Healthy Recipes with 5 Ingredients or Less: Simplicity Meets Nutrition

For those of you who like recipes, here are a few! Maintaining a nutritious diet doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. These healthy recipes with five ingredients or less prove that you can have delicious and wholesome meals, very simply. Several of these recipes would also be very budget-friendly. 

Using fresh and unprocessed ingredients, you can create dishes that support your overall health and well-being! So, whether you’re short on time or simply looking for easy and healthy options, give these recipes a try and discover the beauty of simple yet nutritious cooking.

So here they are:

Avocado and Tomato Salad

Ingredients:

• 2 ripe avocados
• 2 ripe tomatoes
• 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Dice avocados and tomatoes into bite-sized pieces.
• Combine avocados, tomatoes, cilantro, and red onion in a mixing bowl.
• Drizzle lime juice over mixture and toss.
• Season with salt and pepper as desired.

Baked Salmon With Dijon Mustard

Ingredients:

• 4 salmon fillets
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp honey
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
• In a small bowl, mix together Dijon mustard, olive oil, honey, salt and pepper.
• Place salmon fillets on baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Brush mustard mixture evenly over salmon.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes or until salmon flakes easily with fork.
• Serve hot.

For a recipe with very few ingredients, this recipe offers a fantastic source of omega-3 fatty acids and protein!

Greek Yogurt and Berry Parfait

Ingredients:

• 1 cup plain (or flavored) Greek yogurt
• 1 cup mixed berries (any variety, fresh or partially thawed)
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1/4 cup granola or quick oats

Instructions:

• In a glass or bowl, layer half of the Greek yogurt.
• Add half of the mixed berries.
• Drizzle one tablespoon of honey over the berries.
• Repeat 1st 3 steps with remaining yogurt, berries, and honey.
• Enjoy!

This recipe provides a good dose of protein and probiotics from the Greek yogurt and lots of antioxidants from the mixed berries!

Spinach and Mushroom Quesadillas

Ingredients:

• 4 wholewheat or corn tortillas
• 2 cups fresh spinach leaves
• 1 cups sliced mushrooms
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• olive oil for cooking

Instructions:

• Heat a small amount of olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
• Add sliced mushrooms and sauté until tender – around 5 minutes.
• Place a tortilla in the pan and sprinkle with a quarter of the mozzarella cheese.
• Layer with spinach leaves and sautéed mushrooms.
• Top with another tortilla.
• Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until the tortilla is golden and the cheese is melted.
• Repeat for remaining quesadillas.
• Slice into wedges and serve hot.

The spinach and mushrooms give this quesadilla vitamins and and minerals and a unique texture and flavor!

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos

Ingredients:

• Two medium-sized sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 4 whole-grain tortillas (wheat or corn)
• Optional toppings (salsa, avocado, cilantro, lime wedges)

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
• Toss the diced sweet potatoes with olive oil and spread them out on a baking sheet.
• Roast for 20-25 minutes, or until tender and slightly crisp.
• Warm black beans in microwave or on the stove.
• Warm tortillas in oven for a few minutes.
• Assemble tacos by placing roasted sweet potatoes and black beans in each tortilla.
• Add whatever toppings you wish.

Healthy 5 Ingredient Chocolate Brownies

Ingredients:

• 2 ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup smooth nut butter (almond, peanut, or your choice)
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8-inch (20×20 cm) baking dish with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal later.
• In a mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas until they are smooth and free of lumps.
• To the mashed bananas, add the almond butter, unsweetened cocoa powder, honey or maple syrup, and pure vanilla extract.
• Stir the ingredients together until they form a smooth and thick brownie batter.
• If desired, fold in some dark chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or a sprinkle of sea salt to enhance the flavor.
• Pour the brownie batter into the prepared baking dish and spread it evenly.
• Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the brownies are set in the middle and a toothpick inserted comes out mostly clean.

Cottage Cheese and Egg White Bread

Ingredients:

• 2 cups low-fat cottage cheese
• 1 cup of liquid egg whites
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (or all purpose flour)
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a standard-sized loaf pan.
• In a blender or food processor, combine the cottage cheese and liquid egg whites. Blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
• In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the whole wheat flour (or all-purpose flour), baking powder, and salt if you choose to use it.
• Pour the blended cottage cheese and egg white mixture into the dry ingredient mixture. Stir until well combined, creating a smooth batter.
• Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, spreading it out evenly.
• Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 45-50 minutes or until the bread is golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Allow the bread to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Then, transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Once the bread has cooled, slice it and serve it as desired. It’s delicious on its own, with spreads, or as a base for sandwiches.
• You can add some flavor variations to this bread by mixing in herbs, spices, grated cheese, or even seeds like chia or flaxseed for added texture and nutrition.

Conclusion

So, in conclusion, you can have some fun with your simple and healthy foods, while just using a few ingredients, to come up with some unique and interesting healthy “takes” on more traditional foods! True, you have to think outside the box – a little – but it may be worth it!

If you have any unique recipes that you have tried, that are very simple to make, and healthy, and ideally budget-friendly – please feel free to share in the comments section below!