Back to School Roundup! 5 Ingredient Dinner Recipes

Have you ever tried grilling pork chops?

It's such a great way to cook this cut of meat and really brings out the flavor.

One of my favorite things about the grill is that it really doesn't take much effort or many ingredients to give you a delicious dinner. This easy recipe is no exception! Fresh rosemary, garlic powder and a little salt and pepper are all it takes for a super flavorful dinner.

The grilled nectarines will put this one a bit over 5 ingredients but I totally recommend you make them if you have time! Grilled fruit is a highlight of summer meals over at our house.

Shrimp are one of my absolute favorite back to school dinners. They just cook SO quickly! Plus you can keep them in your freezer and simply thaw under running water so they make a great last-minute dinner option to keep in your back pocket.

I love the cajun seasoning used here but you can easily sub your favorite spice blend for this simple recipe.

Bonus? Shrimp are high in both omega–3 fatty acids and the antioxidant astaxanthin, which are both great for brain health. Perfect for back to school!

Maple Mustard Pork Tenderloin is a major hit with our Prep Dish subscribers. It's not hard to see why!

The pork requires only 3 ingredients – pork tenderloin, dijon mustard and a bit of pure maple syrup. That's it!

Begin marinating the pork in the morning or the night before and all you'll have to do is pop it in the oven when you get home. Dinner will be ready in just 30-40 minutes. So easy!

My maple mustard marinade works super well on chicken too so, if pork isn't your thing, you can still enjoy this one!

Sheet pans are the stars of back to school recipes and for good reason!

No one wants to clean up the kitchen after a long day of work and helping with homework. Sheet pan meals make this so easy!

This one only requires 4 ingredients: salmon, olive oil, mushrooms and acorn squash.

I kept this one super simple but you can of course add your favorite spices if you wish.

My Lemony Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs w/ Roasted Vegetables are a great weeknight dinner too!

If you have a child who doesn't like seafood, I highly recommend you give my pecan-crusted salmon a try!

It has that delicious crunch factor that makes kids love chicken fingers, but with all of the amazing health benefits of salmon.

Better yet, it's incredibly simple! All you need is pecans, salmon, eggs, chili powder and salt. And it only bakes for about 20 minutes so this is a good one for a weeknight.

I also have a great pecan-crusted chicken recipe here!

These burgers have so much flavor! The bacon and avocado really take them to the next level.

Ground beef or ground bison work well here.

If you don't eat grains, these are just as delicious on lettuce wraps as hamburger buns. Make sure you check out my no-mess method for cooking bacon in the recipe instructions. It's incredibly easy and won't make your kitchen smell like bacon for days.

These require a few more ingredients but my Mediterranean lamb burgers are super tasty as well!

Salmon makes a repeat appearance on this list for a reason – it cooks quickly and requires very little to taste totally delicious.

I love cooking with fresh herbs and the dill here really elevates this quick gluten free dinner.

Bonus? This recipe requires just 5 ingredients (plus olive oil!) for the salmon and the sides. It's perfect for the busiest weeks.

If you don't love the salmon at your local supermarket, check out Vital Choice Seafood! Their quality is excellent and the fish arrives right at your door.

Lemons, olive oil, parsley, pork chops and salt & pepper – that's all it takes!

You can make the lemon parsley marinade ahead of time, making this a super quick school night dinner. Chicken is delicious in this marinade as well.

Simple marinades are an excellent way to add flavor to your meals without adding a lot of ingredients (i.e., extra time & money). You can hear more about my favorite 3-ingredient marinades here!

While I love cabbage and apples with this pork, it would also be delicious with roasted potatoes and salad or some simple sautéed kale.

If you've never tried making catfish at home, this is a great recipe to start with. Trust me, no deep fryer is needed.

My version has all of the classic flavors of this southern comfort food dish but is oven-baked and much healthier.

All you need is catfish, cornmeal, optional Cajun seasoning and salt & pepper. It couldn't be any simpler!

The fish cooks in about 10 minutes too so your hangry kids won't have to wait too long to enjoy this one.

With just five ingredients, apart from olive oil and S&P, these kabobs are a whole meal in and of themselves.

You can serve with acorn squash, as pictured, or rice or quinoa, but they're quite satisfying on their own too if you're in a rush.

Kabobs are so easy to customize too. Use chicken or pork instead of steak if you wish. Add some mushrooms or bell peppers to the kabobs. Let each family member build their own from a few different protein and veggie options. Have fun with it!