20 Lazy Summer Recipes You Can Make With 5 Ingredients or Less

Abby Rose Notarnicola, Myo Quinn

Fri, July 21, 2023 at 9:30 AM UTC

7 min read

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Because we are all craving ease.

Summers mean trips to the public library to pick up books to read poolside and making s'mores with friends in the backyard. It's all about enjoying the nice weather while it lasts.

Summers are not about being stuck in the kitchen, cooking anything elaborate or complicated. For breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even drinks, we're looking for low-lift recipes that require little effort and as few ingredients as possible, because who wants to make a trip to the grocery store? We rather finish the book we borrowed from the library.

Which is where these 20 recipes that call for five ingredients or less come to the rescue. We got you covered, from dips, snacks, and cocktails to dinners and frozen treats. We're talking a reliably delicious three-ingredient salmon dinner the whole family will love, Jennifer Garner's five-ingredient lemony pasta, and much more. They're easy without feeling uninspired and call for ingredients we likely have in the pantry.

1. 1-Ingredient Chocolate Mousse

Chocolate mousse seems so fancy—and complicated to make. Thanks to this recipe (and a French chemist's discovery), you can whip up a delicious chocolate mousse in minutes using only one ingredient.

Get Recipe: The 1-Ingredient Chocolate Mousse My Whole Family Can Enjoy in a Moment’s Notice

2. 3-Ingredient Salmon Dinner

For us, salmon is the king. It is flavorful, easy to cook, and even those who don't like seafood like salmon. This three-ingredient salmon is writer Coco Morante's go-to family recipe—her kids love it!

Get Recipe: The 3-Ingredient Salmon Dinner My Family Has on Repeat

3. 3-Ingredient Crème Br?lée

Who knew that ice cream, eggs, and sugar were all you needed to make one of the most impressive desserts you can make at home? This recipe is too good to be true (thank you, TikTok!)—it's delicious and so easy.

Get Recipe: Easy 3-Ingredient Crème Br?lée

4. 3-Ingredient Salad Dressing

Never buy bottled dressing from the grocery store again! This homemade version is cheaper, tastier, and can be altered to match every salad and palate present. It's so easy to put together, a kid could make it (and does!).

Get Recipe: My Favorite 3-Ingredient Salad Dressing Is So Easy, Even My 5-Year-Old Can Make It

5. 3-Ingredient Trader Joe's Margaritas

I crave Margaritas in the summer, and most of the time, I'm too lazy to make them from scratch and too budget-conscious to order one from the bar. TJ's comes to the rescue with this affordable, easy, and delicious three-ingredient Margaritas. I'm making them all summer long!

Get Recipe: The 3-Ingredient Trader Joe’s Cocktail I'm Sipping All Summer Long

6. Jennifer Garner's 5-Ingredient Pasta

Are you looking for a quick and easy weeknight dinner? This is it! Jennifer Garner made this pasta to promote her show and share a delicious five-ingredient pasta with the world—everyone wins.

Get Recipe: Jennifer Garner’s Easy 5-Ingredient Pasta Is the Most Luxurious Weeknight Dinner

7. 2-Ingredient Chicken Marinade

Use up the plain yogurt and spices in your pantry to elevate your grilled chicken. This simple marinade takes seconds to mix together and adds both moisture and flavor in a way that seasoning alone can't beat.

Get Recipe: This 2-Ingredient Marinade Is the Secret to Better Chicken Dinners

8. 3-Ingredient No-Churn Ice Cream

You read this right—three ingredients! Get ready to always have a tub of homemade ice cream sitting in your freezer this summer. With the help of a mixer, you can easily churn out this creamy ice cream. No ice cream maker needed.

Get Recipe: This 3-Ingredient Ice Cream Is the Easiest Dessert You’ll Make All Summer

9. 2-Ingredient Magic Shell

"The 'magic' part of this ice cream topping is that it turns from glossy to matte, liquid to solid right in front of your eyes the moment it hits the cold ice cream," shares contributor Devan Grimsrud. Next time you serve your family and friends ice cream, pull this card out of your sleeve.

Get Recipe: This Easy 2-Ingredient Magic Shell Is the Upgrade Your Ice Cream Needs This Summer

10. 1-Ingredient Watermelon Granita

Take one of the many watermelons you buy during the season, cube it, and stick it in the freezer. Whenever you need an icy treat to cool down, whirl the frozen watermelon in the food processor.

Get Recipe: The 1-Ingredient Watermelon Treat I’m Making All Summer Long

11. 3-Ingredient Pizza Beans

While contributor Stephanie Ganz has entered her "bean era," her kids have not. Try her cheesy, baked bean pizza that her bean-hesitant kids enjoy. It'll be ready in 20 minutes.

Get Recipe: The 3-Ingredient Pizza Beans That Converted My Kids Into Bean Lovers

12. 3-Ingredient Trader Joe's Dip

Once again TJ's has made our jobs too easy with this spicy corn dip. "It's out-of-this-world delicious, so easy to make, and I have yet to meet anyone that won't go back for more," shares senior editor Myo Quinn.

Get Recipe: The 3-Ingredient Dip Inspired by Trader Joe’s Test Kitchen I Make for Every Party

13. 3-Ingredient Fro-Yo

You don't need to wait in the frozen yogurt self-serve line ever again. Make this easy frozen fruit that only calls for yogurt, honey, and whatever frozen fruit you have around.

Get Recipe: This Nourishing 3-Ingredient Frozen Yogurt Is the Summer Treat I Can't Stop Making

14. 5-Ingredient Corn Salsa

Chips and dips are a must for any gathering. Try this easy summer salsa in under 10 minutes, and make a giant batch because your crowd will devour it.

Get Recipe: The 5-Ingredient Corn Salsa I Make On Repeat All Summer Long

15. 2-Ingredient Low-Key Trader Joe's Salad

Trader Joe's toasted sesame salad dressing is just as good as any homemade one. For nights when you want a quick, low-effort salad, grab a bottle and a bag of greens, and make this salad that senior editor Myo's kids can't get enough of.

Get Recipe: The Low-Key 2-Ingredient Trader Joe’s Salad My Family Begs For Constantly

16. 3-Ingredient Vanilla Coffee Creamer

Buying store-bought coffee creamer every week isn't cheap, and neither is stopping by the local coffee shop every morning. Instead, try this easy, affordable alternative to sweeten up your coffee—it's as good as any store-bought creamer!

Get Recipe: Homemade Coffee Creamer

17. 5-Ingredient Pickled Red Onions

"Pickling red onions helped me get over my fear of pickling," shares contributor Ashley Rodriguez. Throw the ingredients into a mason jar, add boiling water, wait, and you'll be rewarded with the best topping for salads, sandwiches, tacos, pizza, and so much more.

Get Recipe: The Only 5-Ingredient Pickled Red Onions Recipe You'll Ever Need