15 Recipes Any Newbie Chef Can Learn

For many of us, 2016 was a doozy, but we here at Brit + Co are ready to hit refresh in 2017! Follow our Hit Refresh series through January for new ideas, hacks and skills that will help you achieve (and maintain!) those New Year’s resolutions.

Did you resolve to cook at home more — and spend less money eating out — this year? Making the majority of your meals at home can seem daunting at first, especially if you’re adulting (AKA cooking for yourself) for the first time. In addition to recipes you need to learn before you turn 25, there are lots of tips and tricks you need to know to keep things flavorful in your home kitchen. But rest assured, you don’t have to learn them all at once. There are plenty of quick and easy recipes for beginners (whether you’re clean-eating or trying out that pressure cooker) that can get you started. Here are 15 of our all-time favorite super-simple recipes for newbie chefs.

1. 3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Taco Chicken: Let’s start off with one of life’s greatest pleasures: tacos. Contrary to popular belief, tacos DO NOT need to be infused with all kinds of crazy ingredients in order to be delish. In fact, all you need to make this simple taco filling is chicken, salsa and taco seasoning. And whatever fixins you’d like, of course. (via Kristine’s Kitchen Blog)

2. Easy Asian Steak Bites: Clean AND super yummy, these Asian-inspired steak bites are easy to make (and to gobble up). Bonus points for the accompanying dipping sauce, which is made with mayo, lime juice, Sriracha and sugar. (via Chelsea’s Messy Apron)

3. Corn Off the Cob Soup: This hearty and warming soup is the perfect lunch or snack for chilly days, and it’s also pretty easy to make. Pro tip: To make it EXTREMELY easy to make, use canned or frozen corn rather than the fresh stuff. (via Mostly Homemade Mom)

4. One Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta: Listen up, newbie cooks: The fewer dishes you have to clean after preparing a meal, the better. That’s exactly why we *love* this one-pot pasta recipe. Well, that AND because it’s garlicky, cheesy and totally decadent. (via Damn Delicious)

5. Smashed White Bean, Basil and Avocado Sandwich: This delicious vegan sandwich is light and flavorful, and also packed with nutrients and healthy fats. We also think you should feel free to be creative with this too. In addition to sammies, use this salad over greens, as a side dish or inside of a spinach wrap. (via Pumpkin and Peanut Butter)

6. Crock Pot Vegetable Soup Recipe: Vegetable soup is one of those foods that always comes in handy. This recipe calls for meat, but you could add extra potatoes if you want to keep it veg. If you’re a carnivore, choose between ground beef, ground turkey and ground chicken. (via Eating on a Dime)

7. One Pot Pasta: One-pot pasta comes to the rescue once again in this filling and somewhat spicy recipe. The flavors of onion, smoked andouille sausage, basil, Parmesan and tomatoes come together in less than 20 minutes. It really doesn’t get much better than that. (via Damn Delicious)

8. Chickpea and Vegetable Stir Fry: Every newbie should know that when it comes to healthy cooking, stir-fry recipes are going to be one of the simplest methods in your cooking arsenal. This particular stir-fry features chickpeas (AKA garbanzo beans), red peppers, onions, sesame seeds and Brussels sprouts. (via Simple Vegan Blog)

9. Sheet Pan Steak and Veggies: It really doesn’t get much easier than putting some vegetables and meat onto a pan and popping it in the oven. Yet that’s EXACTLY what this recipe calls for. And, bonus, it’s also completely Paleo and Whole30 approved. (via Damn Delicious)

10. Amazing No-Knead Bread: Baking homemade bread is notoriously a complicated endeavor in the kitchen. But if you’ve ever dreamt of having a kitchen that smells of freshly baked bread, this recipe is a good place to start. Spoiler alert: You don’t need a bread maker OR any kneading skills to make this recipe. (via Frugal Living NW)

11. Easy Chicken Korma Curry: If you thought making exotic curry recipes had to be super difficult, think again. This AH-MAZING curry showcases the flavors of coriander, ginger, garlic, curry and yogurt, and only requires some basic boiling and sautéing. (via I Knead to Eat)

12. Easy Macaroni Casserole: Kid-friendly but also totally appropriate for adults, this comforting macaroni casserole is super filling — and perfect for freezing and then thawing for a weekday lunch. Make it with whole wheat noodles and light cheese to give it a little extra health factor. (via Skinny Taste)

13. Korean Chicken Skewers: Chicken skewers are healthy, light and ridiculously easy to make. The only catch is that you DO need a grill to heat these babies up. (via Chef in Training)

14. Italian Style Stir Fry: Here’s another low-carb stir-fry recipe that’s easy for beginners to whip up. You can use the sausage of your choice, but we personally recommend a pre-cooked Italian sausage if you want something quick and easy. (via Aggie’s Kitchen)

15. Easy Minestrone Soup: We thought we’d close with one of those life-saving dishes that often come in a can, but are TOTALLY better when homemade: minestrone. All you need to do is simmer some choice veggies, garlic, thyme, oregano, vegetable broth and pasta in a big pot, wait for the flavors to combine and enjoy. (via Eating Made Easy)

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