The easiest bread you can make, soda bread doesn’t require yeast or kneading. Simply mix flour with baking soda, buttermilk and treacle, then bake for 30 minutes. It’s amazing fresh out the oven with butter or as an accompaniment to soup. If this inspires you to get busy in the kitchen, check out our complete guide to making bread.
There’s nothing wrong with pesto from a jar but it’s nice to be able to make your own – the flavor is unbeatable. It’s super straightforward: all you need is basil, garlic, olive oil, pine nuts and Parmesan. If you don't have a food processor, you can use a good old-fashioned pestle and mortar. Store any leftover pesto in an ice cube tray in the freezer.
Making ramen broth can take hours but this simplified version is ready in just 15 minutes. Use packet ramen noodles or plain noodles and a tablespoon of miso paste. The world is your oyster when it comes to toppings – add anything you have to hand, from fresh chili, kimchi and sesame seeds to frozen veg and a soft-boiled egg.
Flour and potatoes are the only two ingredients needed to make gnocchi – and the little dumpling-like bites are easy to whip up too. Cook and mash potatoes, add flour and mix to make a dough. Knead, roll into a sausage shape, cut into small pieces and boil. We love gnocchi with a simple tomato sauce.
You can’t go wrong with homemade soup – it’s cheap, full of fresh flavors and healthy. In this recipe, carrots and potatoes are cooked in stock, seasoned with paprika, then blended until smooth. A spoon of butter, a squeeze of lemon, a handful of basil and a sprinkling of grated Parmesan take it to the next level.
A no-bake cheesecake skips having to turn on the oven and makes no compromises on decadence. This one has a crumbly biscuit base and contains Irish cream liqueur for a grown-up twist. Decorate however you like – blueberries and raspberries add a pop of color, and toasted hazelnuts or chocolate curls work well too.
Get the recipe for no-bake cheesecake here
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Cooking steak couldn't be easier. Try rib-eye with peppercorn sauce – the cut is one of the most flavorful and the creamy sauce is a great recipe to have under your belt. Mix and match sides such as fries, broccoli or pickled shallots.
Once you’ve stocked your pantry with the staples (fish sauce, oyster sauce, chili powder and rice noodles), pad Thai is a quick dinner to rustle up. Plus, the sweet, sour and salty Thai flavors of tamarind, shrimp, lime, cilantro and peanut are so satisfying.
These moreish fish stick tacos are fun to build and loaded with impressive but easy-to-make fillings. The garlicky avocado cream is as simple as blasting avocado, sour cream, lime and garlic in a blender. The watermelon salsa is made with chopped red onion, watermelon, chili, lime and cilantro. If you’re short on time, swap homemade fish sticks for shop-bought.
The ultimate comfort food, mac 'n' cheese is one of the easiest dishes to make. Go simple by serving it with grilled tomatoes or push the boat out with a fancy lobster tail-topped dish. You could even sneak extra veg into your diet by making a mac ‘n’ cauliflower cheese hybrid.
A great, dependable brownie recipe will quickly become your go-to when you need a sweet treat. These rich and chocolatey squares are made better with sweet caramel and peanut butter. They freeze well too so you can always have brownies on standby.
Stir-fries are your best friend in the kitchen – they’re easy, speedy and good to fall back on. Mushroom chow mein is great for beginners with meaty oyster mushrooms, noodles and spicy Sichuan sauce. Two things to note about stir-fries: feel free to substitute ingredients like noodles with rice, or bok choy with broccoli. Plus, a good wok goes a long way.
Tender, juicy meatloaf is a classic American dish. This recipe uses a mixture of ground beef, ground pork and sausagemeat. It’s seasoned with garlic, chili and Worcestershire sauce, and served with a rich gravy. The best part? The dish only requires 20 minutes hands-on time and the oven does the rest of the work.
Master a basic cake recipe and you can pull it out for any special occasion. This malted chocolate cake is as easy as it gets and is a real crowd-pleaser, with buttercream layered between the sponge as well as smothered on top. Trust us, it’s better than anything store-bought.
Pizza with a ten-minute rise for the dough sounds dubious, but this honestly works. The trick is using fast-acting easy-blend (or instant) dried yeast. Or you can cheat and use a naan, pita bread or ready-made base. As for the toppings, choose whatever you want. If you’re in need of inspiration, try chicken, arugula, red pepper, cherry tomatoes and a drizzle of balsamic.
Homemade burgers are brilliant and once you know a basic recipe, the options for patty ingredients and toppings are plenty. Try a classic cheeseburger with a beef patty, slices of your favorite cheese, pickles, red onions, tomatoes and lettuce. You can cook over an outside grill or in a griddle pan on the hob.
A quick and satisfying dish for when you’re short on time and craving a takeaway. Egg fried rice is as simple as cracking an egg in a wok, adding cooked rice, peas, soy sauce and scallions. Make it extra special with prawns and crunchy shredded cabbage.
Chicken burritos are fun to make and utterly satisfying. Grill chicken breasts and put together a simple salsa with chopped tomatoes, parsley, scallions and a squeeze of lime, plus a chunky guacamole made with diced avocado and garlic. If you’re cooking for a crowd, keep wraps warm, covered in foil in the oven, while you prepare the others.
Get your head around slow-cooker dishes and you’re gold. The low and slow method means you can make the most of cheap cuts of meat, and can throw ingredients into a pot and forget about them. This sweet, spicy and succulent pulled pork recipe requires just 15 minutes of hands-on time and is incredible topped with slaw in a burger bun.
Baked potatoes are a versatile dish to have in your cooking repertoire. Once you’ve nailed the trick to making fluffy-on-the-inside, crispy-on-the-outside spuds, you can top them with anything from blue cheese to bolognese. The trick is to make sure the potato is clean and dry before rubbing with softened butter and baking for 120–150 minutes at 350°F (180°C).
Big, soft and chewy, chocolate cookies are quick and easy to make. The secret to getting the perfect crunch is to mix granulated sugar with soft brown sugar. Maximize richness by always baking with butter and using the best dark chocolate chips you can find.
A Caesar salad with crisp lettuce, crunchy croutons, salty anchovies, juicy chicken and Parmesan is filling enough to be eaten as a main meal. Save time and throw together leftover roast chicken, store-bought croutons and creamy dressing, or challenge yourself to make everything from scratch. Avoiding meat and dairy? You can make a vegan cashew-based dressing and swap chicken for tempeh (soybean protein).
A hearty omelet works just as well for a super-quick dinner as it does at brunch. Use two eggs per person and when the omelet is nearly set, add your fillings and fold it in half. In this recipe, creamy cheese and smoked salmon add a touch of luxury, but griddled zucchini and feta would make a delicious vegetarian option.
Once you've perfected cooking roast chicken, play around with rubs, marinades and stuffings. Start off with this simple lemon, butter and herb roast chicken with stuffing and gravy. It goes perfectly with crispy roast potatoes.
Golden, crispy roast potatoes with fluffy insides are every cook’s aspiration. The trick to getting them perfect is allowing the spuds to dry after you’ve boiled them, before putting them on a tray of hot goose fat to roast. Trust us, the extra step is worth it for the crunch on the final result.
Salmon croquettes look fancy but don’t be fooled, they’re surprisingly cheap and easy to make. Tinned salmon is combined with mashed potato, rolled into little cylinders and breaded. They're fried until crisp and golden brown. Dip in sweet chili jelly for pure potato heaven.
There are few better breakfasts than a towering stack of buttermilk pancakes. All you need to make them at home are pantry staples like plain flour, an egg, baking powder, baking soda and buttermilk (use normal milk and a generous squeeze of lemon juice if you can't find buttermilk). Serve with a handful of blueberries or go savory with crispy bacon rashers.
Chili con carne is an essential batch-cook recipe. Serve with nachos or with rice for a substantial supper. Once you've got the basic dish nailed, play around with it. Dial up or down the heat according to personal preference; add a square of chocolate for richness; add pumpkin for an extra portion of veg; or go completely meat-free with plant-based ground soybean.
Baked Turkish eggs is a cracking recipe, with eggs cooked in richly spiced tomato sauce. Serve with crusty bread and dollops of yogurt for a quick and filling dinner. You’ve probably already got all the ingredients in your cupboard.
A Spanish tortilla is a seriously easy recipe to master and once you’ve got it down, you can create different variations. The basic ingredients are cooked potatoes and eggs, but adding chorizo, goats’ cheese and leeks will take it to the next level.
Get the recipe for leek, chorizo and goats' cheese tortilla here
This New England dish, with mussels and fish in garlicky white wine sauce, is elegant and comforting. What’s more, it's not expensive and can be made in under 35 minutes. A great go-to recipe for cozy evenings indoors.
Sausage cassoulet is a hearty, warming supper and great if you need to feed a crowd. It’s very filling so a simple peppery salad is all it needs on the side. Save time by swapping dried beans with two tins of drained, pre-cooked cannellini or haricot.
Basic risotto calls for arborio rice, Parmesan and stock. It requires just a little attention, to stir the rice and prevent it burning. Then you can play around with ingredients to add. Try porcini mushrooms and truffle oil for a decadent dish; a rich and earthy butternut squash, sage and Comté combination; or go green with peas, zucchini, mint and prawns.
A crowd-pleasing curry recipe is great to have up your sleeve for a hearty, healthy dinner. This one-pot dhansak is fragrant and filling, packed with lentils, cauliflower, spices and coconut yogurt. And you'd never know it's vegan.
Jazz up chicken with a herby hazelnut and breadcrumb crust. It’s quick to make and hazelnuts can be substituted with any nut. Serve it with salad and sautéed potatoes for an effortless midweek dinner.
There's no need to make pastry from scratch for a classic chicken pot pie, plus you can throw in whatever vegetables you have to hand. It's a great way to make a chicken go further and there's only around 20 minutes of hands-on time.
This roast leg of lamb recipe is an approachable dish for beginners as it doesn’t have too many steps and really brings out the flavors of the meat. In terms of side dishes, try it with roast carrots or potato dauphinoise.
It’s essential to have at least one reliable salmon recipe in your dinner menu rotation. Try this baked salmon with a dill glaze: smother the cooked fish in the dill, parsley, chive and mustard sauce, and serve with boiled potatoes. It's a guaranteed winner.
A traditional Tuscan pasta dish ready in just 15 minutes. Roasted cherry tomatoes, garlic, chili, basil and olive oil provide an abundance of flavor. Serve with fresh tagliatelle or dried shell-shaped pasta, topped with plenty of Parmesan.
Ragù, a slow-cooked meat sauce, is something anyone can cook. Serve with pasta for a crowd-pleasing dinner – large tubes like rigatoni or thick ribboned pasta like pappardelle work best. The sauce also freezes well so make a batch for future meals.