Have you been learning to cook recently? I’ve been there. When I was first learning to cook, I scoured the internet for just which meals I should try to expand my cooking skills and add to my recipe repertoire.
These five meals are great recipes for beginners that are not only delicious but also incredibly easy and still impressive.
I looked all over for a list of meals you *need* to know how to make to call yourself a good cook, and it wasn’t really easy to find anything. If you’re in the same boat I was, I hope this helps you! If you’re looking for a few more new-to-cooking tips, make sure to check out my semi-instructional, semi-personal post on how I became a better cook.
When you’re first learning to cook, it’s nice for someone to just come straight out and tell you, “What should I try to cook as a beginner?” I want this post to answer all your questions about what meals everyone needs to know how to make. The five meals below are great recipes and definitely classics you will want to keep around for years and years.
1. Ina Garten’s Perfect Roast Chicken
This is the number one recipe you should try if you’re a new cook and looking to flex your new cooking skills. This recipe is extremely easy but looks extremely impressive. I was so, so proud of myself the first time I made it, and now I make it all the time. “Impressive recipes” is something I have definitely searched on Pinterest before (haha), and this one definitely fits the bill.
Give yourself plenty of time the first time you try it out, but after one trial run, you’ll be an old pro!
The two ingredients you might not have here- fennel and kitchen twine. I always find fennel at our local Fresh Market location, and I still haven’t found kitchen twine. I usually just wrap the legs in aluminum foil because I don’t really feel like hunting down kitchen twine to use in just this one recipe.
I always make this in a baking dish because I don’t really have a shallow roasting pan. This is just so nice because there’s minimal mess and it’s not really time intensive- perfect to make for hosting friends or family.
2. Sheet Pan Lemon Rosemary Dijon Chicken and Potatoes with Feta Goddess Sauce
Yum! This is beautiful, flavorful and incredibly diverse. I love making this on weeknights, and it still tastes like an extremely upscale meal even though it’s so easy. There are so many flavors at play here, and all the ingredients are really easy to find.
Through learning to cook, I have since realized anything involving shallots is right up my alley. I love that flavor so much, and they somehow really elevate a meal.
3. One Skillet Greek Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken and Farro
Wow, this is so good and perfect for a group. It’s the perfect Mediterranean diet dish. I use quinoa instead of farro and regular chicken breasts instead of the optional chicken thighs. This heats up really well. I always make it in my dutch oven, which has just reminded me I want to make an entire post for meals I like to make in our dutch oven.
4. Instant Pot Chipotle Cheddar Corn Chowder
This is so, so good and much more elevated than your regular soup. If you are learning to cook after recently getting married, chances are you have just been gifted an instant pot… no? Just us?
Well, anyways, this is an incredibly easy instant pot recipe and truly highlights what is so good about that kitchen gadget- all in one pot! I love frying the bacon and cooking the soup all in one easy to clean tool. The only downside to this recipe- you need a blender, which can just be a less than desirable thing to clean up. It really does make the best chowder texture, though.
Chowder usually brings a cool winter’s night to mind, but this is such a summery, flavorful soup. I actually make it more in the warmer months. Make sure to pay attention to her topping suggestions, because they really bring the extra flavors out.
5. Guinness Shepherd’s Pie
This might seem random, but I promise you’re going to want this dish in your weeknight or weekend meal rotation. So good, so simple and so impressive. I have also made this with sweet potatoes on top, and it was so good that way too! This is just one of those basic meals you can tweak and tailor to your families’ likes and dislikes.
It is perfect for a cold, winter’s night, but I honestly like it just as much in the warmer months as well.
I hope these recipes were a good source of inspiration for new and aspiring cooks like myself. If you’re reading this, you’re already doing so well to explore in the kitchen and really push yourself, and I just want to say I am so proud! Not everyone finds cooking enjoyable and loves it as much as us, and I am just happy you found your way here.
If you haven’t already noticed, I am a big fan of Half-baked Harvest. She is one of the best locations to find recipes for new cooks and professional cooks alike. Her meals look overwhelming, but I promise her tips, techniques and recipes will quickly help you become a better cook overall. I’ve been able to make my own recipes up because of the tried and true methods cooking her recipes constantly have taught me. Look for a general “Where to find recipe inspiration” post coming from me soon.
If you want to follow my almost-daily adventures in cooking, make sure to follow me on Instagram!
