I talk a lot about comfort in the kitchen—those go-to meals that come together easily and bring everyone to the table. And at the heart of that kind of cooking are base recipes.
Base recipes are like your culinary foundation. They’re the ones you’ve made a dozen different ways, with whatever you had in the fridge, and they still turn out delicious. Think of a simple marinara, a basic pasta, a pot of beans, or roasted chicken thighs. These aren’t fancy recipes; they’re flexible, forgiving, and full of potential.
Need Help Inventing Recipes?
Check out my post, “How To Invent A Recipe”. It will walk you through my process for creating base recipes without the cooking overwhelm.
When I first started cooking for myself, I leaned heavily on base recipes without even realizing it. I’d make pasta with garlic and olive oil, then add whatever veggies or leftovers I had around. Over time, I realized those kinds of meals were the ones I returned to again and again—and more importantly, the ones I felt confident enough to make my own. They became my starting lineup of base recipes.
Base Recipes
So in this article, I’m sharing my favorite base recipes and the small ways you can tweak them depending on what you’re craving, what you have on hand, or what’s in season.
Create Your Starting Lineup Of Base Recipes
The beauty of base recipes is that they don’t ask for perfection—they just give you a place to start. And once you get the hang of a few, you’ll find they carry you through busy weeknights, last-minute dinner guests, and those “I have no idea what to make” moments.
They’re the quiet heroes of everyday cooking. And with a few solid ones in your back pocket, you’ll always have a meal waiting to happen. So trust your instincts, use what you’ve got, and make these recipes your own. That’s where the real magic happens in the kitchen.
Have fun inventing your starting lineup of base recipes!
