18 5-Ingredient Fall Dinners for When You're Too Tired to Cook

You'll be surprised what you can make with just five ingredients.

By
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud

Devan Grimsrud is a Berlin-based writer, editor, and recipe developer originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. After working in television production with James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern, she relocated to Berlin and became the managing editor at Kitchen Stories, an international digital cooking platform with millions of active users. 

Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published November 18, 2025
Devan Grimsrud
Braised cabbage lasagna in a pot with a wooden spoon

Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond

No matter the season, there's something inherently comforting about a five-ingredient dinner. With just a handful of ingredients, there are a few things you can be assured of: You won't have to spend an hour at the grocery store (if you even have to go), there won't be much prep, and you can enjoy way more than a breath before gathering the family around the table.

While I don't have a large family to cook for, I live in a two-person (and one dog) household, I still often rely on my own personal repertoire of five-ingredient dinners. One night they might save me time at the store, the next they allow me to make something homemade for friends that seems like a lot of effort, but really isn't.

So, in honor of all the five-ingredient recipes we have on Simply Recipes, here are some of my favorites for the season. The lean into the oven for cozy bakes and soups that will warm you from the inside out.

Join MyRecipes to save, search, and organize your recipes all in one place! To start saving, click on any recipe below, then tap the heart ❤️ icon.

  • Ravioli Lasagna

    4-ingredient ravioli lasagna lifted from a casserole dish using a spatula

    Simply Recipes / Meghan Splawn

    "So much of this dish’s flavor is built at the grocery store. My family loves Rao’s basic marinara but grab your favorite roasted garlic marinara or arrabbiata sauce. You could even shortcut this further with a jar of bolognese sauce." —Meghan Splawn, Recipe Developer

  • Upside-Down Chili Pie

    slice of upside down chili pie on a plate

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "The most suitable chili for this recipe is one that has a variety of ingredients. For me, that means meat, beans, and veggies like corn. My favorite brands for this recipe are Stagg and Hormel. They’ve got a range of different styles of chili to choose from and can be found at most grocery stores." —Malina Syvoravong, Recipe Developer

  • 5-Ingredient Tortilla Soup

    Bowls of tortilla soup garnished with avocado tortilla chips and cilantro

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "The beauty this recipe is that your current favorite salsa is the one that will be best for your soup. I usually choose fresh salsa made in the grocery store where I shop, but this element is truly the chef’s choice." —Mackenzie Schieck, Recipe Developer

  • 5-Ingredient Lentil Shepherd’s Pie

    Overhead shot of lentil shepherd's pie in a skillet, with a serving spoon having scooped a serving of the dish out on a plate to the right of the skillet

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey / Prop Styling by Julia Bayless

    "Not strictly vegetarian? Go ahead and use Worcestershire sauce instead of the soy sauce or tamari." —Julia Levy, Recipe Tester and Developer

    Continue to 5 of 18 below

  • Roasted Chicken and Sweet Potatoes

    Overhead view of a bowl of roast chicken and cubed sweet potatoes

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

    "The real beauty of this dish is how well it freezes. Simply make the marinade in a zip-top bag, add the chicken thighs, and freeze it for later. When you’re ready to cook, defrost the chicken in the fridge overnight, and all you need to do is prepare the sweet potatoes before roasting." —Shayma Saadat, Recipe Developer

  • Mississippi Pot Roast

    Platter of shredded pot roast with pepperoncinis

    Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss

    "My favorite way to serve Mississippi Pot Roast is on top of garlic mashed potatoes. To keep this recipe as simple as possible, I recommend Bob Evans microwaveable mashed potatoes in the Original or Garlic flavor. This roast also tastes great over white or brown rice." —Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer

  • Feta- and Tomato-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

    Overhead shot of four baked spaghetti squash stuffed with feta and cherry tomatoes, on a baking sheet

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey / Prop Styling by Julia Bayless

    "If you’re finding it hard to cut the squashes in half, you can microwave them briefly to soften them up. With a sharp paring knife, make several slits in the skin of each spaghetti squash along the line where you will eventually cut the squash in half. Microwave for 4 to 5 minutes on high. Remove the squash from the microwave with a dish towel or oven mitt. Cut the softened squash in half lengthwise along the slits you made." —Julia Levy, Recipe Tester and Developer

  • Dumpling Bake

    close up of Dumpling Bake With Peanut Butter Sauce

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "For this recipe to work, use dumplings that are already cooked. While most frozen dumplings you’ll find in the grocery store are already cooked, double-check the packaging before you buy any for this recipe. Use your favorite frozen dumplings with chicken, pork, vegetables, or shrimp." —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 9 of 18 below

  • 5-Ingredient Braised Cabbage “Lasagna”

    Braised cabbage lasagna in a pot with a wooden spoon

    Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond

    "Whether you choose spicy or sweet, Italian sausage usually also contains fennel seeds, garlic powder, onion powder, and a variety of herbs. You get all the flavor you need for the foundation of a hearty, flavorful meat sauce in just one ingredient. Pre-ground bulk Italian sausage makes things quick and easy, but if you can’t find it, use fresh Italian sausage links with the casings removed." —Amanda Luchtel, Recipe Developer

  • 5-Ingredient Maple Glazed Chicken and Squash

    Overhead view of a white platter of maple glazed chicken and squash next to a spoon and red cloth napkin

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

    "Almost any winter squash can be used in this recipe. Since some squashes have thicker flesh, the timing will vary. Adjust the time the squash slices are roasted before you add the chicken accordingly; denser specimens like kabocha and turban squash will need about 30 minutes of roasting time before you add the chicken." —Ivy Manning, Recipe Developer

  • 5-Ingredient Pasta Bake

    5-ingredient pasta bake

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "Other cheeses work well for this pasta bake. Swap ricotta for the cottage cheese. Use half mozzarella and half Monterey Jack instead of the Italian blend. It’s delicious with a sprinkle of feta or a few slices of provolone cheese. Try adding some freshly grated Parmesan too!" —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

  • Italian Sausage and Rice Bake

    A skillet containing a sausage and rice bake with onions and fresh herbs a serving spoon resting inside

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    "To make this vegetarian, swap in chopped mushrooms or cooked chickpeas instead of the sausage, adding in more spices and a bit more oil to keep the richness and flavor." —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 13 of 18 below

  • Moravian Chicken Pie

    A plate of chicken pie, with a whole pie next to it

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "Traditionally, this pie would have made use of a whole chicken. Most modern versions use chicken breast, but you can use a combination of light and dark meat for a more robust chicken flavor." —Megan Scott, Former Senior Editor

  • Cabbage and Potato Soup

    4-Ingredient Cabbage and Potato Soup in a large pot with a ladel

    Simply Recipes / Stephanie Ganz

    "On its own, it’s a pretty simple soup. But because it’s a bit of a blank slate, you can take it in all sorts of fun directions." —Stephanie A. Ganz, Recipe Developer

  • 4-Ingredient Johnny Mac

    overhead view of a baking dish of Johnny Mac (4-Ingredient Casserole) and one serving scooped out onto a plate with a fork

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "Johnny Mac is my grandma’s simplified version of the classic cheesy tomato and meat-laden Johnny Marzetti casserole. Her version relies on ground beef or turkey instead of sausage, Parmesan cheese only, and a hefty amount of tomato sauce to avoid fiddling with any added vegetables." —Joey Firoben, Recipe Developer

  • Roasted Cauliflower Soup

    Angled view of a white bowl of cauliflower soup next to a small bowl of paprika oil, a blue striped napkin and two clear drinking glasses

    Simply Recipes / Jazzmin Kaita 

    "I love frozen vegetables for their ease, but they don’t belong in this soup. Frozen cauliflower exudes a lot of water during roasting, which prevents it from browning." —Megan Scott, Former Senior Editor

    Continue to 17 of 18 below

  • One-Pot Spiced Lentils

    Bowls of spiced lentils with carrots garnished with herbs

    Simply Recipes / Jazzmin Kaita

    "This dish is part of my fall repertoire—it’s so easy to make, and it’s perfect reheated for lunch the next day. I serve it as-is, without any side dishes or accompaniments. There’s almost no prep and very few ingredients, and once it’s on the stove, it requires almost no hand-holding." —Amanda Blum, Recipe Developer

  • 4-Ingredient Chicken Pot Pie

    A plate containing chicken pot pie with a serving utensil nearby

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "If you like a lot of crust with your chicken pot pie, thaw two sheets of puff pastry and bake the second sheet on a sheet pan alongside the pot pie (there's no need to roll out the puff pastry at all). Serve it with the pot pie—you can break off pieces as desired." —Megan Scott, Former Senior Editor

Explore More: