5 Dinners with 5 Ingredients or Less

Busy Mom Edition

As a busy working mom of two who’s down 50 lbs postpartum, fast dinners are basically my entire personality. When I say I don’t have brain space at 5 PM, I mean zero. These are the real dinners I make when kids are hungry, Slack is still pinging, and I need food on the table without thinking too hard.

All five dinners are:

• 5 ingredients or less
• High protein
• Built around real grocery store shortcuts from H-E-B, Trader Joe’s, Costco, and Whole Foods
• No advance prep, no unrealistic expectations

Save this post and screenshot the grocery list — these are true weeknight lifesavers.

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1. Cheesy Gordita Crunches at Home

Serves 3–4

This is the homemade version I’ve made for years. Crunchy, cheesy, filling, and always a hit. Taco Bell–inspired, but higher protein and made with ingredients I actually keep on hand.

Ingredients (5 or less)

• 1 lb ground beef
• 8–10 hard taco shells
• 8 small flour tortillas
• 1½ cups shredded Mexican-blend cheese
• ½ cup plain Greek yogurt

Pantry Staples (not counted)

• Taco seasoning
• Cholula or hot sauce

Optional

• Shredded lettuce
• Diced tomatoes

Directions

1. Brown ground beef in a skillet and season with taco seasoning.
2. In a small bowl, mix Greek yogurt with Cholula to make a quick spicy crema.
3. Warm a flour tortilla in a skillet, sprinkle cheese directly onto the tortilla, and heat until melted.
4. Press a hard taco shell onto the melted cheese so it sticks.
5. Fill with beef, drizzle with spicy crema, and add toppings if using.

Macros (approx., per serving)
Protein: 34–36g • Fiber: 4–5g

Adapted from my original Grain-Free Cheesy Gordita Crunch recipe.

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2. Thai Coconut Curry Chicken Bowls

Serves 2–3

This tastes like takeout but takes about five minutes of effort.

Ingredients (5 or less)

• 1 package Kevin’s Thai Coconut Curry Chicken
• 2 cups frozen broccoli
• 2 cups microwave jasmine rice
• Optional: lime wedges
• Optional: cilantro

Directions

1. Heat Kevin’s curry chicken according to package directions.
2. Steam or microwave broccoli.
3. Heat rice.
4. Serve curry over rice with broccoli on the side.

Macros (approx., per serving)
Protein: 30–33g • Fiber: 5–6g

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3. High-Protein Autumn Sheet Pan Dinner

Chicken, Apples & Brussels

Serves 3–4

Everything roasts together on one sheet pan, which means minimal cleanup and zero babysitting.

Ingredients (5 or less)

• 1½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 2 cups Brussels sprouts, halved or shredded
• 1 large Honeycrisp apple, chopped
• ½ yellow or red onion, chopped
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard

Pantry Staples (not counted)

• Olive oil
• Salt & pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. On a large sheet pan, add chicken, Brussels sprouts, apple, and onion.
3. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat evenly.
4. Spoon Dijon over the chicken and gently spread.
5. Roast 30–35 minutes, flipping once, until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are caramelized.
6. Optional: broil 2–3 minutes at the end for extra browning.

Macros (approx., per serving)
Protein: 36–38g • Fiber: 6–7g

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4. Viral Beef Bowls

Serves 2

High protein, filling, and incredibly easy to repeat.

Ingredients (5 or less)

• 1 lb ground beef
• 2 medium sweet potatoes, cubed
• 1 avocado
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• Taco seasoning

Optional

• Drizzle of hot honey

Directions

1. Roast sweet potatoes at 425°F with olive oil, salt, and pepper for 25–30 minutes.
2. Brown ground beef and season with taco seasoning.
3. Build bowls with sweet potatoes, beef, avocado, and cottage cheese.
4. Add hot honey if you like a sweet-spicy combo.

Macros (approx., per serving)
Protein: 45–50g • Fiber: 8–9g

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5. High-Protein Tortellini with Sausage

Serves 3–4

Comfort food without the mental load.

Ingredients (5 or less)

• 1 package high-protein cheese tortellini
• 12 oz Italian chicken or turkey sausage, sliced
• 1½ cups jarred marinara sauce
• Fresh basil
• Grated parmesan

Directions

1. Cook tortellini according to package directions.
2. Brown sausage in a skillet.
3. Add marinara and warm through.
4. Toss with tortellini.
5. Top with basil and parmesan.

Macros (approx., per serving)
Protein: 32–35g • Fiber: 4–5g

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Full Grocery List (with amounts)

Produce

• 2 cups Brussels sprouts
• 1 Honeycrisp apple
• ½ yellow or red onion
• 1 avocado
• Romaine or iceberg lettuce
• Fresh basil

Protein

• 1½ lbs chicken thighs
• 1 lb ground beef
• 12 oz Italian chicken or turkey sausage

Freezer

• Frozen broccoli

Grains & Bakery

• Hard taco shells
• Small flour tortillas
• Microwave jasmine rice
• High-protein tortellini

Dairy

• Shredded Mexican-blend cheese
• Plain Greek yogurt
• Cottage cheese
• Parmesan

Pantry

• Dijon mustard
• Taco seasoning
• Marinara sauce
• Hot honey (optional)

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Want More Real-Life Meals Like This?

If these dinners feel doable, that’s intentional. This is exactly how I plan food as a full-time working mom of two — simple rotations, minimal prep, and meals that actually keep you full.

👉 Follow me on Instagram @kee_to_wellness for realistic high-protein meals, mom life, and mental load conversations.
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Food should support your life, not complicate it 🤍