10+ Best Recipes to Try for Delicious and Easy Meals

Finding great recipes honestly makes cooking way less stressful. If you’re after something quick or trying to impress, having a stash of go-to recipes just takes the guesswork out of dinner.

The best recipes? They’re simple, tasty, and actually make you want to cook again.

You definitely don’t need to be a chef to eat well at home. With the right recipes, you can build some skills and try new flavors without feeling lost.

This guide’s here to help you find recipes that match your style—and maybe give you a little confidence boost in the kitchen.

1) Honey Garlic Chicken

Honey garlic chicken just hits the spot when you want something fast and flavorful. The sauce is sweet, savory, and comes together with almost no effort.

Use chicken breasts or thighs—whatever you have on hand. The sauce usually mixes honey, garlic, soy sauce, and sometimes a splash of vinegar.

It cooks up in around 15 minutes, which is great when you’re hungry. Serve it with rice or some veggies and you’re set.

There are plenty of versions online, like this honey garlic chicken recipe.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts or thighs
• 1/4 cup honey
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon vinegar (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Season chicken with salt and pepper.
2. Heat a pan over medium, cook chicken until golden—about 5-7 minutes per side.
3. Mix honey, garlic, soy sauce, and vinegar in a bowl.
4. Pour sauce over chicken, cook for 3-5 more minutes until it thickens.
5. Serve warm with your favorite sides.

2) One Pan Sesame Butter Chicken

This one-pan sesame butter chicken is ridiculously easy and packed with flavor. The creamy sauce uses coconut milk with a handful of spices.

Sesame seeds add a bit of crunch and a nutty twist. You just bake everything together, so there’s less mess.

Serve it with rice or naan to soak up the sauce. It’s honestly a weeknight lifesaver.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs boneless chicken thighs
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 2 tbsp chili butter or regular butter with chili flakes
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds
• 2 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh cilantro (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Season chicken with spices, salt, and pepper.
3. Put chicken in a baking dish, pour coconut milk and chili butter over it.
4. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top.
5. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the chicken’s cooked through.
6. Garnish with cilantro if you’re feeling fancy, and serve hot.

Check out Half Baked Harvest for more details!

3) Halal Cart Chicken

Halal Cart Chicken brings big, bold flavor without much fuss. The chicken gets marinated with oregano, lemon, and coriander, then cooked until juicy.

Serve it on yellow turmeric rice for that classic street food vibe. The real star is the white sauce—cool, creamy, and a perfect match for the spiced chicken.

You can prep the marinade and sauce ahead, which is always a win.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs chicken thighs
• 1 lemon (juice)
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp coriander
• 1 cup basmati rice
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup plain yogurt
• 1 garlic clove (minced)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Marinate chicken with lemon, oregano, coriander, salt, and pepper for at least 30 minutes.
2. Cook rice with turmeric until soft and yellow.
3. Grill or pan-fry chicken on medium-high until cooked through, about 6-7 minutes per side.
4. Mix mayo, yogurt, garlic, salt, and pepper for the white sauce.
5. Chop chicken, serve over rice, and drizzle with white sauce.

Want more? Check Fufu’s Kitchen.

4) Chicken Chili Verde

Chicken Chili Verde is all about comfort and tangy green sauce. You simmer chicken in a blend of tomatillos and peppers.

It’s great with tortilla chips or wrapped in a warm tortilla. You can use a pressure cooker or slow cooker to keep the chicken tender.

The green sauce brings a fresh, slightly tangy kick. It’s not too spicy, so even picky eaters might go for it.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs chicken thighs or breasts
• 1 lb tomatillos, husked and chopped
• 2-3 green chilies or jalapeños
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup chicken broth
• Fresh cilantro for garnish
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Brown chicken in a pot over medium heat.
2. Add onions and garlic, sauté until soft.
3. Blend tomatillos, chilies, and broth into a sauce.
4. Pour sauce over chicken.
5. Simmer on low for 30-40 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
6. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Garnish with cilantro.

If you’re using a pressure cooker, cook on high for 15 minutes, then quick release.

Find more at What’s Gaby Cooking or Serious Eats.

5) Gingery Chicken Noodle Soup

This soup is cozy and has a fresh ginger kick. You boil a whole chicken with ginger and celery for a flavorful broth.

The ginger adds warmth without getting too spicy. Toss in noodles and veggies like carrots and onions—super simple.

A splash of sesame oil or garlic gives it an extra layer. If you want something soothing but not boring, this is it.

The ingredients are everyday stuff, which makes life easier.

Ingredients

• Whole chicken (3-4 pounds)
• Fresh ginger (2-inch piece)
• Celery stalks (2)
• Carrots (2, sliced)
• Onion (1, sliced)
• Egg noodles (8 oz)
• Garlic (2 cloves, minced)
• Sesame oil (1 tablespoon)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Water (8 cups)

Cooking Instructions

1. Put chicken, ginger, celery, and onion in a big pot. Cover with water.
2. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 1 to 1.5 hours.
3. Remove chicken, shred the meat, toss the bones.
4. Strain broth, put it back in the pot.
5. Add carrots, garlic, and noodles. Cook until noodles are tender, about 8 minutes.
6. Stir in chicken and sesame oil.
7. Season and serve hot.

You can try this ginger chicken noodle soup for a little inspiration.

6) Best-Ever Brownies

These brownies are rich, fudgy, and honestly kind of addictive. You just need cocoa powder and chocolate chips—no fancy stuff.

The shiny, crackly top is what makes them look bakery-worthy. Butter and eggs keep them moist and chewy.

Mixing in cocoa powder gives a deep chocolate flavor that feels homemade. You only use one bowl, so cleanup is painless.

Enjoy them warm or cool, and they’ll keep for a few days if you don’t eat them all at once.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Melt butter, mix with sugar in a bowl.
3. Stir in eggs and vanilla until smooth.
4. Add cocoa powder, flour, and salt—mix just until combined.
5. Fold in chocolate chips if you want.
6. Pour into a greased 8×8 pan.
7. Bake 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.
8. Let cool, cut into squares.

7) Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

Classic chocolate chip cookies are always a good idea. They stay soft for days and have that perfect chewy bite.

You don’t need anything fancy—just pantry basics. Make them plain or toss in walnuts for crunch.

They’re easy, beginner-friendly, and work for any occasion.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup (165g) packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2 1/4 cups (281g) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups (340g) chocolate chips
• 1 cup (100g) chopped walnuts (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. Mix butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla until creamy.

3. Beat in the eggs, adding them one at a time.

4. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add this to the wet mix.

5. Stir in chocolate chips. Toss in walnuts if you like them.

6. Drop tablespoon-sized dough balls onto an ungreased baking sheet.

7. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the cookies turn golden brown.

8. Let cookies cool on the sheet for 2 minutes. Move them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

You can find a solid recipe for these classic cookies at Plum Street Collective.

8) Whole Wheat Bread

Whole wheat bread? It’s a healthy choice, and making it at home is easier than you might think.

The bread has a nutty flavor and a soft texture, perfect for sandwiches or a simple slice of toast.

You don’t need a ton of ingredients. The process is straightforward, and you get to control what goes in.

Using whole wheat flour bumps up the fiber and nutrients compared to white bread.

There are plenty of beginner-friendly recipes out there. If you want to start somewhere, this easy 100% whole wheat bread recipe is a good bet for a soft, tasty loaf.

Ingredients

• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
• 1 1/4 cups warm water (110°F / 43°C)
• 2 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix warm water, honey, and yeast. Wait about 5 minutes for it to get foamy.

2. Add flour, olive oil, and salt. Stir everything together.

3. Knead the dough for 8–10 minutes until it feels smooth.

4. Put the dough in a greased bowl. Cover it and let it rise until doubled, about an hour.

5. Punch down the dough and shape it into a loaf. Place it in a greased loaf pan.

6. Cover and let it rise again until nearly doubled, maybe 30–45 minutes.

7. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 30–35 minutes. The top should look golden brown.

8. Let it cool before you slice it. Seriously, the wait is worth it.

9) Easy Chicken Parmesan

Chicken Parmesan at home? Totally doable and honestly, it’s pretty satisfying.

Start with chicken breasts—bread them and cook until crispy.

Top the chicken with marinara sauce and a mix of mozzarella and Parmesan.

Bake until the cheese melts and bubbles. It’s classic Italian flavor with not much fuss.

Serve it with pasta or maybe a side salad if you want to lighten things up.

Ingredients

• 2 boneless chicken breasts
• 1 cup marinara sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Olive oil for frying

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. Beat the egg in a bowl. Season the chicken with salt and pepper.

3. Dip each chicken breast in egg, then coat with breadcrumbs.

4. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Fry the chicken until golden, about 3 minutes per side.

5. Place the chicken in a baking dish. Spoon marinara sauce over each piece.

6. Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan on top.

7. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

10) Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta

Creamy garlic shrimp pasta is one of those meals that feels fancy but comes together fast.

It’s rich with garlic butter and parmesan, and the shrimp turn out so tender.

You can use any pasta you like. The creamy sauce clings to every bite.

Shrimp cooks quickly, so keep an eye on it—no one wants rubbery shrimp.

The garlic cream sauce is buttery and smooth. It’s a weeknight dinner that still feels a bit special.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces pasta
• ½ pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Boil the pasta just like the package says. Drain it, then set it aside.

2. Melt some butter in a skillet over medium heat. Toss in the garlic and let it sizzle for a minute or two—don’t let it burn.

3. Throw in the shrimp. Cook them until they turn pink, usually about 3 or 4 minutes.

4. Pour in the heavy cream and sprinkle in the parmesan. Stir and let the sauce thicken for a few minutes.

5. Add the pasta to the skillet and mix it all up. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

6. If you’re feeling fancy, chop some parsley and sprinkle it on top. Serve it up while it’s warm.

Learn more about creamy garlic shrimp pasta here.