I'm A Food Editor Who Cooks And Rates Hundreds Of Recipes A Year. These 11 Will Make Your Life Easier And Tastier
Hey, friends! Ross here, BuzzFeed's food editor. I'm obsessed with cooking (big surprise), so I know firsthand how difficult it can be to find that one perfect recipe for the specific moment you're planning for. With the millions, if not billions, of recipes available to us these days, finding that ideal meal to make often serves palpable "needle in a haystack" energy — so I'm here to help you through it.
I'd consider myself to be a bit of a hobby recipe archivist of sorts; that's what happens when you're as food-obsessed and Type A as I am. Every year, I track the new recipes I make in a long, exhaustive spreadsheet, where I rate them accordingly. On the surface, it's just a fun and silly hobby, but in reality, it's actually allowed me to keep a rather organized Rolodex of recipes I can refer to when I'm in need of something special.
That's where you, our BuzzFeed readers, come into play. Recently, I asked folks to write in with hyper-specific recipe requests so I could match you with that one picture-perfect recipe for your needs. To kick things off, I chose 11 scenarios to solve with some of my all-time favorite meals. Here's what I'd recommend to check every box, from dietary restrictions to difficulty level to custom-chosen ingredients.
If you'd like to submit a request for a future recipe match-up, you can find more instructions at the bottom of this post. (And if you didn't personally write in, I still think you'll get a lot of value from this post, too!)
1.As no stranger to the tiny kitchen life myself (gotta love NYC), I understand kelseyc48a791d61's struggle. They want a quick and easy recipe that's small kitchen-optimized, and easily prepared on only one countertop:
I'd suggest: One-Skillet Orzo with Tomatoes and Eggs from Epicurious
This recipe is basically a combination of three of my favorite dishes: pizza, pasta, and eggs in purgatory — the latter of which would actually be a very good bonus recommendation for your cooking situation. Since it's unfussy and relies on pantry staples like orzo and canned tomatoes, it's also the perfect minimal-effort recipe to keep in your back pocket for busy, hectic nights when you're down to the dregs in your fridge.
Since the only ingredients you have to chop on a cutting board are garlic and onions (the tomatoes are smartly snipped up in the can itself), it's also small kitchen-friendly, and produces very few dirty dishes. The pockets of just-set egg with gooey, oozing yolks make this dish, IMO, and lend luxurious creaminess and depth to the zingy sauce.
Just so you don't think I pulled a fast one on you, I know the recipe says it takes 40 minutes, but truthfully, I think that's a conservative estimate. When I make this dish at home, I don't think it's ever taken me more than 30 minutes, and even if it takes you slightly longer, I promise it's so simple that those extra few minutes won't feel like anything.
2.Nathanvh is in the midst of a diet overhaul, attempting to focus on foods that are lower in fat and cholesterol-friendly — and ideally not too heavy on the dairy. Here are the boxes they're hoping to check:
I'd suggest: Smoky Sweet Potato and Chickpea Sheet Pan from Plant-Based RD
Plant-Based RD / Via plantbasedrdblog.com
I can confidently say that this user-friendly sheet pan dinner checks every single box for you: sweet potatoes are the star, and it's simple, keeps really nicely in the fridge for meal-prepped leftovers, and is totally cholesterol-free.
You can serve this meal over anything you'd like, from steamed brown rice to quinoa or even cauliflower rice for an added veggie boost. Sometimes, I even like to wrap up the leftovers in a burrito-sized tortilla and devour it as a wrap.
Pro-tip: If a little dairy is OK with you, some crumbled feta on top of the plated dish really takes everything over the top.
Recipe: Smoky Sweet Potato and Chickpea Sheet Pan
And just because my brain is overflowing with ideas, another Plant-Based RD banger for you to chew on (literally): Buffalo Cauliflower Chickpea Wraps. I love meal-prepping a big batch at the beginning of the week and devouring the rest via quick lunches in the days that follow.
I know spice isn't your favorite, so if buffalo-flavored anything is an immediate no for you, try this with a yogurt-based ranch dressing instead. It's incredibly satisfying, and even easier since you won't have to make your own sauce.
3.Kayleighjackson78 is in a pork chop rut, and I am extremely committed to helping. Since they're cooking for someone with celiac disease, the recipe also needs to be 100% gluten-free:
I'd suggest: Braised Pork Chops, Shanghai-Style from The Woks of Life
Pork chops aren't always my favorite, but these pork chops are life-affirming, as they just so happen to be the only pork chop recipe I've ever craved. Clearly, I was traumatized by too many '90s-core "Shake 'n' Bake" meals in my day — IYKYK.
Conveniently, the toothsome crust these chops develop in the hot wok comes from a generous coating of cornstarch, which just so happens to be gluten-free. But make sure you swap out the soy sauce for coconut aminos or tamari, too.
Last but not least: Don't skimp on the scallions! They turn beautifully soft and sweet during their quick braise in the sauce, and add necessary pops of sharp flavor to each bite you take.
4.For evildroid, they wanted an "easy peasy" dinner that's truly ready in under 30 minutes and filled with plenty of protein and veggie goodness:
I'd suggest: Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Roasted Tomatoes, Kale and Sausage Meatballs from Caro Chambers
Ross Yoder
I know the title of this recipe literally has "sausage" in it — something you did not request — but bear with me! I have an easy solution.
I'm beyond obsessed with this simple sheet pan dinner from Caro Chambers because it doesn't over-promise its simplicity. It's exceptionally user-friendly, and unlike many "sheet pan" meals, this one actually only requires one singular sheet pan. Nothing else.
I've made this many times with pre-cooked chicken sausage, and honestly, I've found that the end results are just as tasty as using regular pork sausage. Though I haven't tried it with shrimp yet, I can only imagine that it would be delectable, too. Just season them and toss onto the sheet pan with the rest of your ingredients for the last 6-ish minutes, and you'll have a perfectly cooked, protein-packed, "easy peasy" meal that only dirtied one piece of cookware.
Side note: I hate to bring up the seafood vs. cheese debate as someone who truly does not care one bit...but if the thought of shrimp and burrata skeeves you out, just omit the latter. (For money reasons, I often omit the burrata anyway. It's still delish without.)
Recipe: Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Roasted Tomatoes, Kale and Sausage Meatballs
5.I'll admit that glitterycat985's response nearly stumped me; according to them, "This [recipe] would be for non-mushroom lovers." Their preferred ingredient? Mushrooms. 🤔 Here's what's up:
I'd suggest: Vegan Bolognese with Mushrooms and Red Lentils from Minimalist Baker
Ross Yoder
It pains me to openly admit this on the internet, but I'm not personally a huge fan of mushrooms, either. Gasp! But this recipe...this recipe is a masterpiece and one of my favorite utilizations of mushrooms ever. As a non-vegan myself, I assure you that this meat-free Bolognese rocks. In fact, you probably won't even miss the meat one bit.
While the mushrooms themselves are pretty darn hidden (they're blitzed up into teeny tiny pieces in the food processor with aromatics), they still infuse the sauce with lots of umami. In other words: All the savory goodness of mushrooms (yes!) without their spongy-squishy texture.
Recipe: Vegan Bolognese with Mushrooms and Red Lentils
6.If you, like evilgazelle58, have some white miso paste that you're looking to use up, this one's gonna be for you. Here's what they're after:
(They're also a fan of The Modern Proper's Rosemary Chicken, so I know good taste when I see it.)
I'd suggest: Miso Butter Quick-Braised Chicken Thighs
These succulent and savory chicken thighs are one of my favorite "emergency meals" to whip up when I feel like I have nothing fancy in my fridge and inevitably find a long-lost container of frozen chicken thighs at the very back of my freezer.
I love it because there's virtually no prep for the chicken itself; no marinade, no fuss. Just season them well, sear the skin until crispy, and let them bathe in a funky miso-based sauce until they're juicy and tender. While they finish cooking, you can finish up any side dish of your choosing, like steamed veggies and rice or a minimalist green salad. You'll be left with lots of pan sauce at the end of the cooking process, which would be absolutely delicious to bathe roasted sweet potatoes in.
Recipe: Miso Butter Quick-Braised Chicken Thighs
(You'll find the recipe in the #2 spot in the post linked above.)
7.Soup season is on the mind for visionarypuppy395, who frequently turns to their vegan harissa stew with black beans and silken tofu (I mean, yum), but is in search of something a little more novel to spice things up:
I'd suggest: Vegan Mapo Tofu from Serious Eats
I live, breathe, and die for mapo tofu, a traditional Sichuan dish that consists of velvety cubes of silken tofu that melt beautifully into a piquant Sichuan peppercorn-spiced broth. And while normally I'd be 10% bummed by the omission of pork, this genius vegan-ified version packs all the intensely savory notes you'd expect from a hearty bowl of mapo tofu. (It's a Kenji recipe after all...what else did I expect?) Since we ditch the rendered pork fat as a result, it's also not oily in the slightest, which is a common element of many non-vegan versions.
I'd categorize this recipe as a solid "medium" in terms of difficulty; the techniques themselves aren't challenging, but it does require a decent bit of prep. Still, the results are worth every second spent in prep mode, and I promise you'll want to snuggle up with this cozy dinner whenever you're in the mood for something that'll warm you from the inside out.
Recipe: Vegan Mapo Tofu
8.Savannah requested a quick, easy, and carb-focused meal for autistic adults. Currently, they're resorting to frozen dinners and dining out as they lean into their safe foods, so ideally this meal would be an accessible recipe that would "feel nice" to make every now and then:
I'd suggest: Pastina
I'll preface this suggestion with the admission that I can't be 100% sure of what your personal safe foods are, or what anyone's safe foods are, for that matter, but I do know that this warm, creamy bowl of pasta "soup" is sensory friendly, incredibly easy to make, and also packs in some solid nutrition (and protein!).
Pastina is, basically, the ultimate comfort food, IMO...and the best part is that it can be cooked in a matter of minutes in only one saucepan. Tiny pasta (also called "pastina") gets cooked in chicken broth until it's plump and creamy, and then it meets a grating of parmesan cheese, a pat of butter, and a swirled egg to lend even more creaminess.
If eggs don't sit right with you, there are plenty of non-egg variations you could try, like the "Secret Veggie" Pastina recipe you'll find at the bottom of the post linked below. In that version, you'll simmer veggies in chicken broth until they're completely soft, and once you blend everything together, you'll be left with a rich, brightly-hued stock that creates fabulously thick and silky results — no egg required.
Recipe: Pastina
9.Happydaisy8767 describes themselves as a "good cook, albeit lazy," to which I say...I'm often the same. They're on the hunt for a comforting yet healthy, garlic- and onion-free dinner that can do double-duty as meal prep for a week of lunches for the whole fam. Here's how it all breaks down:
I'd suggest: Greek Sheet Pan Chicken from The Mediterranean Dish
If it wasn't already glaringly obvious, I'm a big proponent of the sheet pan dinner, and this veggie-forward recipe from The Mediterranean Dish definitely has a spot in my unofficial sheet pan meal hall of fame.
As far as garlic and onions are concerned, you can easily omit the garlic from the sauce and red onion from the chopped veggies. The herbs and spices you'll season everything with still have tons of flavor without the alliums.
Like most sheet pan meals, this one also doubles as a smart meal prep strategy. In the past, I've just doubled everything to cook on two sheet pans in the oven, rotating everything once or twice so the ingredients roast evenly. Then, leftovers will keep in the fridge for 3-ish days for simple lunches.
Recipe: Greek Sheet Pan Chicken
10.Clearly, cygan may very well be the most adventurous young cooks — who also just so happens to be a broke college student — out there. Their ideal recipe is cheap, easy to meal prep, and since they live in Europe, it shouldn't be dependent on US-only grocery brands:
I'd suggest: Harissa Coconut Lentils with Kale & Roasted Sweet Potatoes from The First Mess
The First Mess / Via thefirstmess.com
I genuinely think this recipe was made for you, cygan, and since it's one of my absolute favorite low-cost meal-prep recipes, I really think you're going to enjoy it. Harissa, a North African hot chile pepper paste, steals the show here, but the beautiful blend of textures certainly compete for the limelight.
Tender yet toothsome lentils add plenty of fiber and protein, and just-softened kale gives you your daily dose of greens. Pile it all over a piping hot sweet potato, and you've got a leftover-friendly meal you won't get sick of eating over and over again.
Recipe: Harissa Coconut Lentils with Kale & Roasted Sweet Potatoes
11.And finally: All bluepony34 wants for the holidays is a wildly-impressive beef recipe to impress their "hard to please" guests this season. Here's what they're after:
I'd suggest: Beef Tenderloin with a Giant Sauce Board from I Am A Food Blog
Before you groan about how overdone beef tenderloin is for the holidays, let me explain myself. Yes, beef tenderloin, while delicious, is fairly standard this time of year — but it's the "giant sauce board" component of this recipe that is seriously going to wow your hard-to-impress guests through and through.
There's nothing wrong with beef tenderloin. In fact, I love beef tenderloin! But it can easily skew toward boring when it's not served with the right accompaniments. Here, you'll serve the gorgeous slab of perfectly cooked meat with not one, not two, but seven scrumptious sauces that your guests will fight over: everything from wasabi cream to garlic herb butter to a classic creamy peppercorn.
Having seven separate and equally delicious sauces spread across your holiday table will inherently make the meal more vibrant and unexpected, too. As your guests compare and contrast their favorite sauces, you'll sit back in your seat feeling warm and fuzzy that you delivered on that rare, crowd-pleasing holiday meal that no one can stop talking about.
If you're in search of something super specific for an upcoming cooking situation, or if you're just looking to shake up your usual recipe rotation, I want to hear from you. Use the comments below to tell me all about what you're looking for; you can even copy and paste the prompts below into the comment box to easily organize your thoughts. (Alternatively, you can use this form to submit anonymously.)
Difficulty level:
How long it should take to cook:
Dietary restrictions:
Favorite cuisine(s):
An ideal ingredient or two:
Other criteria or circumstances:
[Optional] For fun, my current go-to recipe:
