Easy Recipes For Beginners

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When you’re first learning how to cook, finding a good recipe can be overwhelming. Instead of spending hours wading through the vast sea of online recipes for something that is delicious, EASY, and doesn’t require obscure ingredients, just come back to this list. We did the legwork and rounded up over 25 of our best, reader-favorite, easy recipes that are perfect for beginners. So you can stop searching and go straight to the kitchen to get your cook on!

DINNER RECIPES FOR BEGINNERS

A dinner recipe your whole house will enjoy eating may seem daunting for a beginner. However, these recipes will not only feed the crowd and be ready in just a few steps, but they’ll also have everyone begging for more.

Sheet Pan Kielbasa Potatoes and Green Beans

Sheet pan meals don't get any easier or more delicious than this Sheet Pan Kielbasa Potatoes and Green Beans dinner.

4.86 from 42 votes

$9.47 recipe / $2.37 serving Get the Recipe

Sheet Pan Kielbasa Potatoes and Green Beans - Filling, tasty, and as easy as it gets, with only SIX simple ingredients, and very little hands on time. What more you could want from a dinner recipe! 🙌

Sheet Pan BBQ Meatloaf Dinner

Make an entire dinner for two at one time with this fast and easy Sheet Pan BBQ Meatloaf Dinner. Perfect for meal prep!

4.94 from 62 votes

$6.27 recipe / $3.14 serving Get the Recipe

Sheet Pan BBQ Meatloaf Dinner - This really has to be one of the fastest and easiest dinners EVER! Vegetable sides along with the loaves to make a whole dinner in one swoop. This Sheet Pan BBQ Meatloaf Dinner is seriously so easy and customizable, you’ll be making it your own in no time!

Easy French Bread Pizza

French Bread Pizza is the perfect budget-friendly fast and easy weeknight dinner. Customize the toppings to fit your taste buds or what you have on hand!

4.19 from 11 votes

$2.45 recipe / $0.61 each (cheese pizza) Get the Recipe

Easy French Bread Pizza - One of our favorite reasons for making French Bread Pizza is because it’s a great way to use up the leftovers in your fridge. You can top pizzas with just about anything, so dive into your refrigerator and find some creative pizza toppings!

Sloppy Joes

Ground beef in a tangy sauce piled onto a soft bun, homemade Sloppy Joes are an easy, classic American weeknight dinner.

4.80 from 10 votes

$10.20 recipe / $2.04 serving Get the Recipe

Sloppy Joes - Homemade Sloppy Joes are quick, easy, full of flavor, AND freezer friendly. 🙌 Plus, we’ve got some tips for you in the recipe, like replacing half the beef with lentils, to make them even more budget-friendly, since the price of ground beef isn’t getting lower anytime soon.

VEGETARIAN RECIPES FOR BEGINNERS

Are you new to trying vegetarian meals? Worried they may not fill you up? Be ready to stuff yourself with these veggie-packed recipes! What’s even better, many of these recipes use frozen rather than fresh vegetables because they don’t go bad quickly and are cheaper!

Curried Chickpeas with Spinach

These super fast Curried Chickpeas with spinach are packed with flavor and nutrients, vegan, gluten-free, and filling! Plus they freeze great!

4.74 from 146 votes

$4.68 recipe / $1.17 serving Get the Recipe

Curried Chickpeas with Spinach - This is how food should be. Uncomplicated, fast, and super tasty. The simple tomato sauce is kicked up a few notches with curry powder (hot or mild, your choice) and would probably be good poured over just about anything.

Cold Peanut Noodle Salad

This Cold Peanut Noodle Salad with homemade peanut lime dressing is the perfect meal prep for summer! No reheating necessary.

4.91 from 85 votes

$5.30 recipe / $1.33 serving Get the Recipe

Cold Peanut Noodle Salad - No need to reheat, it’s light but filling, and the flavors are oh so fresh. This delicious salad is topped off with a homemade tangy, sweet, and creamy Peanut Lime Dressing to make everything finger-licking good.

Creamy White Bean and Spinach Quesadillas

Crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, these insanely delicious Creamy White Bean and Spinach Quesadillas make an awesomely fast weeknight dinner.

4.93 from 79 votes

$3.99 recipe / $1.00 per quesadilla Get the Recipe

Creamy White Bean and Spinach Quesadillas - The incredible ease and low cost of these Creamy White Bean and Spinach Quesadillas might make them the best quesadilla on our website. They literally only take about 20 minutes and are so freaking good.

Cheesy Pinto Beans

Cheesy Pinto Beans are a quick and satisfying meal made with simple pantry staple ingredients, like canned beans.

4.88 from 41 votes

$2.96 recipe / $0.74 serving Get the Recipe

Cheesy Pinto Beans - We love exploring really simple ways to transform pantry staples, like canned beans, into a filling and satisfying meal. When served over rice, you’ve got an easy and satisfying meal for pennies.

EASY PASTA RECIPES

Mom’s spaghetti just got an upgrade. These easy pasta recipes are not only budget-friendly, but they taste incredible, too! Add a couple of these to your dinner menu this week.

The Best Weeknight Pasta Sauce

This rich and subtle pasta sauce is incredibly easy, which has earned it the title of The Best Weeknight Pasta Sauce in my house!

4.90 from 28 votes

$4.35 recipe / $1.09 serving Get the Recipe

The Best Weeknight Pasta Sauce - This sauce is incredibly easy and uses only a few ingredients, yet has a wonderfully rich and hearty flavor. It’s perfect for a simple spaghetti night, or with to serve with our Roasted Eggplant with Meat Sauce recipe.

Pasta with Bacon and Peas

Pasta with Bacon and Peas is a quick, satisfying, and inexpensive meal that you can make with ingredients that you can keep on hand.

4.64 from 11 votes

$4.00 recipe / $1.33 serving Get the Recipe

Pasta With Bacon And Peas - This simple dish is a perfect combo of pantry and leftover ingredients! It starts with our favorite quick meal template (pasta + Parmesan + greens), and then we add a little bacon for a simple and delicious meal.

Garlic Noodles with Beef and Broccoli

Garlic Noodles with Beef and Broccoli is a quick and easy all-in-one bowl dinner recipe with a rich, buttery, salty, and sweet sauce.

4.68 from 40 votes

$6.55 recipe / $1.63 serving Get the Recipe

Garlic Noodles With Beef And Broccoli - These noodles are super rich, buttery, salty-sweet, and an umami filled dream. They’re usually served as a side dish, but we’ve turned them into a full meal.

Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta

Easier than a box meal, this creamy tomato and spinach pasta is also more flavorful and delicious. 100% real ingredients. Perfect for busy weeknights!

4.85 from 403 votes

$3.72 recipe / $0.93 serving Get the Recipe

Creamy Tomato And Spinach Pasta - Quick skillet pasta dishes like this Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta are perfect after a long day. They require only a few ingredients, cook up super fast, and leave you feeling full and happy!

Spicy Orecchiette with Chicken Sausage and Kale

Spicy Orecchiette with Chicken Sausage and Kale is a fast, easy, and filling weeknight dinner that will always satisfy. Plus, leftovers reheat beautifully!

4.87 from 23 votes

$7.74 recipe / $1.94 serving Get the Recipe

Spicy Orecchiette With Chicken Sausage And Kale - If you’re a Budget Bytes veteran, you probably have memorized this formula for fast weeknight dinners (pasta + parmesan + vegetable). But for all our new friends, this one will change your dinner game!

EASY SOUP RECIPES

Soup recipes are perfect for beginners because they’re easy, the leftovers are great, and they’re super budget-friendly! So ditch that canned soup and make a big pot of one of these easy soups to feed you for the rest of the week.

Easy Minestrone Soup

This easy Vegetarian Minestrone Soup is hearty, chock full of vegetables, budget friendly, meal prep ready, and super flexible!

4.84 from 24 votes

$5.96 recipe / $0.99 serving Get the Recipe

Easy Minestrone Soup - This Vegetarian Minestrone ticks all of our Budget Bytes boxes: easy, inexpensive, flexible, and meal prep friendly!

Easy Dumpling Soup

Easy Dumpling Soup is the perfect quick dinner because it’s endlessly versatile, insanely budget-friendly, and can be made in 15 minutes.

4.91 from 11 votes

$2.98 RECIPE / $1.49 SERVING Get the Recipe

Easy Dumpling Soup - A quick-and-simple homemade lunch or an effortless dinner that’s still wholesome, comforting, and budget-friendly. Dressing up mostly store-bought ingredients, in order to scratch that “itch” for when ordering out isn’t on the menu.

Coconut Curry Ramen

You only need 5 simple ingredients and about 10 minutes to make this Coconut Curry Ramen, a vibrant bowl full of bold colors and flavors.

5 from 18 votes

$1.34 recipe / $1.34 serving Get the Recipe

Coconut Curry Ramen - You only need five simple ingredients and about ten minutes to make this bowl of delicious noodles. Plus, there’s no chopping required, so this coconut curry ramen is a really great choice for anyone just starting out.

Easy Rosemary Garlic White Bean Soup

This incredibly easy Rosemary Garlic White Bean Soup takes only eight simple ingredients to deliver a bowl full of rich, bold flavor.

4.80 from 124 votes

$2.49 recipe / $0.62 serving Get the Recipe

Easy Rosemary Garlic White Bean Soup - This easy Rosemary Garlic White Bean Soup only takes eight simple ingredients, is crazy flavorful, and will give you all those warm cozy vibes!

Tomato Herb Soup

Use basic pantry staples to create this quick and easy Tomato Herb Soup. It's thick, rich, flavorful, and perfect for grilled cheese dipping!

4.83 from 47 votes

$2.62 recipe / $0.52 serving Get the Recipe

Tomato Herb Soup - A deliciously tangy, herb-infused sauce became the great beginning to a super fast, easy, and delicious homemade Tomato Herb Soup.

BOWL MEALS FOR BEGINNERS

Layered with flavors that combine in every bite, bowl meals are another way to get more comfortable in the kitchen. They are simple, fast, and affordable. Try these easy bowl meals and soon you’ll be on your way to creating your own with ingredients you already have on hand!

BBQ Beef and Beans

Serve these sweet, tangy, and savory BBQ Beef and Beans with rice and cheese for a simple and comforting weeknight dinner the whole family will love.

4.90 from 28 votes

$7.68 recipe / $1.92 serving Get the Recipe

BBQ Beef And Beans - These BBQ Beef and Beans are like the love child of baked beans and beef chili. They’re hearty and flavorful, they meal prep well, and can be as no-fuss or as “from scratch” as you want them to be.

Poor Man’s Burrito Bowls

These easy no-frills burrito bowls are super fast and affordable. They're the perfect satisfying weeknight meal for times when money is tight!

4.85 from 58 votes

$7.07 recipe / $1.18 serving Get the Recipe

Poor Man’s Burrito Bowls - A big bowl of rice, black beans, salsa, and cheese. It’s only a few ingredients, it’s super inexpensive, but somehow still so filling and so delicious!

Loaded Mashed Potato Bowls

Creamy potatoes make the perfect base for a pile of colorful and flavorful toppings in these Loaded Mashed Potato Bowls. Perfect for meal prep!

4.68 from 25 votes

$6.73 recipe / $1.68 serving Get the Recipe

Loaded Mashed Potato Bowls - Use leftover homemade mashed potatoes or ready-made store-bought mashed potatoes to make this recipe a cinch! Then load ’em up with all your favorite fixins for a quick and easy meal.

Cottage Cheese Crab Bowl

This Cottage Cheese Crab Bowl is the perfect light, fresh, and filling lunch for summer. It also meal preps well, so pack a few to take to work for lunch!

4.95 from 17 votes

$1.21 each Get the Recipe

Cottage Cheese Crab Bowl - Like a deconstructed California roll, this crab bowl is light and fresh, but still filling enough to serve as a whole meal (for us, at least).

EASY TAKE OUT FAKE OUT RECIPES

When your calendar is slammed, opening that food delivery app and ordering in is tempting. But wait! It’s just not worth it. These dupes will save you money, and we promise they’re even better than free delivery.

Sweet Chili Chicken Stir Fry Bowls

Sweet Chili Chicken Stir Fry Bowls use my favorite “formula” for keeping weeknight dinners simple and effortless. Customize the formula to make your own!

4.74 from 19 votes

$10.20 recipe / $2.55 serving Get the Recipe

Sweet Chili Chicken Stir Fry Bowls - It’s really more of a “formula” than a recipe. Just stir fry a protein (even if it’s not chicken), add a sauce (either homemade or bottled), spoon it over rice or another starch, and add a simple steamed vegetable. Done and DONE.

Turkey Taco Salad

This Turkey Taco Salad is an easy, light, and fresh dinner that's flexible enough to feed all your family members, no matter how picky!

4.78 from 9 votes

$11.29 recipe / $2.82 serving Get the Recipe

Turkey Taco Salad - This salad comes together quickly, gives all the flavors we need, and is still super filling. Oh, and did we mention how flexible it is? We also included tons of ideas for substitutions and add-ins.

Pork and Peanut Dragon Noodles

Sweet, salty, rich, and crunchy, these Pork and Peanut Dragon Noodles hit all the bases. It’s fast, easy comfort food for busy nights!

4.81 from 182 votes

$3.75 recipe / $1.25 serving Get the Recipe

Pork And Peanut Dragon Noodles - Sweet, salty, sticky, crunchy, and all the noooooodles! These Pork and Peanut Dragon Noodles are like comfort food x 100. You’ll never go back to take out. Ever.

Easy Teriyaki Chicken

This Easy Teriyaki Chicken is perfect for quick weeknight dinners, and has the most delicious salty, sweet, and savory flavor!

4.74 from 15 votes

$6.34 recipe / $1.27 serving Get the Recipe

Easy Teriyaki Chicken - The simple marinade turns into a gorgeous light glaze that adds just the right amount of salty, sweet, and savory flavor to juicy chicken thighs for a simple yet satisfying dinner. The leftovers are pretty good for lunch the next day, too.

Pick a recipe and just get started! The more you cook, the more comfortable you’ll become in the kitchen. Let us know what recipe was your favorite!

The post Easy Recipes For Beginners appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does organic mean it is pesticide-free?

Organic food does not contain pesticides or chemicals and is therefore chemical-free. This means there is little or no exposure to chemicals such as fertilizers and herbicides.

Organic produce also contains more nutrients than conventionally produced foods because it contains no harmful additives.

The USDA National Organic Program (NOP), requires that farmers follow strict guidelines when growing organic crops.

These guidelines include soil preparation, crop rotation, pest control, water conservation, and harvesting practices.

Organic farming also promotes healthy ecosystems which are beneficial to wildlife and natural habitats.

What are organic products good for skin?

Organic skincare products are free from synthetic chemicals, such as parabens and phthalates, petroleum jelly, mineral oil, petroleum jelly, propylene glycol, sodium laurylsulphate. Talc, triclosan. titanium dioxide. triethanolamine. Vitamin A palmitate.

Organic skincare products are free from artificial colours, fragrances and preservatives.

They are also formulated to help maintain healthy skin, prevent premature aging, promote healing after injury, and support overall well-being.

Here are some common terms you might encounter when searching for organic products

• Paraben Free – These chemicals are used to preserve certain cosmetic products, but can cause serious health problems if taken in large amounts.
• Fragrance-Free means that the product doesn't contain any essential oils or fragrances.
• Cruelty-Free: No animals were hurt during manufacturing.
• Natural Ingredients - the ingredient is naturally derived from the plant or animal.
• Vegan/Vegetarian – The ingredients can either be vegetarian or vegan.
• Gluten-Free: This is when gluten was eliminated from the formulation.
• Non-Toxic - The product doesn't contain toxins, carcinogens, or other dangerous compounds that could harm your health.
• Biodegradable: The product will be discarded as harmless components.
• Pesticide-Free – No pesticides were used in the growing or harvesting of crops.
• GMO-Free: This means that no product ingredient contains genetically engineered organisms.
• Certified Organic refers to ingredients that were grown using methods that protect soil, water, air, wildlife and farmers.

What are the benefits of organic fruits?

Organic foods do not use pesticides, artificial fertilizers, hormones or antibiotics. They also contain more nutrients, such as vitamins A, C, E, and K, plus omega-3 fatty acids. Organic food is better for the earth and our bodies because of these healthy ingredients.

Organic foods are made using sustainable agricultural practices, which protect soil quality and promote biodiversity. They are made without the use of harmful chemicals, irradiation or sewage waste.

Although organics are most commonly associated with produce, organics can also be found in dairy, meats, poultry, eggs and baked goods.

According to the USDA, "organic" means that crops are raised in compliance with federal standards. To grow these foods, farmers cannot use non-organic (or conventional) methods. They can use approved natural pest control methods such as crop rotation, cover cropping and organic animal feed.

In addition, the farmer must follow guidelines regarding how much fertilizer and pesticide he uses during the growing season and rotate his fields between various crops. GMOs, artificial growth hormones, synthetic pesticides and synthetic fertilizers are not allowed in the fields of farmers.

The requirements for organic fruits and vegetables are met if they are labeled 100 percent organic. Some farms don't label their products 100% organic, as it could confuse consumers. They will instead label their product "made with organic ingredients." "

Statistics

• Brands participating in this challenge are committed to using 100 percent sustainable cotton by 2025.[5] (en.wikipedia.org)
• As for organic meat, regulations require that animals be raised in living conditions that accommodate their natural behaviours (like the ability to graze on pasture), fed 100% organic feed and forage, and not administered antibiotics or hormones. (usda.gov)
• When packaged products indicate they are “made with organic [specific ingredient or food group],” they contain at least 70% organically produced ingredients. (usda.gov)
• Popular clothing brands, like Patagonia, are labelled as organic by using 100 percent organic cotton for many of their styles. (en.wikipedia.org)

External Links

usda.gov

• USDA

ota.com

• OTA


• U.S. organic sales soared to a new high of nearly $62 billion in 2020

doi.org

• A Review of Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health: Cancer Risk and Occupational Pesticide Expositions: Part B: Vol 15, Number 4


• Genetically modified food safety and public concerns: a review by Journal of Food Science and Technology

sciencedirect.com

• Organic food and its impact on human well-being: ScienceDirect assesses the status quo as well as future research prospects


• Technical note: Simultaneous Vitamin and Carotenoid Analysis of Milk from Total Mixed Ratio-Fed Cows - ScienceDirect

How To

Five Reasons to Purchase Organic Products

Organic foods are organically grown without the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. They contain no genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or irradiated ingredients. They are not made with sewage sludge, industrial solvents, or any other chemical substances. During its growth, the food's natural environment remains unaffected by contamination. It does not contain artificial preservatives or additives. No hormones or antibiotics are used. They are also made in conditions that maintain their nutritional value and freshness for longer times.

1. Health benefits. Organic produce contains fewer chemicals than nonorganic produce. This means it's less likely to cause allergies and sensitivities. It also means you're consuming fewer toxins and carcinogens.
2. Eco-friendliness. Produce grown without pesticides and synthetic fertilizer requires very little water. Organic farms are often located far from areas with high levels of pollution because it takes so much energy for conventional agriculture to grow. That helps reduce air pollution.
3. Sustainability. Organic farming is based on soil fertility and not chemical fertilizers. This results in soils that are healthier and have higher levels of organic matter. Farmers should rotate crops and let the land go bare periodically to improve soil health. When farm animals eat only grasses and grains raised without any added hormones or antibiotics, they develop strong immune systems.
4. Taste. Traditional fruits and vegetables are often bland due to the fact that they are picked at peak ripeness and shipped long distances for grocery stores. Because it was picked while still unripe, organic produce is richer and more flavorful.
5. Nutrition. GMOs and BPA can be found in many processed foods. You can avoid them by sticking with whole foods such meat, fish, eggs, seafood, seeds and beans, as well as fruits, veggies, herbs, and vegetables.