10 Dinner Recipes with 10 Ingredients or Less ⋆ 100 Days of Real Food (2024)

Many of us are trying to work with the limited ingredients that we have on hand because of empty store shelves or to avoid venturing out for just one or two things. So, today I thought I’d share a list of dinners that you can make with very few ingredients (10 or less)!

I’ve included all sorts of ingredient substitutes so you can make these recipes work no matter what. Of course, some of the swaps may alter the end result, but not in a bad way—so you’ll still end up with a delicious dinner!

Ten Dinner Recipes with 10 Ingredients or Less

I know meat is hard to come by for some so I was sure to include vegetarian, seafood, and alternative meat dishes (other than chicken) in this list. There’s plenty of variety here so you can hopefully find what you need in your area to make these recipes. One thing is for sure, the people stuck at home right now are a HUNGRY bunch! :)

1) Grilled Sausage and Bell Pepper Kabobs

My Grilled Sausage and Bell Pepper Kabobs recipe has only seven ingredients (not counting salt and pepper). Possible substitutions:

• Zucchini or squash instead of bell peppers
• Chicken or steak (actually marinaded in the olive oil mixture) instead of sausage
• Shallot or yellow onion instead of red onion
• Balsamic vinegar instead of red wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano instead of fresh

2) The Easiest Spinach Lasagna

My Spinach Lasagna recipe has only seven ingredients (not counting salt and pepper). Possible substitutions:

• Cottage cheese instead of ricotta
• Leave out egg instead of using one
• Any boiled noodles instead of lasagna noodles (casserole will end up more of a mix instead of layered)
• 1 pound fresh spinach cooked down in skillet instead of frozen

3) Green Cury Fish Packets

My Green Cury Fish Packets recipe has only five ingredients (not counting salt and pepper). Possible substitutions:

• Chicken (thinly sliced) instead of fish
• Snow peas or edamame instead of sugar snap peas
• Steamed potatoes instead of brown rice

4) Sheet Pan Honey Mustard Pork and Veggies

My Sheet Pan Honey Mustard Pork and Veggies recipe has only four ingredients (not including salt and pepper). Possible substitutions:

• Maple syrup instead of honey
• Regular mustard instead of Dijon
• Chicken breasts or thighs (boneless) instead of pork tenderloin
• Asparagus instead of green beans

5) Wild Mushroom and Brussels Sprouts Quesadillas

My Wild Mushroom and Brussels Sprouts Quesadillas recipe has only nine ingredients (not including salt and pepper). Possible substitutions:

• Olive oil instead of butter
• Onion (any variety) instead of shallots
• Chopped cabbage instead of Brussels sprouts
• Canned lentils instead of mushrooms
• Munster, Havarti, or queso fresco instead of Monterey Jack (for the best flavor), or any mild cheese if that’s all you’ve got
• Leave out feta instead of using (add extra of the other type of cheese)

6) Easy Slow Cooker Steak Chili

My Easy Slow Cooker Steak Chili recipe has only seven ingredients (plus optional toppings and not including salt and pepper). Possible substitutions:

• Other beef cuts (chuck, steak, etc) instead of stew beef
• Dried beans instead of cannedor pinto beans instead of kidney beans
• Canned crushed tomatoes or fresh tomatoes (boiled/peeled, if desired, and diced) instead of canned diced tomatoes

7) Kale and Tomato Alfredo Pasta

My Kale and Tomato Alfredo Pasta recipe has only nine ingredients (not counting salt and pepper). Possible substitutions:

• Zucchini noodles (zoodles) instead of whole-wheat noodles
• Olive oil instead of butter
• Spinach instead of kale
• Any type of tomato chopped instead of cherry tomatoes
• Omit fresh parsley instead of using fresh

8) Easy Kale, Sausage, and White Bean Soup

My Easy Kale, Sausage, and White Bean Soup recipe has only seven ingredients (not counting salt and pepper). Possible substitutions:

• Veggie or beef broth instead of chicken broth
• Broccoli instead of kale
• Dried beans instead of canned
• Bratwurst instead of Italian sausage

9) Pesto Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner

My Pesto Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner recipe has only 10 ingredients (not including salt and pepper). Possible substitutions:

• Mild white fish (snapper, flounder, mahi-mahi, cod, etc) instead of salmon
• Kale or extra basil instead of spinach
• Walnuts instead of pine nuts
• White beans instead of cherry tomatoes
• Broccoli instead of zucchini and squash

10) Creamy Mushroom Vegetable Soup (with barley)

My Creamy Mushroom Vegetable Soup recipe has only nine ingredients (not including salt and pepper). Possible substitutions:

• Olive oil instead of butter
• Onion (any variety) instead of shallots
• Extra carrots for celery (or extra celery for carrots)
• Veggie or beef broth instead of chicken broth
• Omit heavy cream instead of using any

I hope these dinner ideas help. I’d love to hear the simple recipes you’ve been making lately in the comments below!