23 Basic Recipes Every Home Cook Should Know How to Make

Cooking at home can be intimidating, especially if you’re starting out. With so many recipes and techniques, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

However, there are a core set of recipes that form the foundation of home cooking– and set you up for success. Mastering a few essential recipes can make you feel more confident in the kitchen and able to prepare a variety of delicious meals.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced cook, these recipes will help you develop your cooking skills.

Basic Salad Dressing

this Recipe

Perfect for chopped salads, marinades, and more! This tangy Italian salad dressing is so much better and healthier than bottled dressing. All you need is olive oil, lemon juice or vinegar and dried herbs to make your own homemade salad dressing.

Make the recipe: Italian Dressing Recipe

Crowd-Pleasing Pasta Bake

A big pan of cheesy pasta is great for a hearty dinner that feeds a crowd. It’s also the go-to dish to share for new parents, to feed a broken heart, or to welcome new neighbors with.

This pasta bake is made with no-bake noodles, making it even easier to put together for busy weeknights! Throw everything together in a baking dish, top with cheese and bake until bubbly!

Make the recipe: Pasta Bake with No Bake Noodles

The Best Chocolate Birthday Cake

Every home cook needs a cake recipe and this is an easy one to master. A classic chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. The perfect birthday cake or decadent dessert recipe.

Get the recipe: The Best Chocolate Cake Recipe

Homemade Bread

You don’t have to be an amateur baker to make this loaf. It’s no-knead, meaning you combine all of the ingredients into a bowl and then proof on the counter overnight or in the Instant Pot.

The results? An effortless and simplified crusty bread.

Get the recipe: No-Knead Instant Pot Bread recipe

Homemade Salsa

This roja salsa is made with simple, pantry ingredients and made in the blender! Ready in just 10 minutes and perfect on tacos, enchiladas, taco bowls, burritos, and more.

Skip the store-bought salsa and learn to make homemade salsa instead.

Make the recipe: Salsa Roja

Easy Fried Rice

The perfect back pocket meal. Quick and easy Chinese egg fried rice recipe with fluffy scrambled eggs that coat each grain of rice! Ready from start to finish in 15 minutes!

Save this for nights when you aren’t sure what to cook, but need a healthy dinner on the table in minutes.

Chili

Chili is a staple in cold weather months, and there are as many different versions as there are opinions about what makes a good chili. That’s why every cook needs at least one recipe, and they would be happy to enter into a chili cookoff. This white bean version is somehow both unexpected and a classic.

Packed with spice and so much rich flavor and topped with sour cream and cheese.

Make the recipe: White Bean Chili

The Perfect Breakfast Muffin

A muffin should be not too sweet (it’s not a cupcake) and wholesome enough to enjoy for both breakfast and a snack. These honey pear muffins are made with fresh pears, oats, walnuts, and wheat flour. Perfect for breakfast, as a snack, or with coffee! 

Recipe: Honey Pear Muffins

Simple Pasta Salad

This pasta salad recipe is a must for potlucks and picnics. It takes just minutes to prep and, because it’s mayo-free, can be made ahead of time for any summer gathering.

Make the recipe: Simple Pasta Salad

An Appetizer You Can Put Together in Just 5 Minutes

The best pico de gallo recipe! Ready in just minutes, it’s a must-save recipe for whenever a company unexpectedly comes over. If you are looking for a fresh homemade salsa recipe, you must try this one. With only 5 ingredients, you’ll want to make this pico de gallo recipe all year.

Get the Recipe: Pico de Gallo

A Simple Side Dish

Even so-called broccoli haters will love this simple broccoli recipe.

Toss lightly steamed broccoli with garlic-infused olive oil, salt and pepper and serve. This simple side dish is a must for any home cook, and pairs well with everything from pasta to grilled proteins.

Get the Recipe: Garlic Broccoli

Vegetable and Bean Soup

A soup made with inexpensive beans and whatever leftover vegetables you have is a must-know recipe for any home cook.

This Italian farro soup recipe has beans, farro, tomatoes and vegetables in an aromatic broth. Simple, healthy and easy.

Make the recipe: Italian Farro Bean Soup

Impressive Chocolate Chip Cookies

Every home cook should have a good chocolate chip cookie recipe. These are the best chocolate chip cookies, made with brown sugar and plenty of chocolate chips.

Crispy on the edges and soft in the middle, you’ll make this cookie recipe over and over again.

Make the recipe: Chocolate Chip Cookies

Strawberry Jam

Homemade jam is easier to make than you may think, and this strawberry jam recipe only needs a handful of ingredients: strawberries, lemon juice, sugar and pectin. With a quarter of the sugar in traditional jam recipes, it’s a must-make and can be substituted with other fruits to enjoy all year long.

Get the Recipe: Strawberry Jam

Homemade Tomato Sauce

Jarred sauce is fine, but knowing how to make your own from canned tomatoes doesn’t take that much more effort. This spicy homemade tomato sauce is made with crushed red pepper and lots of garlic.

Make the recipe: Simple Tomato Sauce

Homemade Granola Bars

DIY healthy granola bars! A mix of rolled oats, dried fruit, almond butter, and whatever other mix-ins you want. Perfect as a snack bar or a breakfast bar.

Make the recipe: Homemade Granola Bars

Easy Homemade Enchilada Sauce

This simple enchilada sauce takes 15 minutes to make and is perfect in your favorite enchilada recipe. Once you try it, you’ll never go back to regular canned enchilada sauce again.

Make the recipe: Easy Homemade Enchilada Sauce

Beans from Scratch

Knowing how to make beans from scratch is a must-know for all home cooks. Not only are dried beans less expensive than canned, they also taste better too.

Below is a complete primer for how to cook black beans from scratch. Tips for slow cooker, Instant Pot and on the stove.

Make the recipe: How to Cook Black Beans from Scratch

Crowd-Pleasing Breakfast Casserole

Whether you have weekend company or are entertaining for a shower or the holidays, having a great crowd-pleasing breakfast casserole in your back pocket is a must.

This French toast casserole is perfect for crowds. Make it at night, and it’s ready in the morning!

Make the recipe: French Toast Casserole

Crispy Tofu Cubes

If you think you don’t like tofu, it’s just because you don’t know how to cook it. This foolproof recipe makes for crispy tofu cubes that you can use in any recipe– try bowls, salads, as a side dish and more.

Make the recipe: Crispy Tofu Cubes

Vegetables that Will Make You Love Vegetables

Any home chef should know how to make killer vegetables. Consider in-season vegetables such as spring peas, artichokes, asparagus, and more.

Learn how to cook asparagus like a chef! We’ll cover how to cook asparagus in the oven, steamed on the stove, sautéed in a pan, and blanch.

Make the recipe: How to Cook Asparagus

A Simple Hostess Gift

Ready in just 15 minutes, these candied jalapenos are a great hostess gift! Easy enough for any home cook to master, and requires just 6 ingredients.

Cook together sugar and apple cider vinegar along with a few spices, then add in thinly sliced jalapenos. Let cool slightly, then put into a jar and gift!

Get the Recipe: Candied Jalapeno Peppers

A Recipe to Use Up Wilted Greens

Do you have a batch of spinach or kale that’s on it’s way out? Then make this simple green pasta.

Quickly blanch the greens, then blend with lemon juice, red pepper flakes and olive oil and toss with cooked pasta. Easy and delicious for any cooking level!

Get the Recipe: Pasta in Green Sauce