ThePrep: Easy 5-Ingredient Dinners to Help You Cook From Your Pantry

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First things first—thank you so much to everyone who took the time to email sweet messages and fantastic ideas for future newsletters. I’m not even halfway done responding, so for those who haven’t gotten a reply just yet, it’s coming.

Speaking of it, a few months back, a lovely lady by the name of Dottie Carpenter sent me a kind message and shared a recipe idea of her own. It sounded so yummy and simple that I asked if we could share her recipe on EatingWell.com, to which she replied, “Recipes are no good if they're not shared”. <3 Dottie’s delicious recipe (the Roasted Red Pepper, Spinach & Feta Penne Pasta pictured above) is among this week’s easy five-ingredient dinners that will continue to help you cook from your pantry.

Your Meal Plan

The really basic recipe ideas from last week seem to be what many of you are needing, so we’re keeping with that trend with this week’s easy five-ingredient dinners (we don’t count pantry basics like olive oil, salt and pepper). While simple, these tasty dinners help make the most of what’s on hand to create a healthy week of meals. As always, make swaps as needed! Don’t have chicken for Tuesday’s Warm Chicken Salad with Peas & Polenta? Use canned beans. No polenta? Use a different grain! And if you’re fresh out of veggies, it’s not the end of the world.

Sunday: Roasted Red Pepper, Spinach & Feta Penne Pasta

Monday: Toast topped with hummus + fried egg + salsa + corn (canned or frozen)

Tuesday: Warm Chicken Salad with Peas & Polenta

Wednesday: Stuffed Potatoes with Salsa & Beans

Thursday: Pasta shells + frozen veggie medley + canned tomatoes + Italian seasoning + Parmesan cheese

Friday: Black Bean Quesadillas

Looking for something different? Browse all of EatingWell’s recipes

Breakfast!

Since I have more frozen fruit in my freezer than normal, I’ve been having fun experimenting with different smoothie combinations. This tropical-style Pineapple Green Smoothie is my current favorite and makes me feel like I’m at the beach!

Get the Recipe: Pineapple Green Smoothie

For those of you still heading out to work everyday (THANK YOU medical professionals, grocers and others who can’t stay home!), these Make-Ahead Smoothie Freezer Packs are easy to meal-prep and take to go. They’re also great to have on hand for quick meals even if you are home.

Treat Yourself

This citrusy cocktail made with gin, honey and a little lemon is a simple yet delicious sipper that I’ll be enjoying while chatting with my girlfriends for our virtual happy hour this weekend.

Get the Recipe: The Bee’s Knees Cocktail