10+ Recipes from Scratch for Delicious Homemade Meals

Cooking from scratch is a rewarding experience that allows you to create delicious meals using fresh ingredients. Making recipes from scratch not only enhances the flavor of your dishes but also gives you control over what goes into your food.

Whether you’re preparing a simple dinner or an extravagant dessert, there’s something special about building a meal from the ground up. You’ll enjoy the process, discover new skills, and impress your family and friends with homemade creations.

1) Homemade French Toast with Cinnamon and Vanilla

Making homemade French toast is simple and rewarding. With the right ingredients, you can enjoy a delicious breakfast that’s full of flavor.

Start by whisking together eggs, milk, a pinch of salt, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon. You want a smooth mix to coat the bread well.

Use thick slices of bread for the best texture. Dip each slice into the mixture, letting it soak for a moment before cooking.

Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add a little butter to the pan, then cook each slice until brown and crispy, about 3-4 minutes per side.

Serve your French toast warm. You can top it with syrup, fresh fruit, or powdered sugar for extra sweetness.

Ingredients:

• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
• Thick slices of bread
• Butter for cooking

Cooking Instructions:

1. Whisk eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl.
2. Dip each slice of bread into the mixture.
3. Heat a skillet and add butter.
4. Cook each slice until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes per side.
5. Serve warm with your choice of toppings.

2) Perfectly Baked Sourdough Bread

Making sourdough bread from scratch is a rewarding experience. It requires just a few ingredients and your time.

To start, you need a sourdough starter. This will help your bread rise and give it a unique flavor. Next, combine flour, water, and salt. Mix everything well until you form a dough.

Let the dough rise for several hours or until it doubles in size.

Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C) and place a Dutch oven inside to heat up.

Once the dough is ready, shape it gently and transfer it to the hot pot. Bake with the lid on for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 15 minutes until golden brown.

Ingredients

• 1 cup sourdough starter
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ¼ cups water
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix sourdough starter, flour, and salt in a bowl.
2. Gradually add water and mix until a dough forms.
3. Allow the dough to rise until it doubles in size.
4. Preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C) with a Dutch oven inside.
5. Shape the dough and place it in the hot Dutch oven.
6. Cover and bake for 30 minutes.
7. Uncover and bake for an additional 15 minutes until brown.

3) Classic Homemade Pasta from Scratch

Making classic homemade pasta from scratch is simple and rewarding. You only need a few ingredients to create fresh pasta that tastes amazing.

Start with all-purpose flour, eggs, olive oil, and salt. You can easily customize your dough by adding herbs or spices for extra flavor.

To begin, mix the flour and salt together. Create a well in the center and add the eggs and olive oil. Gradually mix the flour into the eggs until a dough forms.

Knead the dough for about 8-10 minutes. This helps develop the gluten for a nice texture. Once kneaded, let the dough rest for 30 minutes.

After resting, roll it out and cut it into your favorite shapes. You can make fettuccine, lasagna, or even stuffed pasta.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Cooking Instructions

1. In a bowl, mix flour and salt.
2. Make a well in the flour and add eggs and olive oil.
3. Gradually combine ingredients to form a dough.
4. Knead the dough for 8-10 minutes.
5. Let dough rest for 30 minutes.
6. Roll out and cut into desired shapes.

4) Creamy Potato Soup with Fresh Herbs

This creamy potato soup is a warm and satisfying dish you can make from scratch. With fresh herbs and simple ingredients, it brings comfort and flavor to any meal.

Start by sautéing chopped onions, garlic, and celery in a pot. Once they are soft, add diced potatoes and vegetable broth. Let it simmer until the potatoes are tender.

Next, blend the soup until smooth. Stir in milk or cream for extra richness. Season with salt, pepper, and your favorite fresh herbs like parsley or thyme.

This soup pairs wonderfully with crusty bread or a simple salad.

Ingredients

• 2 cups diced potatoes
• 1 cup chopped onions
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 cup milk or cream
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh herbs (parsley, thyme, or your choice)

Cooking Instructions

1. In a large pot, sauté onions, garlic, and celery until soft.
2. Add diced potatoes and vegetable broth.
3. Simmer until potatoes are tender (about 15-20 minutes).
4. Blend the soup until smooth.
5. Stir in milk or cream, and season with salt, pepper, and fresh herbs.
6. Serve warm. Enjoy!

5) Wholesome Vegetarian Chili

Wholesome vegetarian chili is not only hearty but also packed with nutrients. You can easily make it with simple ingredients from your pantry and fresh vegetables. It’s a perfect meal for any day, especially during colder months.

For this chili, you will need beans, tomatoes, bell peppers, and spices to create a delicious flavor. Feel free to add in sweet potatoes or corn for sweetness and texture.

This dish is great for meal prep and tastes even better the next day. Serve it with bread or rice for a filling option that everyone will love.

Ingredients

• 1 can of kidney beans
• 1 can of black beans
• 1 can of diced tomatoes
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: 1 sweet potato, diced

Cooking Instructions

1. In a pot, heat olive oil over medium heat.
2. Add onion and garlic, cooking until softened.
3. Stir in bell pepper and sweet potato, cooking for about 5 minutes.
4. Add beans, tomatoes, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
5. Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Serve hot. Enjoy!

6) Deliciously Spiced Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread cookies bring warmth and cheer, especially during the holiday season. The combination of spices and molasses makes them flavorful and satisfying.

To make these cookies, you’ll need ingredients like flour, butter, ginger, and cinnamon. Mixing these creates a dough that’s easy to shape.

When baked, these cookies become crisp on the edges and soft in the center. They’re perfect for decorating with icing or enjoying as is.

Ingredients

• 6 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 1 cup molasses
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon salt

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
3. In another bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add molasses and egg, mixing well.
4. Gradually combine dry ingredients into the wet mixture.
5. Shape dough into balls and place them on a baking sheet.
6. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Let cool before enjoying!

7) Rich Chocolate Cake with Homemade Frosting

You’ll love this rich chocolate cake recipe made from scratch. It’s moist, chocolatey, and pairs perfectly with a creamy homemade frosting.

To start, gather your ingredients, which include flour, cocoa powder, sugar, eggs, and butter. For the frosting, you’ll need powdered sugar, cocoa powder, butter, milk, and vanilla.

Ingredients

For the cake:

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water

For the frosting:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 2/3 cup cocoa powder
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans.
3. In a large bowl, mix flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
4. Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
5. Slowly stir in boiling water until combined.
6. Pour batter into prepared pans and bake for 30-35 minutes.
7. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks.
8. For the frosting, cream butter and cocoa together.
9. Gradually add powdered sugar and milk while mixing.
10. Frost the cooled cake and enjoy!

8) Smooth and Creamy Hummus

Making smooth and creamy hummus from scratch is simple and rewarding. You only need a few basic ingredients to create a tasty dip that’s perfect with veggies or pita bread.

Start with canned chickpeas, tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. These items blend together to create a rich and velvety texture.

To enhance the flavor, you can add salt and spices like cumin. For a cooler consistency, consider adding ice water while blending.

Ingredients

• 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1/4 cup tahini
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt to taste
• Water (as needed)

Cooking Instructions

1. In a blender or food processor, combine chickpeas, tahini, garlic, and lemon juice.
2. Blend until smooth.
3. While blending, slowly add olive oil and water until desired consistency is reached.
4. Season with salt and blend again.

9) Savory Chicken Pot Pie with Flaky Crust

Chicken pot pie is a comforting dish that brings warm flavors together. A flaky crust wraps around tender chicken and vegetables, making it a favorite for many.

You can use fresh or frozen vegetables. The creamy filling is usually made with chicken broth and milk, adding richness to each bite.

For the crust, you can choose to make your own from scratch or use store-bought for convenience. Both options yield a delicious result.

Ingredients

• 1 lb (450g) chicken breast, cooked and shredded
• 2 cups (300g) mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, corn)
• 1 cup (240ml) chicken broth
• 1 cup (240ml) milk
• 1/4 cup (30g) butter
• 1/3 cup (40g) flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 pie crust (homemade or store-bought)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. In a pot, melt butter over medium heat.
3. Stir in flour, salt, and pepper until smooth.
4. Gradually add chicken broth and milk; cook until thickened.
5. Mix in shredded chicken and vegetables.
6. Pour the filling into the pie crust.
7. Top with another crust and seal the edges.
8. Cut slits in the top crust for steam to escape.
9. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until golden brown.
10. Let cool before serving. Enjoy!

10) Fresh Tomato and Basil Bruschetta

Fresh tomato and basil bruschetta is a simple and tasty dish you can make at home. It’s perfect as an appetizer or snack.

Start by toasting slices of baguette until golden brown. Next, prepare your topping with ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, olive oil, and a splash of balsamic vinegar. Mixing these ingredients brings out the rich flavors.

Once your bread is toasted, pile the tomato mixture on top. Serve it immediately for the best texture. You’ll love how fresh and flavorful this dish is!

Ingredients

• Baguette
• 2 ripe tomatoes
• ¼ cup fresh basil leaves
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Slice the baguette and toast it for about 5-7 minutes until golden.
3. Dice the tomatoes and chop the basil.
4. In a bowl, mix the tomatoes, basil, garlic, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper.
5. Top the toasted bread with the tomato mixture.
6. Serve and enjoy!