4-Ingredient Entrees Perfect For Busy Weeknights

When you're having a busy day...or week...or year...making dinner can end up at the bottom of your priority list. Takeout and frozen pizza can only get you so far. Fortunately, getting a delicious – and even healthy(ish) – meal on the table doesn't need to involve lots of planning, groceries or time. With these recipes, you don't have to worry about gathering a ton of ingredients to pull dinner together. It takes just four ingredients (not counting basics like salt and pepper) to prep each of these dishes, which makes them perfect to have in your back pocket for those times when you're you're exhausted from a long, busy day. If you need to round out the meal, don't overthink it. Just serve a bag salad on the side.

There's no reason that a simple, easy dinner can't also be satisfying, healthy, and even a little elegant. This vegetarian recipe is cheap and easy to make with some fresh zucchini, vegetable broth, lemon juice and chives. Plus, it's ready in 20 minutes flat.

For the Four-Ingredient Zucchini Soup recipe, click here.

This recipe is as easy as pie. For those nights when you need a shortcut, a few prepared items thrown into the mix can truly come to the rescue. Veggie-loaded pasta sauce provides tons of flavors without all the chopping and mincing typically needed for a shepherd's pie.

For the Turkey and Vegetable Shepherd's Pie recipe, click here.

Making tacos doesn't have to be a hassle when the slow cooker does the work for you. All you need to do is add in beef brisket and a jar of green salsa and you can come home at the end of the day to dinner — this recipe couldn't be easier if you tried. Pair the brisket with tortillas and top with radishes, cheese, pickled onions, jalapenos or whatever you desire.

For the Two-Ingredient Slow Cooker Beef Brisket recipe, click here.

This is one easy casserole recipe that will have the family begging for more. It uses just a few ingredients, and even better, can be made all in one dish so there are almost no dishes.

For the One Dish Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Casserole recipe, click here.

Though grilled cheese is already an easy food to make, this recipe adds a superb spin on the classic sandwich. Slices of plum tomato and oregano leaves blend with the gooey goodness of mozzarella cheese, making it totally appropriate for dinner.

For the Oregano Grilled Cheese Sandwich recipe, click here.

Four ingredients are all you need to make this delicious, easy meatloaf recipe. The prepared olive tapenade adds tons of briny flavor, allowing you to skip dumping dozens of sauces and spices into this staple entree. Meatloaf takes a while to cook but it's all hands-off after the few minutes it takes to mix the few ingredients together.

For the Olive Tapenade Meatloaf recipe, click here.

Smoked ham is a great base for an easy weeknight dish since it's already cooked. In just 15 minutes you can take it to the next level with a glaze made from curry powder and a sugar mixture. If you have leftovers, slices of this ham are delicious for breakfast with a side of your favorite way to cook eggs.

For the Curried Glazed Canadian Bacon or Ham recipe, click here.

This grilled chicken recipe is enough to feed the whole family. Add some zesty flavors with lemon juice and whole lemons on the grill. Still hungry? Consider cooking another one of our 101 best chicken recipes.

For the Easy Mediterranean Spatchcocked Chicken recipe, click here.

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