Estimated reading time: 16 minutes
Let’s face it: most recipes on the internet are way too complicated. You search for something simple like meatloaf or spaghetti, and next thing you know, you're dicing seven kinds of vegetables, mincing garlic like a professional chef, measuring out fifteen different spices, and spending your entire afternoon preparing something that was supposed to be “easy.”
I prefer the kind of recipes my mom used to make. Simple, no-fuss meals that came together quickly, had a handful of basic ingredients, and tasted amazing. Meals like fried chicken, sloppy joes, or a good old-fashioned tuna casserole. She didn't need any fancy equipment or techniques, and her food was as good as anything I ever ate in a restaurant.
That’s exactly what this article is about. I’ve put together a list of simple recipes that don’t require you to spend all day in the kitchen or buy a bunch of specialty ingredients. They all have about 5 ingredients or less, don’t take long to prepare, and most importantly, they actually taste good. I organized them by breakfast, lunch/dinner, sides/snacks, and dessert.
Table of Contents
Breakfast
Bacon & Egg Muffins – These easy three-ingredient muffins feature crispy bacon wrapped around whole eggs, baked to perfection in about 25 minutes.
Baked Oatmeal – This wholesome baked oatmeal combines rolled oats, ripe bananas, peanut butter, chia seeds, and almond milk into a moist, naturally sweet breakfast that's ready in about 30 minutes.
Banana Pancakes – These wholesome pancakes only have 3 ingredients: bananas, eggs, and whole wheat flour. They’re a naturally sweet, fluffy breakfast that's ready in about 15 minutes.
Biscuits and Gravy – This hearty Southern classic combines refrigerated biscuits, pork sausage, flour, milk, and seasonings into a rich, creamy gravy served over warm, fluffy biscuits, all ready in about 15 minutes.
Breakfast Burrito – This easy breakfast burrito combines scrambled eggs, crispy hash browns, thick salsa, and warm tortillas into a hearty, savory meal that's ready in about 20 minutes.
Breakfast Hash – This hearty breakfast hash combines diced baby potatoes, chicken apple sausage, celery, onion, and apples into a savory-sweet skillet meal that's ready in about 25 minutes.
Breakfast Pizza – This flavorful breakfast pizza layers a pre-made crust with pesto, crispy bacon, melty cheese, and sunny-side-up eggs, baking in about 25 minutes.
Breakfast Quesadilla – This quick and flavorful breakfast quesadilla combines scrambled eggs, creamy avocado, melty cheese, and a spicy kick of sriracha, all wrapped in a crispy tortilla, ready in about 15.
Breakfast Sandwich – This hearty breakfast sandwich layers crispy bacon, fluffy scrambled eggs, and melted cheddar cheese between toasted buns, ready in about 15 minutes.
Breakfast Tacos – These quick breakfast tacos combine scrambled eggs, melty cheddar cheese, creamy avocado, and zesty pico de gallo in warm tortillas, ready in about 5 minutes.
Cinnamon Toast – This classic cinnamon toast recipe combines toasted bread, softened butter, and a cinnamon-sugar mixture to create a warm, sweet, and comforting treat that's ready in about 3 minutes.
Egg Muffin Cups – These protein-packed egg muffin cups combine eggs, cheddar cheese, breakfast sausage, and milk into a savory, portable breakfast that's ready in about 25 minutes.
Egg-in-a-Hole – This classic breakfast dish features a slice of bread with a hole cut in the center, filled with a cracked egg and cooked in bacon grease or butter, resulting in a crispy, golden toast with a perfectly cooked egg center, all ready in about 5 minutes.
Eggs Benedict – This streamlined Eggs Benedict layers toasted English muffins with maple ham, poached eggs, and a pouch-made Hollandaise sauce, delivering a savory, satisfying brunch that's ready in about 20 minutes.
French Toast – This classic French toast recipe combines eggs, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon sugar, and slices of stale bread to create a warm, sweet, and comforting breakfast that's ready in about 15 minutes.
Muffins – These wholesome banana bread muffins blend ripe bananas, oats, eggs, dates, and baking soda into a naturally sweet, moist treat that's ready in about 30 minutes.
Omelet – This classic omelet combines eggs, butter, shredded cheddar cheese, and a pinch of salt and pepper into a fluffy, savory breakfast that's ready in about 10 minutes.
Overnight Oats – This creamy and naturally sweet breakfast combines rolled oats, almond milk, chia seeds, maple syrup, and peanut butter, requiring just 5 minutes of prep time and ready to enjoy after 6 hours.
Pancakes – These light and fluffy pancakes come together with just flour, baking powder, sugar, buttermilk, and eggs, delivering a classic breakfast favorite that's ready in about 20 minutes.
Scrambled Eggs – This classic scrambled eggs recipe combines fresh eggs, a splash of milk or water, and a touch of butter to create soft, creamy, and flavorful eggs, all ready in about 5 minutes.
Waffles – These crisp and fluffy waffles come together with just flour, baking powder, egg, milk, and oil, delivering a golden, versatile breakfast that's ready in about 15 minutes.
Yogurt Parfait – This quick and creamy yogurt parfait layers vanilla yogurt, fresh berries, and crunchy granola for a refreshing breakfast or snack that's ready in about 5 minutes.
Lunch / Dinner
Baked Chicken Thighs – These juicy, crispy-skinned chicken thighs are seasoned with a simple blend of garlic powder, smoked paprika, mustard powder, sea salt, and thyme, then baked at 400°F for a flavorful dinner that's ready in about 40 minutes.
Baked Tilapia – This quick and flavorful baked tilapia combines tender fillets with a zesty lemon butter sauce, fresh parsley, and garlic, delivering a light and flaky dinner that's ready in about 20 minutes.
Baked Ziti – This comforting baked ziti combines cooked pasta, hearty meat sauce, and a generous layer of melted mozzarella cheese, all baked to perfection in about 45 minutes.
BBQ Chicken – This juicy BBQ chicken features drumsticks seasoned with garlic powder and seasoning salt, then grilled and brushed with a tangy BBQ-mustard sauce, ready in about 30 minutes.
BBQ Pork Sandwiches – This easy slow cooker recipe combines boneless pork shoulder, a simple spice rub, and your favorite BBQ sauce to create tender, flavorful pulled pork sandwiches, all ready in about 8 hours.
Beef and Broccoli – This quick stir-fry combines tender beef sirloin, crisp broccoli florets, soy sauce, garlic, and cornstarch to create a savory, satisfying meal that's ready in about 35 minutes.
BLT Sandwich – This timeless BLT layers crispy thick-cut bacon, fresh romaine lettuce, juicy beefsteak tomato slices, and creamy mayonnaise between toasted sandwich bread, delivering a satisfying crunch and savory flavor in about 20 minutes.
Cheeseburger – These juicy cheeseburgers combine ground beef, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper into flavorful patties, grilled to perfection and ready in about 15 minutes.
Chicken Alfredo – This quick and flavorful chicken alfredo combines boneless skinless chicken breasts, Alfredo sauce, sliced mushrooms, chopped green onions, and paprika, delivering a creamy and satisfying meal that's ready in about 50 minutes.
Chicken and Dumplings – This comforting dish combines shredded cooked chicken, condensed cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, and refrigerated biscuit dough to create a hearty, flavorful meal that's ready in about 20 minutes.
Chicken and Rice Casserole – This comforting casserole combines tender chicken breasts, creamy soup, dry onion soup mix, and uncooked white rice into a hearty, flavorful meal that's ready in about 80 minutes.
Chicken Fajitas – These quick and flavorful chicken fajitas combine sliced chicken breasts, bell peppers, onions, taco seasoning, and olive oil, delivering a savory and satisfying meal that's ready in about 25 minutes.
Chicken Nuggets – These crispy, juicy chicken nuggets are made with boneless chicken breasts, mayonnaise, white vinegar, almond flour, and seasonings, delivering a flavorful and satisfying meal that's ready in about 25 minutes.
Chicken Parmesan – This easy chicken parmesan features breaded and pan-fried chicken breasts topped with spaghetti sauce, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese, baked to perfection in about 45 minutes.
Chicken Pot Pie – This comforting chicken pot pie combines cooked chicken, frozen mixed vegetables, cream of celery soup, chicken broth, and refrigerated pie crusts, delivering a hearty and satisfying meal that's ready in about 40 minutes.
Chicken Salad – This quick and flavorful chicken salad combines shredded rotisserie chicken, chopped celery, sliced grapes, mayonnaise, and Montreal chicken seasoning, delivering a creamy and refreshing meal that's ready in about 15 minutes.
Chicken Stir-Fry – This quick and flavorful stir-fry combines tender chicken breast, frozen stir-fry vegetables, and teriyaki sauce, all served over cooked white rice, delivering a satisfying meal that's ready in about 28 minutes.
Chili – This hearty chili combines lean ground beef, tomato sauce, kidney beans, chili beans, and chili powder to create a flavorful and satisfying meal that's ready in about 25 minutes.
Crockpot Pulled Pork – This tender pulled pork combines pork shoulder, garlic salt, chili powder, cola, and BBQ sauce, slow-cooked to perfection for a flavorful and juicy meal that's ready in about 8 hours.
Egg Salad Sandwich – This creamy egg salad combines soft-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, white wine vinegar, a dash of Tabasco, and chopped chives, delivering a tangy and luxurious flavor that's ready in about 15 minutes.
Enchiladas – These easy chicken enchiladas combine shredded chicken, smooth salsa, sour cream, flour tortillas, and shredded cheese, delivering a creamy and flavorful meal that's ready in about 40 minutes.
Grilled Chicken Breast – This juicy grilled chicken breast is marinated with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, delivering a flavorful and tender meal that's ready in about 17 minutes.
Ham and Cheese Sliders – These delightful sliders layer sweet Hawaiian rolls with savory ham and melted Swiss cheese, topped with a buttery glaze, and baked to golden perfection in about 30 minutes.
Italian Sausage Bake – This comforting baked ziti combines spicy Italian sausage, garlic, kale, ziti pasta, and mozzarella cheese, delivering a hearty and flavorful meal that's ready in about 50 minutes.
Lasagna – This hearty lasagna layers no-boil noodles, browned ground beef, rich spaghetti sauce, cheddar cheese, and butter, delivering a comforting and flavorful meal that's ready in about 60 minutes.
Lemon Butter Cod – This tender and flaky baked cod features a bright lemon butter sauce, seasoned with garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper, delivering a flavorful and satisfying meal that's ready in about 20 minutes.
Macaroni and Cheese – This creamy stovetop mac and cheese combines elbow macaroni, butter, flour, milk, and sharp cheddar cheese, delivering a rich and comforting meal that's ready in about 30 minutes.
Meatloaf – This flavorful meatloaf combines ground beef, grated onion, crushed buttery crackers, eggs, and barbecue sauce, delivering a moist and savory meal that's ready in about 65 minutes.
Pan-Seared Salmon – This restaurant-quality pan-seared salmon features fillets seasoned with salt and pepper, seared in olive oil until golden and crisp, delivering a flavorful and tender meal that's ready in about 15 minutes.
Pork Chops – These tender pork chops are seasoned with lemon juice, olive oil, parsley flakes, and butter, delivering a bright and savory meal that's ready in about 10 minutes.
Pot Roast – This hearty pot roast combines beef roast, steak seasoning, potatoes, carrots, and beef broth, delivering a tender and flavorful meal that's ready in about 8 hours.
Quesadillas – These spicy quesadillas combine shredded rotisserie chicken, sour cream, Buffalo-style hot sauce, Monterey Jack cheese, and flour tortillas, delivering a creamy and flavorful meal that's ready in about 20 minutes.
Sausage and Peppers – This one-pan dish features juicy smoked sausage, crisp-tender bell peppers, and sweet onions sautéed with garlic, delivering a flavorful and satisfying meal that's ready in about 25 minutes.
Shepherd’s Pie – This comforting shepherd's pie layers seasoned ground beef, green beans, and tomato soup, topped with creamy mashed potatoes and melted cheddar cheese, delivering a hearty and flavorful meal that's ready in about 40 minutes.
Shrimp Scampi – This quick and flavorful dish features shrimp sautéed in a buttery garlic sauce with white wine and fresh parsley, delivering a bright and savory meal that's ready in about 16 minutes.
Sloppy Joes – This quick and flavorful dish combines ground beef with ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce, delivering a sweet and tangy meal that's ready in about 15 minutes.
Spaghetti with Marinara – This flavorful and wildly easy homemade marinara sauce combines canned tomatoes, olive oil, onion, garlic, and oregano, delivering a rich and savory meal that's ready in about 30 minutes.
Stir-Fry – This quick and flavorful dish features tender chicken breast, frozen stir-fry vegetables, and teriyaki sauce served over rice, delivering a satisfying meal that's ready in about 28 minutes.
Stuffed Peppers – These hearty stuffed peppers combine ground beef, shredded zucchini, salsa, and cubed cheddar cheese, delivering a flavorful and satisfying meal that's ready in about 60 minutes.
Tacos – These flavorful tacos combine ground beef, onion, garlic, taco seasoning, and lime juice, delivering a quick and satisfying meal that's ready in about 15 minutes.
Teriyaki Chicken – This flavorful dish features bite-sized chicken pieces sautéed and simmered in a homemade teriyaki sauce made with soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger, delivering a sweet and savory meal that's ready in about 30 minutes.
Tuna Casserole – This hearty casserole combines cooked brown rice, defrosted corn, salsa, canned tuna, and shredded cheddar cheese, delivering a flavorful and satisfying meal that's ready in about 25 minutes.
Tuna Salad – This classic tuna salad combines canned tuna, mayonnaise, yellow mustard, hard-boiled eggs, and pickle relish, delivering a creamy and flavorful meal that's ready in about 5 minutes.
Turkey Chili – This hearty chili combines ground turkey, canned tomatoes, kidney beans, onion, and chili powder, delivering a flavorful and satisfying meal that's ready in about 30 minutes.
Turkey Meatballs – These tender turkey meatballs combine ground turkey, Panko breadcrumbs, egg, Italian seasoning, and a touch of salt and pepper, delivering a flavorful and satisfying meal that's ready in about 20 minutes.
Sides / Snacks
Baked Beans – This hearty dish combines canned baked beans, crispy bacon, brown sugar, ketchup, and mustard powder, delivering a sweet and savory meal that's ready in about 130 minutes.
Buffalo Chicken Dip – This creamy, spicy dip combines shredded chicken, cream cheese, hot sauce, ranch dressing, and blue cheese crumbles, delivering a flavorful and satisfying appetizer that's ready in about 20 minutes.
Caprese Salad – This refreshing salad layers ripe heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil leaves, drizzled with olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper, delivering a vibrant and flavorful dish that's ready in about 10 minutes.
Chips & Queso – This creamy queso dip combines evaporated milk, cornstarch, onion powder, garlic powder, and shredded pepper jack cheese, delivering a rich and flavorful appetizer that's ready in about 5 minutes.
Coleslaw – This quick and refreshing coleslaw combines coleslaw mix, mayonnaise, vinegar, lemon juice, and honey, delivering a creamy and tangy side dish that's ready in about 10 minutes.
Deviled Eggs – These classic deviled eggs combine hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar, delivering a creamy and tangy appetizer that's ready in about 20 minutes.
Fruit Salad – This vibrant salad combines watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple chunks, green grapes, and blueberries, delivering a refreshing and colorful dish that's ready in about 20 minutes.
Garlic Bread – This quick and flavorful garlic bread combines a loaf of French or Italian bread with a garlic butter spread made from softened butter, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and grated Parmesan cheese, delivering a crispy and savory side dish that's ready in about 15 minutes.
Garlic Roasted Broccoli – This flavorful side dish combines fresh broccoli florets, smashed garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper, delivering a crispy and aromatic vegetable that's ready in about 25 minutes.
Hummus – This creamy hummus combines chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and salt, delivering a flavorful and satisfying dip that's ready in about 5 minutes.
Mashed Potatoes – This comforting side dish combines red potatoes, unsalted butter, milk, celery salt, and regular salt, delivering a creamy and flavorful accompaniment that's ready in about 35 minutes.
Pasta Salad – This vibrant pasta salad combines whole wheat pasta, roasted red peppers, basil pesto, fresh mozzarella, and arugula, delivering a flavorful and satisfying dish that's ready in about 15 minutes.
Rice Pilaf – This flavorful side dish combines rice, butter, chopped onion, chicken broth, and seasonings, delivering a fluffy and savory accompaniment that's ready in about 25 minutes.
Roasted Carrots – This flavorful side dish combines fresh carrots, extra virgin olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper, delivering a tender and savory vegetable that's ready in about 25 minutes.
Roasted Potatoes – This crispy and flavorful side dish combines red potatoes, olive oil, dried rosemary, salt, and pepper, delivering a golden and tender accompaniment that's ready in about 35 minutes.
Sauteed Green Beans – This quick and flavorful side dish combines fresh green beans, butter, minced garlic, lemon-pepper seasoning, and salt, delivering a tender and savory vegetable that's ready in about 15 minutes.
Spinach Artichoke Dip – This creamy and flavorful dip combines frozen spinach, marinated artichoke hearts, cream cheese, shredded Italian cheese blend, and garlic, delivering a warm and savory appetizer that's ready in about 30 minutes.
Sweet Potato Fries – These crispy and flavorful sweet potato wedges combine sweet potatoes, avocado oil, garlic salt, ground pepper, and smoked paprika, delivering a savory and satisfying side dish that's ready in about 20 minutes.
Twice Baked Potatoes – This comforting side dish combines baked potatoes, milk, butter, salt, and shredded cheddar cheese, delivering a creamy and flavorful accompaniment that's ready in about 75 minutes.
Desserts / Treats
Apple Crisp – This cozy dessert combines sliced apples, rolled oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter, delivering a warm and comforting treat that's ready in about 60 minutes.
Apple Pie – This classic apple pie combines a double-crust pastry, sliced apples, sugar, cinnamon, and butter, delivering a warm and comforting dessert that's ready in about 60 minutes.
Banana Bread – This moist and naturally sweetened banana bread combines ripe bananas, eggs, maple syrup, baking soda, and rolled oats, delivering a wholesome and satisfying treat that's ready in about 35 minutes.
Brownies – These rich and fudgy brownies combine butter, sugar, eggs, flour, and cocoa powder, delivering a decadent treat that's ready in about 60 minutes.
Chocolate Chip Cookies – These chewy and buttery cookies combine brown sugar, softened butter, eggs, all-purpose flour, and semi-sweet chocolate chips, delivering a classic treat that's ready in about 20 minutes.
Chocolate Fudge – This rich and creamy fudge combines semisweet chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, butter, vanilla extract, and optional chopped nuts, delivering a decadent treat that's ready in about 15 minutes.
Chocolate Mug Cake – This rich and moist chocolate mug cake combines flour, sugar, cocoa powder, milk, and oil, delivering a decadent treat that's ready in about 5 minutes.
Chocolate Pudding – This silky and rich chocolate pudding combines cornstarch, granulated sugar, whole milk, semisweet chocolate, and pure vanilla extract, delivering a decadent treat that's ready in about 30 minutes.
Dump Cake – This effortlessly delightful dessert layers crushed pineapple, cherry pie filling, yellow cake mix, chopped pecans, and melted butter, delivering a warm and fruity treat that's ready in about 65 minutes.
Energy Balls – These no-bake energy bites combine oats, peanut butter, honey, ground flaxseed, and mini chocolate chips, delivering a wholesome and satisfying snack that's ready in about 10 minutes.
Lemon Bars – These bright and tangy lemon bars combine flour, butter, powdered sugar, eggs, and fresh lemon juice, delivering a zesty treat that's ready in about 55 minutes.
No-Bake Cheesecake – This creamy and tangy no-bake cheesecake combines cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice, whipped topping, and a graham cracker crust, delivering a delightful dessert that's ready in about 65 minutes.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars – These rich and creamy bars combine graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar, melted butter, peanut butter, and chocolate chips, delivering a decadent treat that's ready in about 130 minutes.
Oreo Truffles – These rich and creamy Oreo truffles combine crushed Oreo cookies, cream cheese, and melted chocolate, delivering a decadent treat that's ready in about 35 minutes.
Peach Cobbler – This warm and comforting peach cobbler combines canned peaches, self-rising flour, sugar, milk, and melted butter, delivering a delightful dessert that's ready in about 50 minutes.
Peach Pie – This classic peach pie combines ripe peaches, sugar, cornstarch, salt, and water in a baked pie shell, delivering a delightful dessert that's ready in about 40 minutes.
Peanut Butter Cookies – These soft and chewy peanut butter cookies combine creamy peanut butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, an egg, and vanilla extract, delivering a delightful treat that's ready in about 15 minutes.
Pecan Pie – This traditional pecan pie combines eggs, corn syrup, sugar, butter, and pecans, delivering a rich and nutty dessert that's ready in about 60 minutes.
Rice Krispie Treats – These classic Rice Krispie Treats combine butter, mini marshmallows, and crispy rice cereal, delivering a chewy and delightful snack that's ready in about 15 minutes.
Snickerdoodles – These soft and chewy snickerdoodle cookies combine yellow cake mix, eggs, oil, sugar, and cinnamon, delivering a delightful treat that's ready in about 20 minutes.
Strawberry Shortcake – These delightful strawberry shortcakes combine self-rising flour, heavy cream, sugar, fresh strawberries, and vanilla extract, delivering a light and fruity dessert that's ready in about 40 minutes.
Sugar Cookies – These soft and chewy sugar cookies are made without eggs or cake mix and don't require chilling or rolling, making them perfect for a quick and easy dessert in just 22 minutes.
Vanilla Pudding – This classic vanilla pudding uses sugar, cornstarch, milk, egg yolks, and vanilla extract to create a rich, creamy dessert in just 15 minutes.
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