Here’s my personal list of classic recipes—popular in the U.S.—that I think you need to know how to cook. With time, it’s fairly easy to tweak traditional recipes to your tastes and dietary needs.
BREAKFAST
Blueberry Muffins
Buttermilk Pancakes
Crispy Waffles
Eggs Benedict
French Toast
Soft-Scrambled Eggs & Oven-Baked Bacon
QUICK BREADS
Buttermilk Biscuits Two Ways
Skillet Cornbread (Southern-Style)
Honey Cornbread (Yankee-Style)
Julia Child’s Scones
APPETIZERS
(Most of these recipes also work for lunch)
Crab Cakes
Deviled Eggs
Guacamole
Hummus
Stuffed Mushrooms
SALADS
Basic Vinaigrette
Caesar Salad
Potato Salad
Spinach Salad with Warmed Bacon Dressing
SOUPS & STEWS
Broccoli Soup with Cheddar Cheese
Chicken Noodle Soup
French Onion Soup
Gazpacho
New England Clam Chowder
New Mexican Green Chili Stew (Chile Verde)
Ratatouille
San Francisco Cioppino
Split Pea Soup
Thai Coconut Curry
Tomato Soup
VEGETABLES
Boston Baked Beans
Creamed Spinach
Eggplant Parmesan
Haricots Verts Amandine
Perfect Mashed Potatoes
Roasted Garlicky Brussels Sprouts
Roasted Root Vegetables
Scalloped Potatoes
Summer Vegetable Gratin
PASTA, PIZZA, & RICE
Bolognese Sauce
Classic Lasagne
Creamy Chicken Livers and Morels
Fettuccine Alfredo
Macaroni and Cheese
Marinara Sauce
Pizza Margherita
Risotto
FISH, MEATS, POULTRY, EGGS
Baked Sicilian Halibut
Boeuf Bourguignon
Cast Iron Steaks with Herb Butter
Cheese Souffle
Chicken Molé
Coq au Vin
Frittata
Meatloaf
Simple Roast Chicken
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Sole Meunière
DESSERTS
Apple Pie
Brownies
Chocolate Cake
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Coffee Cake
Cupcakes
Crème Caramel
Salted Caramel Ice Cream