​The Beginner Dinners that Will Easily Teach You How to Cook

1. Steamed Shrimp and Corn on the Cob

Shrimp is a great ingredient for new cooks because it cooks up very fast. You’ll need to start with the corn on the cob since it takes a while to cook. You can either wrap it in foil and toss it in the 200-degrees oven for 30 minutes.

To make steamed shrimp, pour some water in the bottom of a steam pot, bring it to a boil. Put the shrimp in a freezer bag with a tablespoon or two of spices and shake to coat all the shrimps. Add the shrimps to the steamer tray, place it on the pot and cover. Butter the corn and put a little bit of lemon on the shrimps.

2. Chicken Soft Tacos

Save some money by making your own chicken soft tacos at home instead of going to some expensive restaurant. Grill the chicken in a broiler, by seasoning the breasts with salt, pepper, and lime, and cooking on each side for about five minutes. When the chicken is cooked through, let it sit for at least five minutes while preparing the other ingredients.

Chop a couple of tomatoes, some lettuce, and cilantro; grate your favorite cheese; and grab the salsa, sour cream, and guacamole. Next, put your flour tortillas in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Build your chicken soft tacos by adding the chicken first, followed by the vegetables then adding the wet toppings like salsa, sour cream, and guacamole.

3. Autumn Chopped Salad

A salad is very easy to make, especially when you buy it in a bag — but you don’t have to limit yourself to only what’s in that bag. You can add dried fruits, fresh veggies and nuts. This autumn chopped salad recipe is great any time of the year, but especially in fall because of the seasonal apples and pears.

On a bed of romaine lettuce (bought in a bag) add chopped apples, pears, roasted peanuts, dried cranberries, and bacon. Chop the salad with a knife to incorporate all the ingredients evenly, and toss with sweet(ish) dressing like poppy-seed or raspberry-walnut. Crumble a tangy cheese, like Gorgonzola or feta, on top to finish.

4. Steak and Baked Potatoes

If you’re a meat-and-potatoes person, there’s nothing purer or simpler than a juicy steak. You have to start with the baked potato. First, poke holes all around the potato — about eight pokes — with a fork. Rub a small amount of olive oil on the potato then sprinkle salt and pepper all around. Place it directly on the rack at 175-degrees for about an hour.

As for the steak, start with a good cut of beef and season with a brush of olive oil, salt and pepper on both sides. Put it onto the broiler pan and let it cook for a few minutes on each side. After five minutes, plate the steak, push open the baked potato with your fingers, and top it with your favorite toppings, like butter and sour cream.

5. Breakfast for Dinner

Even if you don’t know much about cooking, at the very least you should know how to make breakfast. This one is simple: eggs, bacon, toast, and fruit.

Fry the bacon and cook the eggs in the bacon grease. On another pan, crack two eggs into the skillet, being careful not to break the yolks. When the whites have barely set, gently flip the eggs over to the other side until the whites are just cooked. Sprinkle the eggs with salt and pepper and slide onto a plate. Meanwhile, make a couple slices of toast and garnish the dish with a side of fruit for good measure.

Enjoy!