5 Ingredients or Less Slow-Cooker Recipes

This is one of my favorite casseroles to serve to guests. There are only five ingredients, but having the fresh bit of basil in every bite gives a bright component to each and every bite. It's important to cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces before cooking to make serving easier and to keep guests from having to use a knife. We call it Chicken Parmesan although there isn't any Parmesan listed in the recipe—you can add some at the table! Serve with hot fresh pasta and a green vegetable.

Sometimes the simplest dinners really are the tastiest. There are only four ingredients here, and the entire dish costs less than $8 to make, which is about $1 a serving. I often have all of these ingredients ready to go in the pantry and freezer, and make a variation of this dinner about twice a month, and my kids always look forward to it. Serve with a hunk of cornbread.

I have found frozen roasted corn at Trader Joe's, but it's super easy to make your own, and once you have tasted how good it is, you'll find a way to incorporate it in pretty much everything!

To make your own, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet on the stovetop over high heat. Add the frozen corn and cook, stirring often, until the corn has begun to brown and becomes a bit charred on all sides, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Serve this soup with a piece of crusty French bread and a green salad.

I usually don't brown my meat before adding it to the pot, but figured it wouldn't hurt since I already had dirtied up a pan! My rule of thumb for browning meat: It's not necessary unless you are trying to impress guests, or if you are conducting a side-by-side taste comparison. If you're simply trying to feed your family on a busy night, feel free to skip this step! Serve with hot mashed potatoes and a ladleful of the accumulated mushroom gravy.

The tiny bit of liquid smoke really creates a fantastic component to this barbecue sandwich. Serve this during your next tailgate party or potluck, and you'll have happy guests without having to spend the day in the kitchen or staffing the outdoor grill. Serve these with toppings such as sliced cheese, pickles, red onion, tomato, and lettuce.