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Home Recipe Round-Ups

10+ Easy Recipes for the Beginner Cook

Polly Conner
By: Polly ConnerPosted: 10/11/24Updated: 11/11/24

This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Getting started in the kitchen can feel intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! We’ve rounded up 10 simple, foolproof recipes that are perfect for beginner cooks. Whether you’re learning to make meals for the first time or need some quick, tasty ideas to add to your rotation, these recipes will set you up for success.

Collage of easy meals for beginner cooks. this …


 
Table of Contents
  • 10+ Recipes for the Beginning Cook
  • In Conclusion
  • More Recipe Collections You Might Like

10+ Recipes for the Beginning Cook

We all had to start somewhere. When younger cooks tell me they have no idea how to cook, my advice to them is, “Take one recipe at a time.”

Aside from a few basics I learned from my parents, that is how I learned. And now I have two published cookbooks.

This roundup is for those who just need some simple starter recipes that will make you look and feel like a skilled chef or baker.

Chicken Parmesan Casserole in an 8x8 baking dish with fresh basil leaves on top.

Chicken Parmesan Casserole

Simple and delicious. Simply layer a few ingredients together and bake. This will quickly become a go-to recipe in your home. Like the slow cooker? Then, try our Chicken Parmesan Sliders instead.

 

Newbie Tip: Buy a fully-cooked rotisserie chicken at the grocery store, pull off the meat, and you’ve got an even quicker and easier meal. Hey, and don’t forget to save the chicken bones to make some chicken broth to freeze for later. Wow, you’re really cooking now!

Chicken Parmesan Casserole
roasted sauges and veggies on two gray plates with a fork, napkin, and drink on the side

Sheet Pan Chicken Sausage and Veggies

This sheet pan dinner only requires 3 main ingredients and is nutritious and satisfying. Under 30 minutes from start to finish and perfect for weekly meal prep!

Sheet Pan Chicken Sausage and Veggies
A hand lifting a ham and cheese slider from a baking dish with a spatula.

Ham and Cheese Sliders

This has become my “people are coming over” dish of choice. Simple ingredients, easy to assemble and make ahead of time, and impressive in taste.

Ham and Cheese Sliders
Powerball cookies stacked on a gray serving platter.

Powerball Cookies

These healthier, no-bake cookies are super easy to put together. I love to freeze them and pull a few out at a time to have as an afternoon snack. No baking necessary!

Powerball Cookies
Roasted broccoli on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Oven Roasted Broccoli

Once you’ve had broccoli this way, you will never go back. I wish I would have known about this trick 10 years ago. I would have eaten many more veggies back in the day.

Oven Roasted Broccoli
Easy homemade granola in a white bowl.

Simple Homemade Granola

SO many people have asked me for this recipe over the years. Most are amazed at how simple and easy it is to make, too. Store for weeks in the fridge for a quick and healthy breakfast or snack.

Homemade Granola
Pulled Pork sandwich and coleslaw on a plate with a small bowl of homemade BBQ sauce next to it.

Crockpot Pulled Pork

Who doesn’t love a simple BBQ Pulled Pork sandwich with moist shredded meat? After a day in the slow cooker, this shredded pork is a total crowd-pleaser. Not only is it an easy dump-and-go meal for the Crockpot but it’s also a great make-ahead freezer meal!

Crockpot Pulled Pork
Southwest chicken tenders on the grill.

Southwest Chicken Tenders

We LOVE this recipe. I didn’t realize how easy it was to make either! Impressive results for very little work and cooking skills. Once you’ve made the chicken tenders, you can toss them into Southwest Chicken Bacon Wraps or Southwest Chicken Burritos Bowls.

Southwest Chicken Tenders
Bowl of easy crockpot vegetarian tortilla soup on a gold tea towel with lime wedges around it.

Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

This pantry staple Vegetarian Tortilla Soup recipe is a meatless “one-pot wonder” that I’ve been making and freezing for years for my family. Filled with beans, tomatoes, chilis, corn, and more, it only gets better the longer it sits in the fridge.

Vegetarian Tortilla Soup
Breakfast egg muffins on a white serving platter.

Breakfast Egg Muffins

A great recipe to kick off the day! Assemble a few ingredients and simply bake. You can customize it to what ingredients you like. These refrigerate well, so make them ahead of time and enjoy all week long. You may also like our Oven Omelet.

Breakfast Egg Muffins
Chicken Taquitos piled on a serving platter with avocado lime salsa on top.

Creamy Chicken Taquitos

Slow cooker chicken and cheese taquitos is a delicious meal that the whole family will love! Be sure to make a double batch for the freezer. Then, you can pull out however many you want and throw them directly in the oven for a quick weeknight dinner.

Creamy Chicken Taquitos
Baked Oatmeal in a square white casserole dish.

Mixed Fruit Baked Oatmeal

Oh, my blessed baked oatmeal. Everyone should have this recipe in their back pocket. It’s hearty and packed with good ingredients to start your day. Try our other variations too:

  • Peanut Butter and Banana Baked Oatmeal
  • Brownie Baked Oatmeal
  • Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal

Mixed Fruit Baked Oatmeal
Mexican Chicken served in a white bowl with avocado chunks, shredded cheese, and chopped cilantro on top.

Crockpot Mexican Chicken

This creamy, comforting Crockpot Mexican Chicken makes for a delicious, healthy, and EASY meal. Serve over brown rice or Cilantro Lime Rice with your favorite Mexican toppings. Freezer meal instructions included, so you can double the batch and have another later.

Or, try our Instant Pot Mexican Chicken recipe instead.

Crockpot Mexican Chicken

In Conclusion

Mastering the basics of cooking is easier than you think with these beginner-friendly recipes. As you gain confidence in the kitchen, you’ll be able to experiment and build on these foundational skills.

Remember, the more you cook, the more fun it becomes! So keep practicing, enjoy the process, and savor every delicious bite.

More Recipe Collections You Might Like

20+ Easy Crock Pot Recipes

20+ Easy Packed Lunch Ideas for Kids

20+ Big-Batch Meals for Families

freezer meals made with ground beef as the main ingredient.

Ground Beef Freezer Meals

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Polly Conner

Polly Conner

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Polly’s passionate about helping busy parents get dinner on the table. With a house full of kids, dogs, and (usually) a DIY project in the works, she knows firsthand how every minute (and every dollar) counts. As a business owner, she enjoys wearing multiple hats and serves best as a project manager for Thriving Home.

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