17 Foundational Recipes To Master

Rice, one of the most common side dishes around the world, pairs well with just about any protein. There's a variety of rice you can make, including white rice, brown rice, jasmine rice, basmati rice and others; the methods of cooking these different types of rice can vary. For the sake of people just starting their cooking journey, we have a basic white rice recipe. Most people cook rice on the stove; it's important to have the perfect water-to-rice ratio, which is 2 cups of water for every 1 cup of plain white rice. If you still struggle to get it right, there's no shame in turning to a rice cooker or Instant Pot to make perfect rice with ease — follow the gadget's instructions. When you feel ready to kick it up a notch, you can try adding more flavor, like in this cilantro lime rice.

Meatballs are one of the best things to cook with kids because the ingredients and techniques aren't terribly complicated. That means they're good for beginner cooks, too. You can use ground beef or pork if you want to keep it classic. If you want your dish to be a little healthier try ground turkey or chicken. For one pound of meat, use 1/4 of a large onion, 1/2 tablespoon dried parsley, 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, plenty of minced garlic, 1/2 cup of seasoned breadcrumbs and an egg. Mix it together, roll the meat mixture into 1-inch balls (a little smaller than a golf ball) and bake in an oven at 400F. Add a jar of marinara sauce, serve on top of pasta or on a roll and enjoy!

Once you learn to make burgers at home, you'll never want to order from a fast-food joint again. Or maybe you will, but it's good to at least to have this in your back pocket. Making burgers is one of the most straightforward things you can do with ground beef. For a basic burger, take a quarter pound of ground beef, shape it into a 1-inch thick patty, season with salt and pepper and cook the patty in a pan on the stove or the grill. Complete it with your favorite toppings and condiments like cheese, tomatoes, onion, ketchup and mustard. It's just that easy! After mastering a basic burger, get creative with our 50 favorite burger recipes.

If there's one food you have to learn to make when you're just starting to cook, it's eggs. Luckily for you, we have the secret to making the best scrambled eggs every time. Start with fresh eggs, crack them into a bowl and whisk them very well with a fork. Add a tablespoon or two of butter into a nonstick skillet, melt it and cook the eggs over a medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula. Season the eggs with salt and pepper, or top them with a little everything bagel seasoning.

Hard boiling is just one of the 12 essential ways to cook an egg. The process may seem easy but timing is of the essence. That's why we have this foolproof guide for how to hard boil eggs and peel them perfectly every time. You want to start with eggs that are just past peak freshness and place them in a pot of cold water with a splash of white vinegar. Once the water reaches a boil, cover the pot with a lid and let your eggs sit in the hot water for nine to 12 minutes. Give them an ice bath, peel and enjoy. After you've made hard-boiled eggs, turn them into an egg salad sandwich or deviled eggs.

Roasting is one of the basic cooking methods you need to know. And when you need an easy side dish, roasted vegetables are a great go-to. This method includes vegetables cut into bite-sized pieces, oil and a bit of seasoning. Put them on a sheet pan, cook at a high temperature and enjoy. These roasted caramelized carrots are a great basic recipe as are these salt-and-pepper-seasoned beets. Roasted Brussels sprouts, roasted sweet potatoes and baked potatoes are also easy sides to have in your back pocket.

Salmon is one of the best fish to eat and it's easy to cook. It tastes great baked, grilled, smoked and even air-fried. For beginners, you can simply use this sweet and spicy salmon recipe to learn how to sear the fish. It's one of the fastest ways to cook salmon and all you need is a pan, oil and your favorite seasonings. Once you feel comfortable with cooking salmon, take a jab at these other simple and spectacular salmon recipes.

It's a pretty simple side dish to make for weeknight dinners or holiday celebrations. You can follow this creamy mashed potatoes recipe for reference, but essentially, you boil potatoes (skin on or off, whichever you prefer) in a deep pot until you're able to stick a fork in the center. Drain the water and add half-and-half or milk with butter before using a potato masher to mix everything. Season according to taste and then voila, it's as simple as that. If you want to take things to the next level, try making loaded mashed potatoes.

Combine bread, butter and cheese in a pan and you have a beautiful grilled cheese sandwich for any time of the day. It's definitely one childhood dinner recipe that you'll carry into adulthood and something everyone should know how to make. It's hard to beat a classic grilled cheese sandwich, but there are ways to improve it. Swap out American cheese for mozzarella, cheddar, Swiss and more. Or you can try adding in bacon and tomatoes. Now that you've got these basics down, it's time to apply the skills that you've learned by cooking one of these easy dinner recipes for busy weeknights.

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