Top 11 Beginner-Friendly Recipes
These 11 beginner-friendly recipes are perfect for new cooks as well as those who need dishes that don’t require too much work or hours in the kitchen. Although I’ve been cooking since I was a preteen, I still make these foods when I’m in a time crunch. All of them are delicious and sure to make anyone feel good about what they serve.
Easy Recipes for Beginners
All of my recipes lean toward the easy side of the cooking scale. I started out making meals when I was 10. Of course, I messed up a lot, but everything was still edible.
The recipes you’ll see below are all delicious as well as simple. In some cases, I started out with convenience food that I enhanced. In my book, that’s okay. And it gives new cooks as well as seasoned cooks lots of options for saving time while still putting a delicious meal on the table.
1. 3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken
This is perhaps one of the easiest dinner recipes I’ve ever made. Just put the ingredients in the Crock Pot or whatever slow cooker you have, pop on the lid, and turn it on. Come back a few hours later to a delicious main dish. Serve it with your favorite side.
2. Improved Jar Alfredo Sauce
Do you enjoy the flavor of homemade Alfredo sauce? You can pick up some jars when they go on sale, add a few things to it, and make it taste homemade. Seriously, this is my favorite way to have Alfredo. And don’t limit yourself to serving it over pasta. It’s just as good over rice or mashed potatoes!
3. Hobo Casserole
I love this casserole for so many reasons. After all, what’s not to love? It’s easy to make, budget-friendly, delicious, and filling. I’m sure you can find some of your own reasons too. Try this recipe once and listen to the reviews around the table. I bet this becomes one of your family’s favorite meals!
4. Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin
Yes, this is another set it and forget it types of main dishes. It’s loaded with flavor, but it’s a super easy recipe that even a first-time cook can make without any problems. Although I’ve been cooking for more than half a century, it’s still on my dinner rotation list.
5. Hamburger Tater Tot Casserole
There may be a time when you have a lot more people to feed than normal. Whether it’s a bunch of overnight guests or your teenage athletes bringing their entire team home for dinner, this is a total winner! It’s budget-friendly, filling, and delicious!
6. Pork Sausage and Rice Skillet Dinner
This meal appears more complicated than it actually is. In fact, it’s super easy, and it only takes about half an hour to make. It’s also a one-pot (or one-pan) meal. That makes cleanup a breeze, so you can enjoy the rest of the night with your family or guests.
7. Creamy Crab Casserole
If you’re looking for a low-carb option for dinner, this one should make you very happy. The blend of flavors will delight any seafood lovers in your family. I like to serve it with a side salad. If there’s someone at the table who likes a lot of carbs, simply add a bread option.
8. Easy Meatloaf Recipe
One of the most notable comfort foods is the classic meatloaf. I know that a lot of people like to add milk to their meat mixture, which is fine. However, this one is made without milk. I started making this recipe when I suspected one of my daughters couldn’t tolerate dairy. Even after we discovered that wasn’t the case, I continued using this recipe because we liked it so much.
9. Ro-Tel Chili
If you enjoy a bowl of chili but don’t have the time to make the traditional version, try this one. It only has 3 ingredients, and you can have it on the table in half an hour. Serve it with tortilla chips or cornbread and watch the smiles form on the faces of everyone.
10. Chicken Rice Soup
I realize that some people eat soup in colder months. That’s not my family. Since we’ve lived in warmer climates most of our lives, I serve it any time I’m in the mood for it. This chicken rice soup is super easy and budget friendly. You can use leftover chicken or even canned chicken to make this deliciously filling soup!
11. Burrito Casserole
What do you do when you’re in the mood for south-of-the-border flavors but don’t have much time? Simply whip out some frozen burritos, pop them in a casserole dish, and add the toppings. So simple and super quick!
Delicious Desserts
It’s always fun to end a meal with dessert. Even if you’re not the most experienced cook on the block, you can make sweet treats without much effort.
These crescent roll turnovers from Out of the Box Baking are simple but impressive. You only need a couple of ingredients to make them, and the payoff is wonderful!
I love easy-to-bake recipes, which is why I make a bunch of different dump cakes. One of our favorites is this pineapple dump cake. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the most amazing flavor sensation! In addition to tasting great, it makes the house smell fabulous!
Have you ever had a dessert pizza? If not, it’s time to change that with this brownie and fruit dessert pizza that will rock your world. It’s absolutely yum!
Enjoy Home-Cooked Meals Without a Lot of Fuss
There is absolutely no reason to avoid cooking meals. If you want to save money and feed your family and friends delicious food, try these easy recipes.
