Every so often life gets a little too hectic for trips to the grocery store. The cupboards get a little bare and the thought of packing the kids up and schlepping to the store is the last thing I want to do. My family can’t exist every night on takeout, though (and besides, getting everyone to agree on where we’re ordering from is a total nightmare). It’s these types of days that I turn to low-ingredient recipes for healthy dinners. With just a handful of ingredients—mostly pantry staples—it’s totally possible to get a dinner on the table despite not having a laundry list of ingredients on hand.
These are my favorite family-friendly meals that are super simple to make. Even better, these healthy dinners are not fussy and pack a huge amount of flavor. Check them out in the slideshow.
More Healthy Dinners and Recipes:
15 Kid-Friendly Healthy Dinners with Five Ingredients or Less
Pizza Pasta Bake
This incredibly quick and easy pizza pasta bake is an absolute lifesaver on busy nights. It’ll be in the oven in no time flat—you can even mix it all up right in the pan. This dish is so cheesy and full of great pizza flavors. Your whole family will love it.
From Two Healthy Kitchens
Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs
These five-ingredient honey mustard chicken thighs are so flavorful and easy to make. This will be one of those recipes that will be part of your new healthy basics.
From Healthy Seasonal Recipes
Mini Turkey Meatloaves
These three ingredient mini turkey meatloaves are tasty to eat and cute as can be.
From 365 Days of Slow Cooking
Baked Chicken Tenders
These baked chicken tenders are made with couscous and loaded with cheese and Mexican spices for a super easy, healthy meal that the whole family will love.
From Food Faith Fitness
Beef Satays
This recipe for beef satays couldn’t be easier. Sliced flank steak joins forces with fresh garlic, soy sauce, honey, and my secret ingredient, balsamic vinegar, which adds a touch of tang. Toss it all together in a bag and let those flavors work their magic for a few minutes or up to overnight. Cook the beef skewers on a grill or grill pan, and less than five minutes later, ditch the forks for the perfect meal-on-a-stick.
From Just a Taste
Chicken Stuffed Peppers
These bell peppers are family friendly and super easy to make. You can also turn them into jack-o'-lanterns to make a fun Halloween dinner. Your kids will love these. They are full of flavor and make a dish the whole family will love. Eat them plain or dress them up with your favorite toppings such as cheese, sour cream, and cilantro.
From I Heart Naptime
Spinach Parmesan Zucchini Noodles
To make these five-ingredient spinach parmesan zucchini noodles , you only need five ingredients and twenty minutes.
From Two Peas & Their Pod
White Chicken Chili
All you need are few simple ingredients to create this delicious white chicken chili recipe . You can make it quickly on the stove, or let it simmer all day in your slow cooker.
From Gimme Some Oven
Baked Turkey Guacamole Meatballs
These tender baked turkey meatballs are made with fresh guacamole and smoky chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
From The Lemon Bowl
Slow Cooker Pesto Chicken and Mushrooms
With only four ingredients and your Crock-Pot, this dinner is so easy even a kid can make it.
From 365 Days of Slow Cooking
Chicken Tacos
This super easy slow cooker dinner can be made ahead, and it’s perfect for Taco Tuesday.
From Sweet Phi
Chicken Strips
No mother wants to spend sixty-plus minutes in the kitchen fixing something she knows won’t be eaten. Offer foods that will be gobbled up, and try to make those meals simple and quick. Like these healthy chicken strips the whole family will love
From Simple Bites
Cauliflower Tots
Aside from being the ultimate way to sneak veggies into any meal, cauliflower tots have many redeeming qualities: They’re made with only five ingredients, they’re baked rather than fried, and they’re a (nearly) starch-free side dish or snack.
From Just a Taste
Vegetable Fried Brown Rice
Keep it meatless or add in your favorite protein to this five ingredient vegetable fried brown rice . It's so versatile.
From Aggie’s Kitchen
Foolproof Chicken
This recipe for completely foolproof 100% delicious grilled chicken is about as easy as it gets for tasty grilled chicken. This one is for all busy cooks who don't like to fuss.
From Kalyn’s Kitchen