35 Super Simple Recipes Every Adult Should Learn To Cook

From saving money and eating healthier to impressing your friends and family- learning how to cook has tons of advantages. These 35 ridiculously easy and simple recipes will get you started on your culinary journey.

1. Oatmeal

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This superfood isn’t just good for your skin, it’s great for your health too. Oats are nutrient-rich, contain fiber, and gluten-free.

Best of all, it’s cheap and easy to make.

Oatmeal can be cooked on a stove top, microwave, rice cooker, and using the hot water or milk prep method. It cooks for 1-30 minutes depending on the type of oats you use.

I suggest you use rolled oats first since it cooks the fastest. But if you’re super lazy, you can use instant oats instead.

Here’s a handy guide on how to prepare oats from our friends at Quaker Oats Company.

2. Caesar Salad with Homemade Dressing

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Many people consider the Caesar salad as the undisputed king of all salads. After all, it was probably the first main course salad in the States and it shook Hollywood and New York high society during the 1920s.

You don’t have to eat out to enjoy the delicious salad. Here’s a super-duper basic and easy Caesar salad recipe for all my fellow kitchen noobs.

3. Grilled Cheese

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The ancient Romans may have been among the first to combine bread and cheese, but the idea of merging cooked bread and cheese together is a purely American invention. Learn to make this delicious melty sandwich using this highly rated grilled cheese sandwich recipe.

4. French Toast

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French toast surprisingly isn’t French at all. Apparently, it has Roman origins.

And it goes by many names: eggy bread, gypsy toast, French-fried bread, pain perdu, Bombay toast, German toast, poor knights (of Windsor), and Torrija.

The best thing about French toast is it's easy to prepare, only uses three ingredients, and any type of bread can be used (preferably dry stale old bread).

Try out this super simple French toast with cinnamon recipe with accompanying video tutorial.

5. Macaroni and Cheese

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Drop that Kraft mac and cheese box right now!

It may have been one of your kitchen staples during your college years but think about it…powdered cheese sauce is kind of gross and laden with harmful chemicals. Besides, a proper adult would never cook anything that’s “powdered” (At least, that’s what I believe…)

Do yourself a favor- drop the Kraft and make from scratch.

Learn to make healthy macaroni and cheese using your stovetop with this super simple easy Stove Top Macaroni and Cheese recipe.

6. Guacamole

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Guac is everyone’s go-to dip on Cinco de Mayo and Super Bowl Sunday.

But guacamole is so much more than a dip for your potato chip.

You can spread it on toast and on sandwiches, garnish soups and deviled eggs, use it as a salad dressing, and use it as a sauce for fried fish.

Try your hand at this famous guacamole recipe which has been made by over nine-thousand people and was featured in AllRecipes Magazine.

7. Scrambled Eggs

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What exactly are scrambled eggs?

In a nutshell, they’re eggs that are stirred when cooked.

Most people learn how to cook scrambled eggs before an omelet since its quicker and simpler to make. A lot of first-time cooks end up with scrambled eggs when they try making an omelet.

The Incredible Egg has the easiest Basic Scrambled Eggs Recipe, plus nutritional information and additional tips on how to spice up this egg favorite.

8. Omelet

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A French omelet is a classic and versatile dish.

Unlike scrambled eggs, omelets have other substances included in it. Common omelet fillings are cheese, ham, bacon, mushrooms, bell pepper, tomatoes, or fruits.

It’s like an egg pancake- they’re flipped (like a pancake) to give it a lot more shade.

Try your hand at this Basic French Omelet Recipe from The Incredible Egg. Read their Insider Info section at the bottom to get more omelet-making tips.

9. Pancakes

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Who doesn’t like light fluffy pancakes drizzled with sweet maple syrup?

Although pancakes (or hotcake, griddlecake, or flapjack) are typically considered a breakfast food, they can be served at any time of the day.

My favorite thing about pancakes is the toppings. I usually go crazy with it. There are loads to choose from- fruit, syrup, jam, chocolate chips, meat, whipped cream, nuts, ice cream, etc.

Make fluffy pancakes at home, with ease using Inspired Taste’s Easy Pancake Recipe From Scratch.

10. Frittata

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Assuming you’ve mastered omelets and pancakes, it’s time to take it up a notch. It’s time to learn the ever-useful frittata.

This comes in handy when you need to serve food to a large group of people, or when you have a lot of leftover vegetables.

It’s similar to an omelet, the main difference is that the filling is mixed in with the egg instead of folded. You’ll have to turn it over in full (like a pancake), then finished in the oven.

Learn How To Make a Frittata using this step-by-step instruction from Get Cracking.

Don’t have an oven? No worries. Here’s How To Make a Frittata on Your Stovetop.

11. Hotdogs

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If you ask five different people how they cook their hotdogs, you’ll get five different answers.

Hotdogs are controversial (remember, the great hot dog sandwich debate that started way back in 2011?). Hotdog lovers constantly debate on which is the best cooking method and what’s the best type of dog.

One thing is for sure- preparing a hotdog is fraught with danger.

How should I cook it? Should I deep fry, pan fry, bake, steam, poach, or grill? Should I get beef or pork?

It may not be the best way but the easiest way to cook a hotdog is to pan fry it. Watch this helpful easy-to-follow video on How To Pan Fry a Hotdog by E-How.

12. Hamburger

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Hamburgers are a universal favorite- they’re filling, easy to make, portable, and can be dressed up however you want. It can be found in every corner of the globe and comes in many international or regional variations.

Save money by skipping your local fast-food joint and make the perfect basic burger at home instead.

13. Tomato Sauce or Marinara Sauce

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You can’t make spaghetti without tomato sauce. You can’t make salsa without tomato sauce. You can’t make pizza without tomato sauce.

Actually, you can’t make a lot of foods without tomato sauce.

Trust me, you need to learn how to make this quick tomato pasta sauce right now. You can thank me later.

14. Mash Potatoes

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Creamy buttery mash is mandatory during Thanksgiving (and slightly during Christmas).

Mash potatoes can be served as a side dish or used as an ingredient of a dish (Think shepherd's pie, cottage pie, potato pancakes, pierogi, colcannon, croquettes, dumplings, and gnocchi)

Learn how to make good old-fashioned basic mash potatoes for your next Thanksgiving dinner or Sunday roast.

15. Whipped Cream

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Ditch the Cool Whip!

Homemade whipped cream is the bomb! It tastes ten times better than the store bought.

You only need three ingredients to make homemade whipped cream: powdered sugar, heavy whipping cream, and vanilla extract.

Learn how to make homemade whipped cream using this recipe from Live Well Bake Often.

16. Roasted Vegetables

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I used to think roasting vegetables were difficult.

The roasted veggies I had in fancy restaurants were deliciously tender on the inside and caramelized on the outside. As a kitchen newbie, it felt intimidating to recreate.

It turns out that roasting vegetables in an oven is incredibly easy. My homemade version came out beautifully thanks to Adam and Joanne’s tips and recipe.

Adam and Joanne from Inspired Taste have an easy, no fuss, and beginner-friendly oven roasted vegetable recipe you can make at home.

17. Brownies

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Most bakers will tell you that the first thing they learned to bake from scratch was a pan of classic fudgy brownies.

They’re a bit easier to make than cookies since the pan does most of the work for you. Just dump all the ingredients, mix, and bake.

Try out these famous Best Brownies. The recipe has been featured in AllRecipe magazine and was rated 5-stars by over 7000 people.

18. Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Chocolate chip cookies are a classic for a reason- they’re delicious and easy to make in a jiffy.

Compared to brownies, cookies take more time to make- you have to shape, roll, prepare new pans, etc. You also need to make sure they’re spaced right for when they spread during baking and portioned equally on the baking sheet.

Betty Crocker’s Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe is easy enough to bake for newbies. Follow the instructions to a tee and you’ll have perfectly baked cookies in no time.

19. 19.Spaghetti Bolognese

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Did you know that the world’s favorite food is pasta? Yup, it’s true.

The easiest way to make Spag Bol is to use ready-made jarred pasta sauce.

This 10-step guide on How To Cook Simple Spaghetti Bolognese is the simplest recipe I found online. If you’re on a tight budget, this is the recipe for you- all the ingredients used only costs about $15!

Obviously, there’s nothing better than real, homemade tomato sauce.

Watch Jamie Oliver’s Easy Bolognese Recipe on YouTube for a simple and versatile Ragu recipe. It’s perfect to use as a base for many dishes like spaghetti Bolognese, lasagna, chili, and cannelloni.

20. Vegetable Soup

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A hot bowl of soup isn’t just for the wintry weather. You can make soup all year round. This soup is filling, flavorful, loaded with veggies, and low in fat.

CooktheStory has a great Easy Vegetable Soup recipe that you can whip up in 15 minutes. The soup can be made using whatever veggies you have on hand. Simply dump in any raw, cooked, or frozen vegetables into the pot, stir and enjoy.

21. Chicken Noodle Soup

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Whether it be to warm up during winter or to cure a pesky cold, homemade chicken noodle soup can make you feel cozy.

Make this Quick and Easy Chicken Noodle Soup when you don’t have the time to make your soup from scratch.

This recipe calls for canned chicken and vegetable broth. It’s best to use low-sodium broth since the natural flavors shine through better and you’ll have more control in seasoning.

Once you’ve mastered the “quick and easy” soup, challenge yourself and make Tyler Florence’s highly-rated Chicken Noodle Soup.

This is truly a 5-star recipe. The homemade broth is divine! However, the dish requires intermediate cooking skills and has a cooking time of 2-3 hours

22. Potato Salad

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Among the many sides served during cookout season, potato salad is a summer essential. They’re easy to whip up and can serve a crowd.

Next time you’re hosting or attending a summer party, make yourself a bowl of Easy Potato Salad with Tips from Inspired Taste. Your family and friends will surely love it!

23. Fried Chicken

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No matter what part of the world you live in, one thing is for certain: People love chicken!

After all, chicken is the ultimate ubiquitous food- it crosses multiple cultures and religions with complete ease.

Learn to make this simple, basic fried chicken on a skillet first before attempting more complicated recipes like Triple Dipped Fried Chicken, Korean Fried Chicken, and Southern Living’s Best Fried Chicken (seems easy at first glance but requires precision and a deep-fry thermometer).

24. Chicken Curry

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Craving for something with a kick? Why not expand your culinary palate by trying out some Indian food?

Making Indian food at home may seem intimidating (the cuisine is generally considered to be among the most labor intensive in the world) but a basic dish like this Indian Chicken Curry recipe is surprisingly easy to make.

However, not everyone enjoys Indian curry. I personally find the taste of Indian curry to be too overwhelming. I prefer Japanese Chicken Curry, a sweeter and less spicy variety.

If you’re pressed for time or prefer a more adaptable recipe, this five-ingredient Easy Chicken Curry from New York Times Cooking only takes 30 minutes.

25. Stir Fry

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When you’re left with nothing but odds and ends in your refrigerator- there’s bits of pork, a handful of old rice, and some vegetables- then that’s the perfect time to whip up a quick stir-fry.

Stir-fries are limitlessly customizable, easy to make, and are the ultimate fridge-cleaning meals. Simply fry up your chosen ingredients, add some sauce, and serve with either noodles or rice.

So, grab a wok (or a skillet) and cook up one of these 18 Stir Fry Suppers from Parents Magazine.

26. Pot of Rice

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For some people, making good, fluffy rice is an intimidating mystery. On the other hand, I and my fellow Asians don’t balk at it- rice on the table is mandatory in every Asian household.

Different rice is cooked differently, and cooking methods vary culturally. Asians don’t use cup measures and use either the “knuckle method” or “finger trick” to get the correct water-to-grain ratio.

Here’s how you can Learn to Cook Perfect Rice Every Time.

My advice: You should learn to cook white rice first. Other variants such as brown, black, and red rice cook longer.

27. Risotto

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Risotto is an Italian rice dish commonly made from arborio, carnaroli, or vialone nano rice. These kinds of rice produce lots of starch, an integral component for creating that signature creamy texture every good risotto is known for.

Learn to make Basic Risotto by watching this video by EatingWell.

Don’t forget that a splash of fine wine and a sprinkle of the finest parmesan cheese you can afford makes a big difference.

Be forewarned: The dish does have a reputation for being too fussy- be prepared to stand over the pot and stir constantly while it cooks.

28. Chili

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Chili con carne is Spanish for “chili with meat”.

Historically, chili was a dish eaten by the poor. This still holds some truth today. A serving of chili typically costs around $2 depending on the recipe. You can use whatever veggies you have lying in the fridge and put less beef when money is tight.

While some chili recipes are complicated and tedious to prepare, this 5-Ingredient Chili recipe is ridiculously easy and quick to make.

29. Baked Salmon

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Salmon is among the most widely consumed fish in the world. It’s second only to shrimp as the most popular seafood in the United States. Having a go-to salmon recipe is a must, especially during the Lenten season.

Here’s a simple Easy 5-Ingredient Baked Salmon with garlic, lemon, and dill butter sauce you can make under 20 minutes.

30. Hard Boiled Egg

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What’s not to love about hard-boiled eggs? They’re great for egg salads, deviled eggs, or just eating plain with a sprinkling of salt and pepper.

It’s incredibly important not to overcook them. I learned that the hard way. My first attempt at hard-boiled eggs was an epic fail- the eggs smelled like Sulfuric gas and had a humongous dark green outline around the yolk. Gross.

The Incredible Egg has a thorough video tutorial on How To Hard-Boil Eggs. Master this skill and you can make tender whites and golden yellow yolks every time.

31. Lasagna

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Behold, the ultimate union of noodles and melty cheese!

Lasagna, a dish believed to have originated in Naples, has become so popular that we dedicate every July 29th of the year to celebrate National Lasagna Day.

The best thing about lasagna is that it’s a complete meal on its own- it has dairy, carbs, meat, and vegetables.

Try this beginner-friendly, super easy and fast beef lasagna recipe.

If you don’t mind doing a little more work, you can also try making the World's Best Lasagna, reportedly the most popular lasagna recipe in the world. The recipe itself is viewed by 20 million visitors per month.

32. Beef Stew

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A stew is incredibly easy to prepare and hard to screw up.

This is a good recipe to learn because it teaches you the basics of braising, a cooking technique wherein an ingredient is browned in fat, then simmered in low heat.

Follow this Easy Beef Stew Recipe from Chowhound or simply watch its accompanying video, Easy Beef Stew- How To Make The Easiest Way on their official YouTube channel.

33. Roasted Chicken

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The perfect roasted chicken should be juicy on the inside, have deeply browned crispy skin, and succulent flavor.

For your next roast chicken dinner, you have to serve Thomas Keller’s Favorite Simple Roast Chicken. It is hands-down the best and only roast chicken recipe you need.

The recipe calls for only three ingredients, butcher’s twine, and a roasting rack. It also doesn’t require any flipping nor basting. It’s simplicity and superb flavor has garnered praises from BBC Food, Epicurious, Serious Eats, and BuzzFeed.

34. Seared Steak

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Here’s the deal- I’m scared to cook steak. It’s such an intimidating and expensive meal to prepare.

Since my steak searing skills need a lot more work, I'll refer you to the Kitchn’s guide on How To Cook Perfect Steak on the Stovetop in 3 Steps.

My advice: If you’re concerned with doneness, use a meat thermometer and frequently poke it with your fingers. Also, don’t worry too much if your first attempts result in a tough, chewy, or bland steak. Practice makes perfect.

35. Homemade Bread

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Plenty of people merely buy bread from the local grocery store or bakery without realizing how cheap and easy it is to make their own at home.

In its most basic form, bread is made from just four simple ingredients: flour, water, yeast, and salt. I bet you already have these in your pantry.

The Food Nanny’s White Bread is the best, easiest, and most delicious bread recipe ever. It’s fail-proof and noob friendly- no baking experience required. You can also make cinnamon bread using the same recipe simply by sprinkling sugar and cinnamon.

My advice: Bread-baking is not difficult but if you want good baked goods, you should consider buying the right baking tools. Get yourself a rectangular loaf pan (preferably made from glass), cooling rack, kitchen scale, and a dough hook for your stand mixer.