If you are in the middle of building your recipe bank, I know it can be challenging to find easy recipes for beginners that aren’t too complicated to plan for and actually taste good.
To help, I have gathered some of the meals that made me feel more confident in my early days of regular cooking and meal planning. I hope these will help you in the same way!
I’ve included a variety of easy recipes for beginners: one-pot, 30-minute, crockpot/slow cooker, meatless, and even some meals that rely heavily on frozen/canned goods so you can stretch out your groceries. A lot of them can probably be made with kitchen staples you already have lying around too!
Affiliate Disclaimer
This blog includes “affiliate links” where I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking the link at no additional cost to you. However, all opinions are my own and I only endorse companies that I genuinely recommend.
We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We also participate in affiliate programs with other sites and are compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.
This sort of income helps make this blog possible, so thank you!
This is a great meal you can easily adapt to have an almost non-perishable meal. You can use canned chickpeas and tomatoes, instant rice, or frozen spinach (or you can pre-cook dry ones and freeze them), and BOOM, this meal is in your back pocket for any time you need it 🙂 Also, I normally don’t use harissa, opting for red pepper flakes instead.
Such an easy and flexible soup! You can add corn, spinach, extra beans, or whatever you want. This is one of the very first meals I started cooking in college, and it’s still one I look forward to every time I plan it! Plus, I can’t complain that it takes less than 10 minutes to throw together the night before. This is not to mention it makes a perfect comfort meal for someone in need or a great basic option for meal prep!
Another Mexican soup but it is SO. GOOD. and could not be any easier! I also am a huge fan of Ali at Gimme Some Oven so do yourself a favor and spend some time looking at other recipes on her site.
Alright, I’m gonna let you in on a secret with this one… I don’t even make the sauce. I took this “Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu” and made it “Practically Foolproof Chicken Cordon Bleu.” I’m sure it’s awesome with the sauce, but I kind of forgot it was even part of the recipe, and it totally rocks on its own! It is amazing with some rosemary potatoes and veggies, and I still feel a little fancy every time I make it. (Is that embarrassing?)
I love, love, love this recipe, and added bonus – my husband likes to make it for some reason? It is so much simpler than the perfectly-lined version, and (just to reveal how committed I am to easy recipes & easy grocery store trips) I often just use extra zucchini if I can’t get eggplant conveniently or cheaply. Sometimes we eat this over rice, pasta, or mostly just by itself!
This is an incredibly simple & tasty meatless meal, which quickly became a staple around here. I’m not going to say that lentils can actually replace ground beef or turkey, but lentils are a neat and very cheap variation.
I know, I know- so many Mexican recipes- but this one is different! Sweet potatoes are way more versatile that given credit for, and this recipe is the perfect example.
This isn’t a meal (although I have no judgment if you make it one) but they make an incredible side to just about anything. These are really easy to make and keep my fast-food cravings in check!
SAVE TIME ON GROCERIES
The COVID pandemic converted me completely to ordering groceries online.
By quickly adding what you need online, you can do all your groceries in less than 10 minutes!
Put grocery shopping on autopilot by using Amazon Fresh!
Hopefully these Easy Recipes for Beginners Give you some Inspiration!
I hope this helps as you gather recipes you love! Stick with what is easy and has ingredients you like as you start, then branch out later once you feel more confident. If you’re looking for more meal inspiration, check out some more recipe guides below!
If you are in the middle of building your recipe bank, I know it can be challenging to find easy recipes for beginners that aren’t too complicated to plan for and actually taste good.
To help, I have gathered some of the meals that made me feel more confident in my early days of regular cooking and meal planning. I hope these will help you in the same way!
I’ve included a variety of easy recipes for beginners: one-pot, 30-minute, crockpot/slow cooker, meatless, and even some meals that rely heavily on frozen/canned goods so you can stretch out your groceries. A lot of them can probably be made with kitchen staples you already have lying around too!
Affiliate Disclaimer
This blog includes “affiliate links” where I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking the link at no additional cost to you. However, all opinions are my own and I only endorse companies that I genuinely recommend.
We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We also participate in affiliate programs with other sites and are compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.
This sort of income helps make this blog possible, so thank you!
10 Easy Recipes for Beginners
1. Chickpea & Spinach Stew
This is a great meal you can easily adapt to have an almost non-perishable meal. You can use canned chickpeas and tomatoes, instant rice, or frozen spinach (or you can pre-cook dry ones and freeze them), and BOOM, this meal is in your back pocket for any time you need it 🙂 Also, I normally don’t use harissa, opting for red pepper flakes instead.
2. Chicken Tortilla Soup
Such an easy and flexible soup! You can add corn, spinach, extra beans, or whatever you want. This is one of the very first meals I started cooking in college, and it’s still one I look forward to every time I plan it! Plus, I can’t complain that it takes less than 10 minutes to throw together the night before. This is not to mention it makes a perfect comfort meal for someone in need or a great basic option for meal prep!
3. White Chicken Chili
Another Mexican soup but it is SO. GOOD. and could not be any easier! I also am a huge fan of Ali at Gimme Some Oven so do yourself a favor and spend some time looking at other recipes on her site.
4. Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu
Alright, I’m gonna let you in on a secret with this one… I don’t even make the sauce. I took this “Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu” and made it “Practically Foolproof Chicken Cordon Bleu.” I’m sure it’s awesome with the sauce, but I kind of forgot it was even part of the recipe, and it totally rocks on its own! It is amazing with some rosemary potatoes and veggies, and I still feel a little fancy every time I make it. (Is that embarrassing?)
5. Italian Chicken Pasta Soup
Very easy soup, although I tend to crank up the spices for flavor. You just can’t beat a good crockpot meal!
6. Caribbean Jerk Salmon Bowls
I found this more recently, and it does have a few moving parts, but it is SO fresh and very good.
7. Rustic Ratatouille
I love, love, love this recipe, and added bonus – my husband likes to make it for some reason? It is so much simpler than the perfectly-lined version, and (just to reveal how committed I am to easy recipes & easy grocery store trips) I often just use extra zucchini if I can’t get eggplant conveniently or cheaply. Sometimes we eat this over rice, pasta, or mostly just by itself!
8. Lentil Tacos
This is an incredibly simple & tasty meatless meal, which quickly became a staple around here. I’m not going to say that lentils can actually replace ground beef or turkey, but lentils are a neat and very cheap variation.
9. Black Bean and Sweet Potato Burritos
I know, I know- so many Mexican recipes- but this one is different! Sweet potatoes are way more versatile that given credit for, and this recipe is the perfect example.
10. Sweet Potato Fries
This isn’t a meal (although I have no judgment if you make it one) but they make an incredible side to just about anything. These are really easy to make and keep my fast-food cravings in check!
SAVE TIME ON GROCERIES
The COVID pandemic converted me completely to ordering groceries online.
By quickly adding what you need online, you can do all your groceries in less than 10 minutes!
Put grocery shopping on autopilot by using Amazon Fresh!
Hopefully these Easy Recipes for Beginners Give you some Inspiration!
I hope this helps as you gather recipes you love! Stick with what is easy and has ingredients you like as you start, then branch out later once you feel more confident. If you’re looking for more meal inspiration, check out some more recipe guides below!
By: Brennan Brown
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