22 of the Best Real Simple Recipes Ever (2024)

Here are the dishes most bookmarked, dog-eared, clipped, shared, and enjoyed—from once-a-week slow-cooker chicken to special-occasion chocolate cake. Simply put, they're keepers.

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Chicken and Vegetable Potpie

22 of the Best Real Simple Recipes Ever (1)

Use low-fat milk, olive oil, and double the vegetables to give this rustic, down-home comfort food a healthy revamp. To save time on prep without sacrificing the crisp golden-brown pastry exterior, use store-bought piecrust. Just unroll it, lay it over a filled oven-safe dish, vent, and bake.

Get the recipe: Chicken and Vegetable Potpie

02of 22

Grilled Shrimp Tacos

22 of the Best Real Simple Recipes Ever (2)

Thread shrimp onto pre-soaked wooden skewers, brush with a finger-licking garlic butter, and grill alongside lime wedges. Before serving, toss the tortillas on the grill for 30 seconds on each side to add a smoky char. Serve the tacos with cumin-spiced sour cream, shredded cabbage, and tomatillo salsa.

Get the recipe: Grilled Shrimp Tacos

03of 22

Salted Oatmeal Cookies With Dark Chocolate

22 of the Best Real Simple Recipes Ever (3)

Pillowy oatmeal cookies are stuffed with coarsely chopped dark chocolate chunks and then sprinkled with flaky sea salt (like Maldon), so each bite is the perfect mouthful of salty and sweet. If you need to make the cookies ahead of time, they can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to five days.

Get the recipe: Salted Oatmeal Cookies With Dark Chocolate

04of 22

Slow-Cooker Bolognese Sauce

22 of the Best Real Simple Recipes Ever (4)

You don't have to cook all day to create a high-quality version of this classic Italian sauce. Simply sauté the ingredients together, then transfer to your slow cooker to let the flavors deepen and to tenderize the meat. When it's time to eat, just add pasta.

Get the recipe: Slow-Cooker Bolognese Sauce

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Saucy Baked Chicken Legs With Olives and Tomatoes

22 of the Best Real Simple Recipes Ever (5)

With skin that crisps beautifully and meat that stays juicy, chicken legs are an inexpensive cut that's ideal for roasting. And this delicious Mediterranean-inspired meal couldn't be any easier: Simply toss all of the ingredients in an oven-safe casserole dish and bake. Serve with warm, crusty bread.

Get the recipe: Saucy Baked Chicken Legs With Olives and Tomatoes.

Salmon Burgers

22 of the Best Real Simple Recipes Ever (6)

This tasty fish burger only sounds fancy—it's no different than whipping ground beef into patties. Combine finely chopped salmon with binders—like egg whites, mustard, and breadcrumbs—and seasonings—like dill and salt—and form into patties. For an easy upgrade, swap traditional potato buns for brioche.

Get the recipe: Salmon Burgers

07of 22

Basil Spaghetti With Cheesy Broiled Tomatoes

22 of the Best Real Simple Recipes Ever (7)

If the kids love spaghetti, wait until they try this: Instead of the usual marinara sauce, broil thick slices of tomato topped with Parmesan and mozzarella until melted and golden (this is a great way to perk up out of season tomatoes, too). Serve the cheesy tomatoes atop a pasta drizzled with a homemade garlic pepper oil and studded with basil.

Get the recipe: Basil Spaghetti With Cheesy Broiled Tomatoes

08of 22

Mexican Chicken Soup

22 of the Best Real Simple Recipes Ever (8)

This south-of-the-border soup gets it's bold, fresh flavor from a homemade chicken broth. It's not as hard as it sounds: Just combine two whole chickens, carrots, onion, salt, and water, then simmer for about an hour. Shred the chicken, add rice, and serve with fresh avocados, cilantro, and lime juice.

Get the recipe: Mexican Chicken Soup

09of 22

Slow-Cooker Lamb, Apricot, and Olive Tagine

22 of the Best Real Simple Recipes Ever (9)

Thanks to the slow cooker, this Moroccan meal is a cinch to prepare at home. There's no stovetop prep required—just toss the lamb, apricots, olives, vegetables, and spices into your slow cooker. The slow, all-day simmer ensures the dish is both fragrant and flavorful. Whip up a quick batch of couscous when you're ready to eat.

Get the recipe: Slow-Cooker Lamb, Apricot, and Olive Tagine

10of 22

Deep-Dish Sausage, Ricotta, and Onion Pizza With Tangy Romaine

22 of the Best Real Simple Recipes Ever (10)

You don't need any special kitchen equipment to make this deep-dish Chicago-style pizza—just a 9-inch cake pan. Place store-bought pizza dough (find it in the refrigerator section or ask your local pizza parlor if they sell dough to go) in the pan, then top with layers of mozzarella, marinara, onion, and browned sausage for a crowd-pleasing meal.

Get the recipe: Deep-Dish Sausage, Ricotta, and Onion Pizza With Tangy Romaine

11of 22

Chicken Tikka Masala

22 of the Best Real Simple Recipes Ever (11)

A good foray into Indian food, this tomato-based dish is light on the warm spices but still has distinct ethnic flair. Sprinkle garam masala (an aromatic blend of spices like cumin, coriander, black pepper, cinnamon, and cardamom) into a basic tomato sauce. Adding the raw chicken to the sauce helps ensure the chicken soaks up all those delicious flavors while it cooks.

Get the recipe: Chicken Tikka Masala

12of 22

Mustardy Kale Salad With Roasted Sweet Potato and Apple

22 of the Best Real Simple Recipes Ever (12)

Packed with protein and fiber, this hearty main course salad is a nutritional powerhouse. Combine the kale, roasted sweet potato, chopped apple, and almonds in a large bowl and drizzle with a tangy mustard vinaigrette. Once dressed, massage the kale with clean hands to make the salad more palatable.

Get the recipe: Mustardy Kale Salad With Roasted Sweet Potato and Apple

13of 22

Cedar-Plank Salmon

22 of the Best Real Simple Recipes Ever (13)

This seafood main is impressive, yet low-effort—the cedar board (available at gourmet food stores) does most of the work for you! Coat a quality cut of salmon with a simple rub of brown sugar, thyme, and cayenne before grilling. The result is a slightly smoky, perfectly flaky fish dinner. Nobody will miss the burgers and dogs.

Get the recipe: Cedar-Plank Salmon

14of 22

Flourless Chocolate Cake

22 of the Best Real Simple Recipes Ever (14)

For serious chocolate lovers only! This rich, dense, and supremely moist cake is packed with two sticks of butter, heavy cream, sour cream, sugar, and a double dose of chocolate. For a pretty presentation, dust the top with confectioners' sugar and serve with lightly sweetened fresh whipped cream.

Get the recipe: Flourless Chocolate Cake

15of 22

Bourbon Apple Cake

22 of the Best Real Simple Recipes Ever (15)

Made with instant grits (yes, grits!) and spiked with bourbon, this fruit-laden cake has a double dose of Southern flavor. It takes just 15 minutes of hands-on prep time, making it a great choice for the busy host who needs a delicious, foolproof, and quick recipe.

Get the recipe: Bourbon Apple Cake

16of 22

Pan-Roasted Chicken With Lemon-Garlic Green Beans

22 of the Best Real Simple Recipes Ever (16)

The only thing better than a one-dish dinner is a well-rounded one-dish dinner. In this easy recipe, chicken breasts bake atop a bed of quartered potatoes and green beans. A light dressing of lemon, garlic, and olive oil lend bold, bright flavor to the entire dish.

Get the recipe: Pan-Roasted Chicken With Lemon-Garlic Green Beans

17of 22

Maple-Roasted Chicken With Sweet Potatoes

22 of the Best Real Simple Recipes Ever (17)

At the grocery store, you can save a little bit of money by purchasing a whole chicken instead of the breasts. This recipe utilizes the whole bird and cooks in one dish, making cleanup a breeze. Simply cut the poultry into eight pieces, toss with a maple syrup glaze, and bake.

Get the recipe: Maple-Roasted Chicken With Sweet Potatoes

18of 22

Turkey Sloppy Joes With Coleslaw

22 of the Best Real Simple Recipes Ever (18)

Tomato sauce, brown sugar, barbecue sauce, and Worcestershire create a rich, savory sauce with plenty of tang. Pair these oversized and incredibly flavorful sandwiches with a crunchy cabbage and carrot slaw to complete the meal. And be sure to have plenty of napkins on hand!

Get the recipe: Turkey Sloppy Joes With Coleslaw

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Tilapia Tacos With Cucumber Relish

22 of the Best Real Simple Recipes Ever (19)

Skip the local Mexican joint and prepare this fresher, healthier version of the classic at home. Grilling the fish rather than frying it adds bold taste without all the fat. Wrap the cooked tilapia in soft corn tortillas, top each of the tacos with a crunchy radish and cucumber relish, and serve with your favorite accompaniments (cilantro, sour cream, and lime wedges are a must!).

Get the recipe: Tilapia Tacos With Cucumber Relish

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Espresso Brownies

22 of the Best Real Simple Recipes Ever (20)

Perk up a batch of decadent fudge brownies with a secret ingredient: espresso. Just two tablespoons of the morning pick-me-up intensifies the already rich chocolate flavor. No espresso on hand? Substitute extra-strong brewed coffee or one rounded teaspoon of instant espresso powder with two tablespoons of water.

Get the recipe: Espresso Brownies

21of 22

Molasses-Ginger Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches

22 of the Best Real Simple Recipes Ever (21)

This no-fuss frozen dessert has just two store-bought ingredients—chewy ginger or molasses cookies and chocolate chocolate chip ice cream—to make dessert quick and easy work. All you have to do is sandwich the slightly softened ice cream between two cookies. No mixer, no baking time—just 10 minutes.

Get the recipe: Molasses-Ginger Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches

22of 22

Kale Smoothie With Pineapple and Banana

22 of the Best Real Simple Recipes Ever (22)

Don't let the name of this smoothie fool you—thanks to coconut milk, banana, and pineapple, you'd never even know you were getting a healthy dose of greens (kale or spinach both work well). Freeze the fruit before giving the ingredients a whir in the blender to create an icier beverage.

Get the recipe: Kale Smoothie With Pineapple and Banana

22 of the Best Real Simple Recipes Ever (2024)

FAQs

When was the first recipe written? ›

The earliest known written recipes date to 1730 BC and were recorded on cuneiform tablets found in Mesopotamia. Other early written recipes date from approximately 1600 BC and come from an Akkadian tablet from southern Babylonia. There are also works in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs depicting the preparation of food.

What are two tips for using a recipe? ›

Let's go over some tips of how to read a recipe:
  1. 1) Read through the recipe twice to ensure you understand. ...
  2. 2) Determine the yield amount of the recipe. ...
  3. 3) Make a Checklist of all your ingredients needed. ...
  4. 4) Determine whether you need to preheat the oven. ...
  5. 5) Take note of the time it is going to make the recipe.
May 14, 2014

How do you describe a recipe? ›

A recipe is simply defined as a set of instructions with a list of ingredients used to prepare a particular food, dish or drink. People use recipes to replicate foods they enjoy that they otherwise do not know how to make.

What is the oldest known cooked food? ›

A recent study found what could be the earliest known evidence of ancient cooking: the leftovers of a fish dinner from 780,000 years ago. Cooking helped change our ancestors. It helped fuel our evolution and gave us bigger brains.

What is the oldest prepared food? ›

Here is the answer for you! Bread is considered to be first prepared probably some 30000+ years back and is one of the very first foods made by mankind. The earliest proof of making bread loaf occurred with the Natufian hunter-gatherers that lived in the Levant.

What is the first thing you should do with every recipe? ›

1: READ THE RECIPE COMPLETELY BEFORE BEGINNING. The first step in following a recipe is to be sure to read through the ingredients needed as well as the instructions for what you will be doing before you ever begin mixing your batters or doughs. (This is one of the first steps in Mise En Place.)

What is the most basic rule in cooking? ›

1. Read the recipe. Of all the important advice out there about cooking, this by far has to be the number 1 rule of cooking: read your recipe completely before getting started.

What is the first thing you should do when you get a recipe? ›

First, you take the recipe that you intend to cook and read it thoroughly to familiarize yourself with the timing, techniques, equipment, and ingredients you will need. Second, you pull all of the necessary equipment and arrange it near your cooking station, so that it is at the ready.

Is there an app to write recipes? ›

Recipe Keeper is the easy to use, all-in-one recipe organizer, shopping list and meal planner available across all of your devices. Enter your recipes with as much or as little information as you like. Copy and paste recipes from your existing documents or apps.

What is the most common format for recipe writing? ›

  • Standard format. The recipe is easy to follow and takes up least space. Says the ingredients and then tells you step-by-step what to do with them.
  • Narrative format. The recipe is written in paragraph form. It gives you the ingredients along with the method of combining them. ...
  • Active format. Step-by-step method.

What are the 5 elements in a standard recipe? ›

  1. Yield. The yield tells the number and size of servings the recipe will make.
  2. List of Ingredients & Amounts.
  3. Step By Step Directions for Mixing & Handling.
  4. Equipment (Container Size & Type)
  5. Temperature & Time.

How do you describe food in one word? ›

Appetizing is everything we find appealing, mouth-watering, delectable, savory, delicious, palatable, inviting, tantalizing, toothsome, luscious, tempting, tasty, enticing.

What should a recipe tell you? ›

They tell you these things ahead of time: what foods and equipment you need, how to make the dish, and how many people it serves. The name of a recipe can tell you what foods are in the dish and how to cook them.

How do you describe food elegantly? ›

Some menu description examples of adjectives that you can use in your menu descriptions include: Aromatic, Delicious, Flavorful, mouth-watering, Nutritious, Satisfying, Savory, Tasty, Yummy. Appetizing, Delectable, Saccharine.

Who made the first recipe book? ›

The first recorded cookbook that is still in print today is Of Culinary Matters (originally, De Re Coquinaria), written by Apicius, in fourth century AD Rome. It contains more than 500 recipes, including many with Indian spices.

Who is the first recipe? ›

So far, the earliest food recipe is a meat pie recipe is from Mesopotamia; it was found on tablets dating to 1700 BC.

Who invented the recipe book? ›

An early version was first compiled sometime in the 1st century and has often been attributed to the Roman gourmet Marcus Gavius Apicius, though this has been cast in doubt by modern research. An Apicius came to designate a book of recipes.

What is the first food recipe in the world? ›

Nettle pudding dates back to 6000 BCE in Britain and is considered the oldest known recipe in the world. It is a very thick, light mousse-like dessert made from nettles, milk, and eggs.

References

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