similar to ground turkey.” —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • 5-Ingredient Ginger Garlic Ground Beef

    Ground beef with rice

    Simply Recipes / Myo Quinn

    “I keep whole ginger in the freezer and grate just what I need for cooking. Frozen ginger is easier and safer to grate than fresh because the fibers don't get stuck on the blades. You don't need to peel the ginger and can grate it right over the wok.” —Myo Quinn, former Associate Editorial Director

    Continue to 9 of 20 below

  • 20-Minute Chicken Enchilada Chili

    Chicken enchilada chili served in a bowl garnished with sour cream cheese and cilantro

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    “This recipe lends itself to variations and additions. Sometimes I’ll add leftover taco beef instead of the chicken. I’ll also vary the spices, sprinkling in some oregano, ground coriander, chili powder, or smoked paprika. And if we’ve got a zucchini or bell pepper kicking around in the produce drawer, it’s going in there, too.” —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

  • 3-Ingredient Dumpling Salad

    A bowl with the Trader Joe's Miso Crunch Chopped Salad Kit and dumplings

    Simply Recipes / Laurel Randolph

    “One of the best things about this “recipe” is how flexible it is. I’ve made it with all sorts of dumplings, from shrimp to pork and cabbage to vegetable to chicken—everything works. You can change it up to suit your mood and your diet.” —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Cast Iron Skillet Pizza

    Cast iron pizza with parmesan and basil.

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    “Feel free to use regular or whole-wheat, refrigerated, or frozen pizza dough. You’ll want to transfer frozen dough from the freezer to the refrigerator the night before to allow it to thaw. Let refrigerated dough sit on the kitchen counter for 20 minutes or so to let it come to room temperature. It’ll be easier to stretch.” —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

  • Chicken Sausage and Pasta Skillet

    A skillet containing pasta melted cheese tomato sauce and herbs with a serving spoon on the side
    Lisa Lin

    “This meal comes together in just 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights. You can easily swap in store-—bought marinara sauce or make it ahead to save more time. You can skip the oven for an even faster finish by simply stirring in the cheese until melted.” —Lisa Lin, Recipe Developer

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  • One-Pan Ravioli With Sausage

    One-Pan Ravioli in a bowl with a fork

    Simply Recipes

    “I chose straightforward cheese-filled ravioli for this recipe, but the beauty is that the recipe is versatile and customizable. If you want to switch up the flavor of the ravioli, go ahead. Both fresh and frozen will work, so choose whatever brand or type you normally buy. Or swap for tortellini.” —Theodora Kaloudis, Recipe Developer

  • Salmon with Potatoes and Pesto

    A sheetpan with salmon fillets topped with pesto, green beans, potatoes and basil

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Pearl Jones

    “A big bonus: The clean-up is a breeze. Since you don’t need much in the way of dishes and utensils, you won't end up with a sink full of things to clean once dinner has commenced. That’s a huge benefit for people like me who like to cook but don’t like cleaning up the aftermath.” —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

  • Spicy Tuna Rice Bowl

    Rice bowl topped with spicy tuna and sliced cucumber, fork on the side.

    Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss

    “Not a big fan of rice? This recipe also works well with a base of cauliflower rice, quinoa, or a big, leafy salad.” —Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer

  • Tuscan-Style Chicken Thighs

    Overhead view of a blue dutch oven and small white bowl of tuscan-style chicken thighs recipe

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Rachel Vanni / Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh

    “This 4-ingredient chicken dinner is a great example. The recipe leans on pre-chopped mirepoix, which I highly recommend because it’s worth paying a little extra for the convenience and it really cuts down on prep time.” —Theodora Kaloudis, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 17 of 20 below

  • Chorizo Sloppy Joes

    Close-up: chorizo sloppy joe ith a few avocado slices and a crushed fritos

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy II / Food Styling by Ana Kelly / Prop Styling by Shell Royster

    “Skillet sauces, like Frontera, are a fantastic way to add flavor quickly. Pick your favorite flavor profile, mix it with chorizo, and enjoy the easiest sloppy joe in the world!” —Sara Bir, former Senior Editor

  • 3-Ingredient Pizza Beans

    Pizza beans in a red casserole

    Simply Recipes / Stephanie Ganz

    “Feel free to pile on your favorite pizza toppings like pepperoni or sausage for customization. You can serve pizza beans with bread and a salad, or keep it simple for a satisfying, cozy meal.” —Stephanie A Ganz, Recipe Developer

  • Cheesy Baked Tacos

    Bowl of cheesy baked tacos on a plate topped with sour cream and cilantro at a table setting with a bowl of lime wedges and shredded lettuce, bowl of sour cream, bowl of salsa, bowl of salsa, and a bunch of cilantro

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    “These turned out great! Love the simplicity, flavor, and texture combos (the crispy cheese bits, crunchier edges of the tortilla, soft cheesy center.) Great with guacamole!” —Annie H, Reader

  • Kielbasa, Potato, and Broccoli Skillet

    Overhead view of a red and white cast iron skillet of Kielbasa, Potato, and Broccoli Skillet with a serving spoon next to slices of bread on a cutting board, two drinking glasses and a blue fabric napkin

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    “My mom called this one-pan dish ‘scraping the sides of the refrigerator’ for our large brood. She would throw in whatever she had left at the end of a long week.” —Jessica Greathouse, Winner of The 2024 Family Dinner Recipe Contest

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