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.

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.

01 of 20

Creamy Gnocchi With Bacon and Peas

Get Recipe: Creamy Gnocchi With Bacon and Peas

“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

02 of 20

Brown Butter Cacio e Pepe

Get Recipe: Brown Butter Cacio e Pepe

“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

03 of 20

Broccoli Pasta

Get Recipe: Broccoli Pasta

“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

04 of 20

Spaghetti With Tuna and White Beans

Get Recipe: Spaghetti With Tuna and White Beans

“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

05 of 20

Skillet Cacio e Pepe Tortellini With Wilted Greens

Get Recipe: Skillet Cacio e Pepe Tortellini With Wilted Greens

“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

06 of 20

Sheet Pan Salmon and Broccolini

Get Recipe: Sheet Pan Salmon and Broccolini

“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

07 of 20

Turkey Taco Bowls

Get Recipe: Turkey Taco Bowls

“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

08 of 20

5-Ingredient Ginger Garlic Ground Beef

Get Recipe: 5-Ingredient Ginger Garlic Ground Beef

“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

09 of 20

20-Minute Chicken Enchilada Chili

Get Recipe: 20-Minute Chicken Enchilada Chili

“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

10 of 20

3-Ingredient Dumpling Salad

Get Recipe: 3-Ingredient Dumpling Salad

“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

11 of 20

Cast Iron Skillet Pizza

Get Recipe: Cast Iron Skillet Pizza

“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

12 of 20

Chicken Sausage and Pasta Skillet

Get Recipe: Chicken Sausage and Pasta Skillet

“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

13 of 20

One-Pan Ravioli With Sausage

Get Recipe: One-Pan Ravioli With Sausage

“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

14 of 20

Salmon with Potatoes and Pesto

Get Recipe: Salmon with Potatoes and Pesto

“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

15 of 20

Spicy Tuna Rice Bowl

Get Recipe: Spicy Tuna Rice Bowl

“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

16 of 20

Tuscan-Style Chicken Thighs

Get Recipe: Tuscan-Style Chicken Thighs

“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

17 of 20

Chorizo Sloppy Joes

Get Recipe: Chorizo Sloppy Joes

“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

18 of 20

3-Ingredient Pizza Beans

Get Recipe: 3-Ingredient Pizza Beans

“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

19 of 20

Cheesy Baked Tacos

Get Recipe: Cheesy Baked Tacos

“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

20 of 20

Kielbasa, Potato, and Broccoli Skillet

Get Recipe: Kielbasa, Potato, and Broccoli Skillet

“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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