Learn to make these essential recipes, and you'll be equipped for any occasion. Think everyday healthy meals, decadent treats to share and celebration-worthy recipes.
33 Essential Recipes You Should Know by 35
Updated on Sep. 16, 2024
In Your Teens
By your teens, you should master a few snacks, basic meals and classic sweets. This basic buttermilk pancake recipe is easy to whip up for Sunday brunch (or a sweet supper).
Get the Recipe for Buttermilk Pancakes
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Spinach-Mushroom Scrambled Eggs
Total Time
15 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband and I had breakfast at a hotel and enjoyed an amazing mushroom and egg dish. As soon as I got home, I made my own rendition. —Rachelle McCalla, Batesville, Arkansas
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 162 calories, 11g fat (5g saturated fat), 226mg cholesterol, 417mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 14g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 medium-fat meat.
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The Ultimate Grilled Cheese
Total Time
15 min
Servings
5 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These gooey grilled cheese sandwiches taste great for lunch with sliced apples. And they're really fast to whip up, too. Here's how to make grilled cheese the right way. —Kathy Norris, Streator, Illinois
Nutrition Facts:
1 sandwich: 646 calories, 50g fat (18g saturated fat), 84mg cholesterol, 885mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 16g protein.
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Fudgy Brownie Recipe
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Coffee granules enhance the chocolate flavor in these amazingly fudgy brownies. Add chocolate chips to the batter and you’ve got some seriously irresistible treats. —Sarah Farmer, Waukesha, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 brownie: 344 calories, 18g fat (10g saturated fat), 67mg cholesterol, 197mg sodium, 47g carbohydrate (35g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein.
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Strawberry Lemonade Smoothie
Total Time
5 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We love the perfect blend of sweet and citrus in this refreshing smoothie. It's so easy to throw together, I often find myself making one for breakfast or a midday snack. — Jamie King, Duluth, Minnesota
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 129 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 2mg cholesterol, 34mg sodium, 29g carbohydrate (27g sugars, 2g fiber), 2g protein.
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Aunt Betty’s Blueberry Muffins
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My Aunt Betty is quite a baker, but I look forward to these mouthwatering blueberry muffin recipe the most. She gives me enough so that I can freeze and enjoy them for weeks. —Sheila Raleigh, Kechi, Kansas
Nutrition Facts:
1 each: 208 calories, 10g fat (1g saturated fat), 18mg cholesterol, 172mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (13g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.
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Hard-Boiled Eggs
Total Time
20 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
In the kitchen, it's important to start with something simple, like how to cook hard-boiled eggs. Use this egg recipe in plenty of dishes, or eat them plain for a quick protein fix. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts:
1 egg: 75 calories, 5g fat (2g saturated fat), 213mg cholesterol, 63mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 6g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 medium-fat meat.
Early 20’s
Time to master the basics, like sauces and grains, plus easy everyday healthy recipes, like this garlic lovers’ chicken.
Get the Recipe for Garlic Lover’s Chicken
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Roasted Tomato Soup
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Just before the first frost of the season, we gather up all of the tomatoes from my mom’s garden to create this flavor-packed soup. Although it sounds like a lot of garlic, when it’s roasted, the garlic becomes mellow and almost sweet. We serve this soup with toasted bread spread with pesto. —Kaitlyn Lerdahl, Madison, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 276 calories, 22g fat (6g saturated fat), 27mg cholesterol, 421mg sodium, 19g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 5g fiber), 4g protein.
Brown Rice
Rice can be one of the most versatile players in your mealtime lineup. It’s also one of the simplest to make. Our foolproof guide will teach you how to cook brown rice, with helpful tips along the way.
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Get-Up-and-Go Granola
Total Time
45 min
Servings
7-1/2 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
My family loves to have this soul-warming granola before hiking, biking or even when camping. It smells delicious while baking up and you can easily make in large batches for special occasions or to send in gift packages to family and friends. —Sabrina Olson, Otsego, Minnesota
Nutrition Facts:
1/2 cup: 255 calories, 10g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 84mg sodium, 40g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 5g fiber), 7g protein.
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Herb-Happy Garlic Bread
Total Time
15 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
You'll love the fresh garlic and herbs in this recipe. The mild goat cheese that’s sprinkled on top makes it extra rich and wonderful. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts:
1 slice: 169 calories, 11g fat (7g saturated fat), 35mg cholesterol, 307mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein.
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Spaghetti Sauce
Total Time
8 hours 30 min
Servings
12 servings (3 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
My father is very opinionated, especially about food. This recipe received his almost unreachable stamp of approval. I have yet to hear a disagreement from anyone who has tried it! —Melissa Taylor, Higley, Arizona
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 335 calories, 16g fat (5g saturated fat), 62mg cholesterol, 622mg sodium, 27g carbohydrate (16g sugars, 5g fiber), 22g protein.
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Yellow Cupcakes
Total Time
35 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Nothing is better than homemade cupcakes. This yellow cupcake recipe makes delicious and fluffy treats. To top them, choose whatever frosting you want. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts:
1 cupcake (calculated without frosting): 163 calories, 6g fat (4g saturated fat), 32mg cholesterol, 138mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 0 fiber), 2g protein.
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Apple Pie Steel-Cut Oatmeal
Total Time
6 hours 10 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I absolutely love this slow-cooked oatmeal. The steel-cut oats have so much flavor and texture. My family sprinkles toasted pecans on top whenever possible. —Angela Lively, Conroe, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/4 cups: 171 calories, 2g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 39mg sodium, 36g carbohydrate (13g sugars, 4g fiber), 4g protein.
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Banana Bread
Total Time
1 hour 30 min
Servings
1 loaf (16 pieces)
From the Recipe Creator:
Whenever I pass a display of bananas in the grocery store, I can almost smell the wonderful aroma of this banana bread. It really is amazingly good! —Gert Kaiser, Kenosha, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 257 calories, 13g fat (1g saturated fat), 23mg cholesterol, 171mg sodium, 34g carbohydrate (21g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.
Homemade Salad Dressing
Cheaper and healthier than store-bought salad dressing, vinaigrette is also a snap to make at home. Our Test Kitchen shows you how it’s done.
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Sweet & Tangy Salmon with Green Beans
Total Time
35 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I'm always up for new ways to cook salmon. In this dish, a sweet sauce gives the fish and green beans some down-home barbecue tang. Even our kids love it. —Aliesha Caldwell, Robersonville, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts:
1 fillet with 3/4 cup green beans: 394 calories, 22g fat (5g saturated fat), 93mg cholesterol, 661mg sodium, 17g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 4g fiber), 31g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 5 lean meat, 1-1/2 fat, 1 vegetable, 1/2 starch.
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Chicken Noodle Soup
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
10 servings (about 3-1/2 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
My first Wisconsin winter was so cold, all I wanted to eat was homemade chicken noodle soup. Of all the chicken noodle soup recipes out there, this type of soup is my favorite and is in heavy rotation from November to April. It has many incredibly devoted fans.—Gina Nistico, Denver, Colorado
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/3 cups: 239 calories, 12g fat (3g saturated fat), 68mg cholesterol, 1176mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 18g protein.
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Homemade Guacamole
Total Time
10 min
Servings
2 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
I always judge a Tex-Mex restaurant by its guacamole. And although it's simple to prepare, it can go wrong oh, so easily. I've spent many years perfecting mine, to the point where I think it's better than most restaurants. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
1/4 cup: 90 calories, 8g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 78mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 4g fiber), 1g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 fat.
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Potato Salad with Bacon
Total Time
35 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
It isn't a summer cookout without potato salad, but the stuff from the deli just isn't our thing. I toyed with many recipes until I developed this one. Now if I even mention grilling or barbecuing, it's my family's top request for a side. —Paul Cogswell, League City, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 424 calories, 36g fat (7g saturated fat), 20mg cholesterol, 1147mg sodium, 17g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 2g fiber), 7g protein.
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Classic Beef Stew
Total Time
2 hours 25 min
Servings
8 servings (2 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
This easy beef stew recipe is my favorite. The rich beef gravy helps the hearty flavor of the potatoes and carrots to come through. It's the perfect homemade dish for a blustery winter day. —Alberta McKay, Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 245 calories, 10g fat (3g saturated fat), 71mg cholesterol, 751mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 3g fiber), 24g protein.
Late 20’s & Early 30’s
Time for more advanced recipes that rely on technique to get restaurant-worthy results. Think homemade bread and pizza dough, great steak, and more.
Get the Recipe for Crusty Homemade Bread
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Best Lasagna
Total Time
1 hour 50 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Want to know how to make lasagna for a casual holiday meal? You can't go wrong with this deliciously rich meat lasagna recipe. My grown sons and daughter-in-law request it for their birthdays, too. —Pam Thompson, Girard, Illinois
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 519 calories, 27g fat (13g saturated fat), 109mg cholesterol, 1013mg sodium, 35g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 4g fiber), 35g protein.
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Baked Balsamic Chicken
Total Time
2 hours 20 min
Servings
12 servings (1-1/2 cups onion sauce)
From the Recipe Creator:
As far as roast chicken ideas go, this baked balsamic chicken recipe is one of our favorites. When the aroma from this dish fills your house, your family will think you spent all day cooking. But this elegant Sunday-special roast chicken, flavored with rosemary, wine and balsamic vinegar, is surprisingly simple to make. —Tracy Tylkowski, Omaha, Nebraska
Nutrition Facts:
3 ounces cooked chicken (skin removed) with 2 tablespoons sauce: 182 calories, 7g fat (2g saturated fat), 77mg cholesterol, 275mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), 25g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 4 lean meat.
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Heirloom Tomato Salad
Total Time
20 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is a simple yet elegant dish that always pleases my guests. Not only is it tasty, but it is healthy, too. The more varied the colors of the tomatoes you choose, the prettier the salad will be. —Jess Apfe, Berkeley, California
Nutrition Facts:
2/3 cup: 75 calories, 5g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 161mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 1g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1 fat.
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Blueberry French Toast Casserole
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
8 servings (1-3/4 cups sauce)
From the Recipe Creator:
A local blueberry grower shared this recipe with me, and it's the best breakfast dish I've ever tasted. With the cream cheese and berry combination, this French toast casserole reminds me of dessert. —Patricia Axelsen, Aurora, Minnesota
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 621 calories, 31g fat (15g saturated fat), 350mg cholesterol, 569mg sodium, 68g carbohydrate (44g sugars, 2g fiber), 19g protein.
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Grilled Marinated Ribeyes
Total Time
20 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These juicy steaks are a favorite meal of ours when we go camping. Let them sit in tangy, barbecue-inspired marinade overnight and you've got a rich and hearty dinner ready to grill up the next day. —Louise Graybiel, Toronto, Ontario
Nutrition Facts:
1 steak: 570 calories, 40g fat (15g saturated fat), 134mg cholesterol, 592mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 0 fiber), 40g protein.
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Chicken Broth
Total Time
2 hours 40 min
Servings
about 6 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
Wondering how to make chicken broth at home? Learn here! Rich in chicken flavor, this traditional broth is lightly seasoned with herbs. Besides making wonderful chicken soups, this chicken stock recipe can be used in casseroles, rice dishes and other recipes that call for chicken broth. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 25 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 130mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 4g protein.
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Cinnamon Apple Pie
Total Time
2 hours 5 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Cinnamon apple pie baked in a cast iron skillet is a real stunner. This beauty, with its flaky, tender crust, also works in a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate. —Renee Schettler Rossi, New York, New York
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 633 calories, 30g fat (12g saturated fat), 34mg cholesterol, 169mg sodium, 90g carbohydrate (62g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein.
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Thin Crust Pizza Dough
Total Time
10 min
Servings
2 pounds (enough for four 12-in. pizzas)
From the Recipe Creator:
My family loves pizza, and this crust is our go-to recipe. It is healthier and less expensive than delivery and tastes so much better. —Theresa Rohde, Scottville, Michigan
Nutrition Facts:
1/4 of 1 pizza crust: 139 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 149mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 2g fiber), 5g protein.
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Slow-Cooker Short Ribs
Total Time
6 hours 45 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These slow-cooker short ribs are an easy alternative to traditionally braised short ribs—you don't need to pay any attention to them once you get them in the slow cooker. (That makes it my favorite beef short ribs recipe!) —Rebekah Beyer, Sabetha, Kansas
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 251 calories, 13g fat (5g saturated fat), 55mg cholesterol, 402mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 20g protein.
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Chocolate Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Years ago, I drove 4-1/2 hours to a cake contest, holding my entry on my lap the whole way. But it paid off. One bite and you'll see why this velvety beauty was named the best chocolate cake recipe and won first prize. —Sandra Johnson, Tioga, Pennsylvania
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 685 calories, 29g fat (18g saturated fat), 115mg cholesterol, 505mg sodium, 102g carbohydrate (81g sugars, 3g fiber), 7g protein.
