15 Ways To Keep Cooking Simple And Everyone Amazed

Cooking doesn’t have to feel like a science experiment gone wrong. Keeping things simple means less time figuring out complicated techniques and more time watching everyone act like you just invented food. With a few smart tricks, meals can come together so easily that it almost feels like cheating—but in a good way.

A bowl of pasta with lemon slices and parmesan cheese.
Best Lemon Pasta. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Baked Chicken Thighs

Roasted chicken thighs with sliced potatoes garnished with herbs.
Baked Chicken Thighs. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

No one wants to spend hours cooking, but everyone wants something good. That’s why Baked Chicken Thighs are always a win. You get something crispy on the outside and juicy inside without standing over a stove. It’s so simple you might start questioning why you ever cooked chicken any other way.
Get the Recipe: Baked Chicken Thighs

Beef Bourguignon

Close-up of a savory beef stew with chunks of beef, bacon, onion, and vegetables in a rich, glossy sauce, served over creamy mashed potatoes.
Beef Bourguignon. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Fancy name, but it’s basically beef that’s been upgraded with some slow-cooked magic. Beef Bourguignon brings deep flavors without a lot of work, making it feel way fancier than it is. The hardest part is waiting while it cooks, but the result is always worth it. It’s proof that great meals don’t have to be complicated.
Get the Recipe: Beef Bourguignon

Healthy Chicken Salad

Close-up of a salad with grilled chicken, strawberries, blueberries, pecans, feta cheese, and a creamy dressing on a bed of leafy greens.
Healthy Chicken Salad. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Salads don’t have to be sad, and this one proves it. Healthy Chicken Salad is packed with everything that makes a meal feel fresh and filling. It’s easy to throw together, and there’s no cooking involved, which is always a plus. When something is this simple and good, there’s really no excuse to skip lunch.
Get the Recipe: Healthy Chicken Salad

Baked Rice

A close-up of a bowl of oven-baked fried rice mixed with colorful vegetables like green beans, bell peppers, and scallions, with a spoon resting inside.
Baked Rice. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Cooking rice shouldn’t feel like a science experiment, and this makes sure it doesn’t. Baked Rice comes out perfectly every time with no guesswork involved. No more checking, stirring, or hoping it doesn’t burn. Just put it in the oven and act like you planned it that way all along.
Get the Recipe: Baked Rice

Copycat Big Mac Salad

Close-up of a salad featuring ground beef, sliced pickles, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, and diced onions, topped with a creamy dressing.
Copycat Big Mac Salad. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

If you love a certain famous burger but want to keep things simple, this is the answer. Copycat Big Mac Salad has all the best parts without the hassle of a drive-thru. It’s quick, easy, and way fresher than anything wrapped in paper. Plus, no one’s stopping you from making it as big as you want.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Big Mac Salad

Beef Stew

A close-up of a beef stew with green peas and chopped parsley, showing a spoon partially submerged in the rich, red sauce.
Beef Stew. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Slow-cooked meals always seem like they take effort, but this one basically cooks itself. Beef Stew turns simple ingredients into something rich and hearty. Throw it together, walk away, and come back to something that tastes like you tried way harder than you did. It’s the ultimate lazy-day meal with maximum payoff.
Get the Recipe: Beef Stew

BBQ Chicken Stuffed Potatoes

A baked potato topped with shredded barbecue chicken, sour cream, and chopped herbs on a white plate.
BBQ Chicken Stuffed Potatoes. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

A baked potato is already great, but stuffing it with BBQ chicken takes it to another level. BBQ Chicken Stuffed Potatoes make it easy to turn leftovers into something new and exciting. It’s fast, filling, and feels way fancier than the effort it takes. No one has to know it was the easiest dinner of the week.
Get the Recipe: BBQ Chicken Stuffed Potatoes

Big Mac Crunchwrap

Close-up of a stack of folded tortillas filled with beef, melted cheese, lettuce, and onions on a white plate.
Big Mac Crunchwrap. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Ever wanted that perfect fast-food crunch without leaving home? Big Mac Crunchwrap brings together everything you love in a crispy, handheld package. It’s got all the flavors you expect but without the soggy disappointment of a drive-thru order. Plus, you get bragging rights for making it yourself.
Get the Recipe: Big Mac Crunchwrap

Copycat Olive Garden Ravioli Carbonara

A dish of ravioli with bacon and parsley that can be found at Olive Garden.
Copycat Olive Garden Ravioli Carbonara. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

If you like creamy, cheesy pasta without the wait for a restaurant table, this is for you. Copycat Olive Garden Ravioli Carbonara keeps things simple while still feeling like a treat. There’s no complicated prep, just good pasta with the right mix of flavors. You might even start skipping takeout altogether.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Olive Garden Ravioli Carbonara

Corn Casserole

Corn casserole in a casserole dish with a portion removed.
Corn Casserole. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Side dishes shouldn’t be harder than the main meal, and this one isn’t. Corn Casserole is as easy as mix, bake, and eat. It’s soft, slightly sweet, and goes with almost anything, making it a no-brainer. The hardest part is not finishing it before everyone else gets some.
Get the Recipe: Corn Casserole

Best Oven Baked Ribs Recipe

Grilled ribs garnished with herbs and served with a side of sauce and onions.
Best Oven Baked Ribs Recipe. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Ribs usually sound like a lot of work, but not this time. Best Oven Baked Ribs Recipe gives you all the smoky, tender goodness without standing by a grill. The oven does all the work, and you just get to take the credit. No one has to know it was this easy.
Get the Recipe: Best Oven Baked Ribs Recipe

Cowboy Casserole

Close-up of a cowboy casserole in a white dish, showing layers of ground meat and vegetables topped with a golden-brown mashed potato crust, garnished with chopped parsley.
Cowboy Casserole. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Some meals are just made for busy nights, and this is one of them. Cowboy Casserole packs in all the comfort of a home-cooked dish without the hassle. It’s warm, filling, and easy enough to throw together in minutes. No stress, just good food.
Get the Recipe: Cowboy Casserole

Italian Pasta With Salami

A vibrant pasta salad with fusilli, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, black olives, and diced salami in a clear bowl.
Italian Pasta With Salami. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Pasta night shouldn’t be complicated, and this one isn’t. Italian Pasta With Salami gives you rich, bold flavors without hours in the kitchen. It’s quick to make but still feels like something special. If easy meals always tasted this good, no one would ever stress about dinner again.
Get the Recipe: Italian Pasta With Salami

Hashbrown Casserole

Hashbrown casserole being served.
Hashbrown Casserole. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Breakfast, dinner, or anytime in between, this one always works. Hashbrown Casserole is creamy, crispy, and ridiculously easy to put together. It’s the kind of dish that disappears fast because everyone keeps going back for more. You might want to make extra just to be safe.
Get the Recipe: Hashbrown Casserole

Best Lemon Pasta

A bowl of pasta with lemon slices and parmesan cheese.
Best Lemon Pasta. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Sometimes simple is best, and this pasta proves it. Best Lemon Pasta takes a few basic ingredients and turns them into something fresh and full of flavor. It’s light, easy, and doesn’t require standing over a stove for ages. When a dish is this effortless, cooking feels like less of a chore.
Get the Recipe: Best Lemon Pasta

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