Any Beginner Cook Can Make These 12 Recipes

By Tasting Table Staff/Sept. 28, 2016 4:40 pm EST

Maybe you're moving out of the house for the first time, away from the security of Mom's home-cooked meals. Maybe you're trying to impress someone special with a from-scratch dinner. Or maybe you were never able to master the intricacies of the kitchen. No matter the scenario, here we are. You're tired of swimming in a sea of takeout and microwaveable mac and cheese, and you want to give cooking a shot.

Don't get us wrong: Cooking can be hard. (There's a reason we often leave it to the pros.) But it doesn't have to be. It can be blissful, therapeutic, delicious and, yes, easy. To get you started, we've rounded up the best TT recipes that don't take a lot of time, equipment, ingredients or patience. Consider this your freshman seminar for cooking 101.

Once you've mastered these basics and want to move up to the next level, we've got a lot more in store for you. A delicious world awaits.

① Sheet Tray Salmon and Vegetables
Say hello to the sheet tray meal. It's every beginner cook's dream, as it's done in 30 minutes and requires only one pan. The taste is awesome and cleanup is a breeze. You can do this!

② Sheet Tray Pork and Potatoes
Grab a tenderloin for this amazing and fast dinner.

③ Everything Bagel Grilled Cheese
It's just four ingredients, and it's a delicious inside-out bagel grilled cheese. Make this.

④ Cacio e Pepe
Skip the jarred pasta sauce and try this easy, homemade Italian favorite instead. The incredibly simple, cheesy flavor is seriously addictive.

⑤ Smashed Potatoes
It's basically impossible to screw this one up. You're supposed to mash the ingredients together in a lackadaisical fashion, so have at it.

⑥ 5-Ingredient Pita Chips
Why make chips when you can buy a perfectly good bag at the store, you may ask? Because these taste a whole lot better, and your guests will definitely be impressed.

⑦ No-Bake Cheesecake
Recipes with "no-bake" or "no-cook" in the title make our lives a whole lot better. Watch how easy dessert is when you don't have to turn on your oven! Get started with this dead-simple cheesecake.

⑧ No-Cook Tomato Sauce
Another quick favorite. Pasta and pizza for everyone!

⑨ Shrimp with Mango Dipping Sauce
So about that special someone you invited over for dinner: This recipe is a life-saver. Simple, flavorful, a tad bit fancy—they'll be pleasantly surprised.

⑩ Ricotta Toast with Orange and Mint
Because you can't have a bowl of cereal every morning. This easy spread is a serious upgrade.

⑪ Kentucky Beer Cheese
The name alone makes us want to eat it. Plus, even if you don't do a lot of cooking at home, you probably still have beer and cheese on hand.

⑫ Slow Cooker Al Pastor
Don't let the cooking time on this one scare you. You're basically dumping delicious ingredients into a steamy bath together and letting the slow cooker work its magic. The pork gets incredibly tender and rich, and your Taco Tuesday-loving self will thank you.