18 Easy Recipes That Will Make You Feel Like a Pro Chef

Look, not everybody can be a world class chef.

Not all of us have the ability to mix up different ingredients and whip up a perfect snack, a filling supper or a tasty dessert, or the knowledge to know what ingredients to blend together in the first place. Instead, most of us are more familiar with how to microwave a hot pocket, boil up some ramen noodles or bake some pizza rolls.

As good as these foods may be, they aren’t nearly as satisfying or healthy as foods you can make yourself. Learning how to cook takes time and practice, and the best way to gain experience with food is to start nice and simple. If you’re a novice in the kitchen looking for simple ways to put together your own meals, snacks and desserts, here are 18 easy recipes that will make you feel like a pro chef!

1. Hidden Valley Ranch Oyster Crackers

Ingredients:

• 12-16 oz Plain Oyster Crackers
• 1 pkg Hidden Valley Ranch (powder)
• 1/4 tsp Lemon Pepper
• 1/2-1 tsp Dill Weed
• 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
• 3/4-1 cup Salad Oil

Instructions:

1. Combine Ranch Mix, and Oil in a Large Bowl.
2. Add Dill Weed, Garlic Powder and Lemon Pepper.
3. Pour over crackers and mix well.
4. Put in warm oven 245 degrees for 10 Minutes.

2. Wesson Oil Cake

Ingredients (part one):

• 1/2 cup Wesson Oil
• 1 cup Sour Milk
• 1 cup Hot Water
• 2 Eggs

(part two):

• 2 cups Sugar
• 2 cups Flour
• 3 tsp Baking Soda
• 1/2 cup Cocoa
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Vanilla

(frosting):

• 1 1/2 cups Sugar
• 6 Tbsp Milk
• 6 Tbsp Butter
• 1 cup Chocolate Chips

Instructions (cake):

1. Mix together ingredients in Part 1.
2. Add ingredients from Part 2 one by one, as long as Flour is last.
3. Pour mixture into a greased (buttered and surgared) 13″x 9″ pan.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes. Check after 25 minutes.

(frosting):

1. Mix Sugar, Milk and Butter in a medium pot and cook on medium/low heat. Stir constantly until mixture reaches a near boil.
2. Turn heat off and add Chocolate Chips. Stir until mixture is lump free and thickens.
3. Spread evenly over top of the cake.

3. Cocoa Bars

Ingredients (body):

• 2 cups Flour
• 2 cups Sugar
• 1 cup Melted Margarine 
• 1 cup Water
• 1/4 cup Cocoa
• 2 Eggs
• 1/2 cup Buttermilk
• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Vanilla

Ingredients (frosting):

• 1 cup Sugar
• 5 tsp Margarine
• 1/3 cup Milk
• 6 oz Chocolate Chips

Instructions (body):

1. Mix together Sugar and Flour in a bowl.
2. Boil Melted Margarine, Water, Cocoa. Pour over Flour and Sugar, mix well.
3. Add Eggs, Buttermilk, Baking Soda, Salt and Vanilla to the bowl. Beat mixture until smooth.
4. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

Instructions (frosting):

1. Combine Sugar, Margarine and Milk. Boil and stir constantly.
2. Cook for 1 minute and remove from heat.
3. Add Chocolate Chips and stir until melted and smooth.
4. Spread over bars.

4. Banana Bread

Ingredients:

• 4 Eggs
• 2 cups Sugar
• 1 cup Liquid Shortening
• 6 Bananas
• 2 1/2 cups Flour
• 1 tsp Salt
• 2 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 tsp Vanilla

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Mix Eggs and Sugar.
3. Add Shortening, Bananas, Flour, Salt, Baking Soda and Vanilla and beat until smooth.
4. Pour into a bread pan and bake 50-60 minutes.

5. Sloppy Turkey

Ingredients:

• 1 10-12 lb Turkey
• 2 cans Cheddar Cheese Soup
• 2 Cans Cream of Chicken Soup
• 1 pkg Onion Soup Mix

Instructions:

1. Bake Turkey, remove the bones.
2. Add drippings with Onion Soup mix and add soups to Turkey.
    
3. It’s best in a Crock Pot and served with Hamburger Buns.

6. Chow Mein Hot Dish

Ingredients:

• 1 lb Hamburger
• 1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup (Cream of Chicken can be substituted)
• 1 can Cream of Celery Soup
• 1 cup White Minute Rice
• 1/2 can of Water per can of Soup
• 1 cup Celery (or more if you’re into that kind of stuff)

Instructions:

1. Cook Hamburger in a pot on the stove. Onion can be added for taste.
2. Add Celery shortly before Hamburger begins to brown. Cook longer to allow Celery to lightly soften.
3. Add Soup, Water and Rice and cook until Rice has finished and mixture has thickened. Serve with Chow Mein Noodles and Soy Sauce if desired.

7. Crock Pot Beef Stew

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs Raw Cubed Beef
• 1 pkg Lipton Dry Onion Soup Mix
• 1 1/2 cups Beef Broth
• 1 can Cream of Mushroom & Cream of Mushroom Soup
• Add desired amount of potatoes, carrots, celery and peas

Instructions:

1. Mix together in a crock pot on low heat for 6-7 hours.

That’s it. That’s all.

8. Raspberry Dessert

Ingredients (bottom layer):

• 1 1/2 cups Crushed Pretzels (Graham Crackers can be substituted)
• 1/2 cup White Sugar
• 1/2 cup Butter

(middle layer):

• 8 oz pkg cream cheese
• 1 cup White Sugar
• 8 oz Cool Whip

(topping):

• 1 pkg Frozen Raspberries
• 1 pkg Raspberry Junket Pudding
• 1 2/3 cups Water

Instructions (bottom):

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine Butter, Sugar and Pretzels/Graham Crackers. Mix well.
3. Bake in a 9″x 13″ pan for 8 minutes

(middle):

1. Beat Cream Cheese and Sugar. Mix well and stir in some Cool Whip.
2. Spread mix onto bottom layer and refrigerate until ready for use.  

(topping):

1. Follow instructions closely on Raspberry Pudding package and be sure to only work 1 2/3 cups water.
2. Mix in raspberries and stir until thickened.
3. Pour mixture over cooled cream cheese layer and refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.

9. Oriental Cabbage Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 lb pkg Cabbage Slaw Mix
• 1 bunch Diced Green Onions
• 1/3 cup Vinegar
• 1 cup Silver Almonds or Cashews
• 2 pkg Chicken Ramen Soup
• 1/4 cup Salad Oil
• 1 cup Sunflower Nuts

Instructions:

1. Mix together Cabbage, Slaw Mix, uncooked Ramen Noodles.
2. Add Diced Onions.

Instructions (salad dressing):

1. Mix Oil, Sugar, Vinegar and Ramen Noodle Soup mix.
2. Pour Dressing over the Salad roughly 2 hours before serving.
3. Add Sunflower Nuts and Almonds/Cashews just before serving.

10. Egg Casserole

Ingredients:

• 12 eggs
• 1 1/2 lbs Ground Breakfast Sausage
• 16 oz Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 7 slices White Bread

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Tear Bread into bite size pieces.
3. Whisk Eggs.
4. Cook Sausage in a skillet until it browns. Drain the grease and set aside to cool.
5. Pour Egg mix into a lightly greased baking dish.
6. Combine cooked sausage, bread bits and 12 oz of Cheddar. Mix well before pouring in with Eggs. Use remaining 4 oz of Cheddar to top mixture and cover with a foil.
7. Bake for 15 minutes and remove foil. Proceed with baking until Egg Casserole is golden brown and bubbly.

11. Slow Cooker French Toast (French Toast Casserole)

Ingredients:

• 1 loaf French Bread
• 6 Eggs
• 2 cups Milk
• 1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
• 1/4 Softened Butter
• 1/2 cup Packed Brown Sugar
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla

Instructions:

1. Take one loaf of French bread,cut it into cubes and place the bread cubes into a large bowl.
2. In a different bowl, place your eggs, milk, vanilla and 1½ teaspoon of cinnamon and beat together until well blended.
3. Pour your egg and milk mixture over your bread cubes and stir/toss until all your bread is well coated.
4. Cover and place in your refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight.Cut or mix together your butter and brown sugar.
5. Cover and place in your refrigerator until needed.
6. Pour your coated bread into your greased slow cooker.
7. Crumble your butter mixture over the top.
8. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours.
9. Let it cool down for about 15-20 minutes before serving.

12. Easy Fudge

Ingredients:

• 24 oz Chocolate (2 bags of Chocolate Chips or 6 4 oz Chocolate Bars roughly chopped)
• 28 oz (2 cans) Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
• 2 tsp Vanilla Extract

Instructions:

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1. Lightly mist a 9″x 9″ square pan with non-stick spray, and line it with parchment.
2. Place the Chocolate, Condensed Milk, and Salt in a large bowl over very low heat.
3. Stir the mixture continuously, until all the Chocolate has melted and the mixture is very thick and shiny (about 5 minutes)
4. Remove from heat and stir in the Vanilla Extract.
5. Transfer the fudge to the prepared pan, smoothing it into an even layer.
6. Allow it to cool for about 1 hour before cutting into 25 squares.

13. Peanut Butter Balls

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup Butter
• 1 ½ cup Peanut Butter
• 4 cup Confectioners Sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla Extract
• 1 tsp Maple flavored Extract
• 2 cups Chocolate Chips

Instructions:

1. Combine all the above ingredients except Chocolate Chips. Mead well.
2. Melt Chocolate Chips on low heat.
3. Roll dough into 1″ balls
4. Dip balls into Melted Chocolate
5. Refrigerate overnight.

14. Orange Chicken

Ingredients (chicken):

• 4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts cut into bite size pieces
• 3 Eggs
• 1/3 cup Cornstarch
• 1/3 cup Flour
• Oil for frying

(orange chicken sauce):

• 1 cup Orange Juice
• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 2 Tbsp Rice Vinegar or White Vinegar
• 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
• 1/4 tsp Ginger
• 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1/2 tsp Red Chili Flakes
• Orange Zest from 1 Orange
• 1 Tbsp Cornstarch

(garnish):

• Green Onions
• Orange Zest

Instructions (chicken):

1. Place Flour and Cornstarch in shallow dish or pie plate. Add a pinch of Salt and stir.
2. Whisk Eggs.
3. Dip Chicken pieces into Egg mixture and then dip into Flour mixture.
4. Heat 2-3 inches of Oil in heavy-bottomed pot on medium-high heat or 350 degrees. Cook pieces in batches for 2-3 minutes and turn pieces often until golden brown.
5. Toss Chicken with Orange Sauce and serve with sprinkle of Garnish if desired.

(orange sauce):

1. Add Orange Juice, Vinegar, Sugar, Soy Sauce, Ginger, Garlic and Red Chili Flakes into a medium pot. Heat for 3 minutes.
2. Whisk Cornstarch with 2 Tbsp Water in a small bowl to form a paste. Add to Orange Sauce and whisk together. Continue to cook for 5 minutes until mixture thickens.
3. Once thickened, add Orange Zest.

15. Honey Barbecue Chicken Wings

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Flour
• 1 tsp Chili Powder
• 1 tsp Kosher Salt
• 1 tsp Black Pepper, freshly ground
• 1 tsp Paprika
• 1 tsp Garlic Powder
• 20 Chicken Wings
• 1 cup BBQ sauce
• 1/2 cup Honey

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. In a bowl, combine flour, chili powder, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.
3. Coat the wings in the flour evenly, shaking off any excess.
4. Place the floured wings on a parchment paper–lined baking sheet and spread
   them out in a single layer.
5. Bake for 45 minutes, flipping halfway through, until skin is crispy and golden
   brown.
6. Increase heat to 500°F (250°C).
7. In a separate bowl, combine the BBQ sauce and the honey. Stir the cooked
   wings in the sauce and coat them evenly.
8. Place the coated wings back onto the baking sheet and spread them in a single
   layer.
9. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until sauce is bubbly and caramelized. Cool, then serve.

16. Chili

Chili is a popular meal that we all should know how to prepare!

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 Medium Yellow Onion
• 1 lb Lean Ground Beef
• 2 1/2 Tbsp Chili Powder
• 2 Tbsp Ground Cumin
• 2 Tbsp Granulated Sugar
• 2 Tbsp Tomato Paste
• 1 Tbsp Garlic Powder
• 1 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Ground Black Pepper
• 1/4 tsp Ground Cayenne Pepper* -optional
• 1 1/2 cups Beef Broth
• 1(15 oz.) can Petite Diced Tomatoes
• 1(16 oz.) can Red Kidney Beans
• 1(8 oz.) can Tomato Sauce

Instructions:

1. Add the olive oil to a large soup pot and place it over medium-high. Heat for two minutes. Add the onion. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Add the ground beef to the pot. Break it apart with a wooden spoon. Cook for 6-7 minutes, until the beef is browned, stirring occasionally.
3. Add the chili powder, cumin, sugar, tomato paste, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and optional cayenne. Stir until well combined.
4. Add the broth, diced tomatoes (with their juice), drained beans, and tomato sauce. Stir well.
5. Bring the liquid to a low boil. Then, reduce the heat (low to medium-low) to gently simmer the chili, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Remove the pot from the heat. Let the chili rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

17. Strawberry Pineapple Jello Salad

Who knew you could make a salad out of Jello!

Ingredients:

• 1- 3 oz. pkg Dry Strawberry Jello
• 1 3/4 oz. pkg Instant French Vanilla Jello Pudding
• 1 1/2 cups undrained Crushed Pineapple
• 1 cup Boiling Water
• 1/2 cup Crushed Ice
• 2 cups Mini Marshmallows
• 1 cup chopped Fresh Strawberries
• 1 – 8 oz. container Cool Whip
• 1/4 cup Crushed Cookies (Coconut Cocada Cookies)

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl mix together instant french vanilla pudding with 1 1/2 cups of undrained pineapple. Cover and set aside.
2. In a large glass measuring cup, or small bowl, mix together 3 oz.package of strawberry jello with 1 cup of boiling water. Mix until jello is dissolved. Add in 1/2 cup crushed ice cubes. Mix until thickened. Place in refrigerator and chill, mixing occasionally until mixture become slightly lumpy and thick. Do not allow to set.
3. Add thickened jello mixture to pudding and pineapple mixture. Fold together until combined.
4. Add container of cool whip. Fold ingredients together.
5. Add 2 cups of mini marshmallows. Gently stir together.
6. Add 1 cup chopped Strawberries. Mix until completely combined.
7. Spoon into serving bowl. Cover and chill for 6 hours or over night.
8. Before serving add crushed cookie crumbs around edge of salad and garnish with sliced fresh strawberries.

18. Rice Krispie Bars

Last but not least, we have this famous, fan favorite dessert recipe!

Ingredients:

• 3 Tbsp Butter
• 4 cups JET-PUFFED Mini Marshmallows
• 6 cups Kellogg’s® Rice Krispies® Cereal

Instructions:

1. In microwave-safe bowl, heat Butter and Marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Note: Microwave cooking times may vary.
2. Add KELLOGG’S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated.
3. Using Buttered Spatula or wax paper, evenly press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with Cooking Spray. Cut into 2″ squares after letting product cool.

Each of these snacks, suppers and desserts may look like complex works of art, but they’re really simple to make, and with practice, you’ll be looking like a master chef in no time!

Did you enjoy any of the listed recipes? Do you have a favorite recipe you’d like to share? Leave a comment below with your answer!