Easy recipes for beginners aren’t always what they say on the tin (pun intended).
Jamie Oliver’s idea of a “kitchen staple” is certainly not the same as ours, and we’re still not sure where we can get hold of one of Nigella Lawson’s “meecru wavé” (the man in Curry’s looked at us all weird when we asked him).
Clearly, we need some help in the kitchen. And we’re not the only ones, with “easy recipes for beginners” a seriously frequently asked Google search.
We’ve been spending some time at the oven recently trying out some of the millions of “easy” dinner ideas to find out which really are suitable for beginners. So, here’s 12 of our favourites.
CHECK OUT: easy recipes for beginners
Easy recipes for beginners
1 of 12Paprika chicken thighs by Delicious magazine
Perfect for saving on the washing up, anything shoved in the oven in one pan is perfect for beginners as you don't have to worry about timing things perfectly. Read the recipe here.
2 of 12Lemongrass laksa by Delicious magazine
Think of this like an upmarket stir fry - a dinner time staple of students everywhere. The upgrade is all in the creamy laksa sauce, which is easy peasy too. Read the recipe here.
3 of 12One-pot carbonara by Delicious magazine
This classic dish is the ultimate people pleaser (who doesn't love a creamy pasta?) but super easy to make. It uses lasagna strips instead of pre-made pasta, which means it looks much fancier that it is to make.Read the recipe here.
4 of 12Ravioli lasagna by Pure Wow
While traditional lasagne might be more on the trickier end of the scale, this ravioli version (even the stuff out of a tin will do!) is much easier.Get the recipe here.
5 of 12Paella by Pure Wow
Paella is one of those dishes that even people with experience in the kitchen can struggle to get right, but we've found this easy cheaters version for beginners. Get the recipe here.
6 of 12Lemon chicken and veg by Pure Wow
If you're all about that meat and two veg life, this is a super versatile cooking method that can be used for all manner of the combination.Read the recipe here.
7 of 12Macaroni mince by Best Recipes
Basically, you can't go wrong with pasta. Mince is super versatile and can be turned into chilli or bolognese with a few simple ingredient swaps.Read the recipe here.
8 of 12Chicken casserole by Best Recipes
There's nothing like a chicken casserole during the winter months and with the right kit, it doesn't have to be off limits for beginners. Get the recipe here.
9 of 12Thai Green curry by My Food Book
While it's healthier to make your own curry sauces as you can control the amount of added salt and sugar, shop bought versions are great for beginners as it takes out most of the faff of cooking delicious curries. Get the recipe here.
10 of 12Vegetable pasta bake by BBC Food
Struggling to get enough vegetables in your daily diet? This veggie pasta bake (with cheese of course) is full of your 5-a-day and is cheesy and filling. Get the recipe here.
11 of 12Peri-peri chicken and dirty rice by BBC Food
Fancy a taste of a spicy chicken takeaway but don't have the money? This tasty chicken and spicy rice dish will tickle your tastebuds and once you make it once you'll have it again and again. Get the recipe here.
12 of 12Cottage pie by BBC Food
Comforting and surprisingly easy to whip together, a cottage pie (made with beef mince) is the perfect meal choice for the whole family. Get the recipe here.
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These are all easy dinner recipes for beginners, but you can find easy baking recipes for beginners right here.
How can you make recipes easier?
If you don't want to pay a little bit more for chopped onions and veggies that will save you bags of time, the freezer is your answer! If you have time on a Sunday, chop a load of onions and put in a freezer bag ready for the week, same for peppers and chopped veg. Stacey Solomon has loads of tips to make busy family life a lot easier, including a handy hack to prep each meal before you cook.
In a bid to make midweek meals easier, the busy mum-of-four prepares the week's veggies on a Sunday. Stacey chops the food, then pops it into pretty glass containers, which are labelled with the days of the week for ease. Always use clear containers, so you can see what you have.
Former TOWIE star Lydia Bright recently shared her daughter Loretta's favourite meal along with some adorable pics on Instagram.
In the photos, which show mama and daughter surrounded by ingredients alongside the finished product and a sign that says Mummy & Lorretta (how cute?), the pair can be seen having the time of their lives as they cook up their lunch, and good news for cooking fans because she’s shared the recipe with followers.
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She wrote, "My happy, little sous chef. Anything that involves food, makes her smile👩🏼🍳 AD Last night it was Alaska Pollock Tacos with crispy slaw and avocado mayo 🐟 🥑🌮 Want a recipe? Well, I have popped step by step instructions on my story.
"Inspired by a @fishsaidfred recipe, using their ‘Awesome Alaska Pollock Fillets.’ My biggest request on the gram is inspiration for family-friendly, healthy meals. Well, Alaska Pollock is one of the most healthy, tasty, fish going, naturally high in protein, low in fat, so versatile & perfect for dinner time. Fish Said Fred’s purpose is also simple, they want everyone to be able to enjoy properly delicious fish every week. I couldn’t agree more!"