10 Easy Crowd-Pleasing Dishes That Home Cooks Nail Every Time

Posted on November 3, 2020 by Leslie Wu

When it comes to cooking for others, whether it’s loved ones at home or the discerning judges on Wall of Chefs, it is often a sound strategy to pull out a well-worn and practiced technique. From simple pastas to tasty tempura, here are 10 recipes that home cooks should have in their repertoire for easy but crowd pleasing fare — find a new favourite today.

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1 of 10

Prepare a Perfect Pasta

Versatile pasta can be dressed up a variety of ways, and once you’ve mastered the basics of either homemade or <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/everyday-cooking/photos/easy-stuffed-pasta-recipes/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">store-bought</a> perfect al dente pasta, you can improvise to your heart’s content. Be sure to use a large enough pot with salted water and cook until just tender (and a little less if you’re cooking it further in a <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/comfort-food/photos/30-must-try-casserole-recipes/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">casserole</a>). Remember to save some pasta water for a silky smooth sauce.Try making your own pasta with Michael Smith’s <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/homemade-pasta/10447/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Homemade Pasta</a>.
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Sling Together a Salad From Scratch

Sophisticated or simple, most well-executed <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/healthy-eating/photos/best-hearty-winter-salad-recipes/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">salads</a> blend a perfectly emulsified dressing with crisp greens or other vegetables. Some cooks like to gild the lily with a variety of crunchy or savoury toppings (including enough meat to count as its own main dish), but at its heart, a salad can be easy to toss together for any home cook. Learn how to make <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/everyday-cooking/blog/tips-for-making-your-own-salad-dressing-14007/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">simple salad dressings from scratch</a> with recipes from Valerie Bertinelli and Laura Calder, then tackle <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/everyday-cooking/photos/40-homemade-salad-dressings-and-vinaigrettes/#!green-salad-with-strawberry-balsamic-vinaigrette-e1446219082742" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">these homemade dressings and vinaigrettes</a>.
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Stack a Sensational Sandwich

A good sandwich recipe should have the right balance of bread to filling, without one overwhelming the other. A mixture of textures, from crunchy to creamy, and acidic, sweet and savoury flavours, will make for a winner every time. Choose one of <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/everyday-cooking/photos/best-sandwich-recipes/#!Slow-Cooker-Pulled-Pork-Sandwiches" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">these must-make sandwich recipes</a> to find a new family favourite.
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Build the Perfect Burger

Whether your idea of a <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/bbq/photos/most-popular-burger-recipes/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">burger </a>is bean based or full of beef, poultry, fish or other protein, the overall concept is the same: choose your grind, form lightly without squishing too hard, and select the appropriate bun for size and softness. Once you’ve got the basics down (a similar technique also puts you in meatloaf or meatball territory), just set out an assortment of sauces, pickled or fresh vegetables and anything else in your repertoire and enjoy.
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Learn to Love Cooking Rack of Lamb

Although some cooks are intimidated by a rack of <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/everyday-cooking/photos/simple-lamb-recipes/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">lamb</a>, it’s really one of the easiest proteins to cook. Best served medium rare for a combination of juiciness and tenderness, lamb is pretty forgiving if it is served a few degrees of doneness over or under. If you’re not confident frenching and cleaning the rib bones yourself, be sure to check the packaging or with your butcher. Try Marcus Samuelsson’s <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/berbere-crusted-rack-of-lamb/8700/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Berbere-Crusted Rack of Lamb</a>.
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Confidently Cook a Chicken

<a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/everyday-cooking/photos/best-roast-chicken-recipes/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Roasting a chicken</a>, be it a test for a home or professional cook, is a simple method that is often unnecessarily complicated with too much fussing (and trussing). Season it well, roast for the appropriate time and chicken dinner is on the table, or the judges’ table, before you know it. Once you’ve got the basic technique down, try a stuffed or rolled chicken breast to add another layer of flavour. Start with Ina Garten’s <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/lemon-and-garlic-roast-chicken/15399/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lemon and Garlic Roast Chicken</a> and then try these <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/spinach-ricotta-stuffed-chicken-breasts/1456/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spinach Ricotta-Stuffed Chicken Breasts.</a>
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Get Going With Gnocchi

Either potato or ricotta-based gnocchi can be a weekday affair or a leisurely weekend project, depending on how complicated you get with the sauces. If you’re using ricotta, just remember to drain it the day before so that it holds together, and count gnocchi as another tool in your cook’s toolkit.Start out with Mark McEwan’s <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/mark-mcewans-ricotta-gnocchi/21133/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ricotta Gnocchi</a>, or try Anna Olson’s <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/goat-cheese-gnocchi-with-pepper-coulis/9967/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">goat cheese version</a>.
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Wrap Some Wontons (Or Other Dumplings)

A well-formed dumpling can be the start of some beautiful experimentation for the adventurous home cook: try your favourite fillings or something brand new. There are almost as many different dumplings and techniques as there are home cooks in the world, so you can practice different ways of wrapping, then steaming, boiling, baking or frying to find the method you like best. Get inspired by these <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/comfort-food/photos/dumplings-around-world/#!1-soup-dumplings" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">tasty dumpling recipes from around the world</a>.
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Explore Eggs Benedict

As part of brunch or a lavish weekday break, eggs Benedict, like comedy, depend mostly on timing. Getting the egg poached, hollandaise made and muffin toasted and hot at the same time takes some planning (or helpers in the kitchen), but each step is easily accomplished. Stay home and savour one of these <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/entertaining/photos/best-brunch-eggs-benedict-recipes/#!eggs-benedict-deviled-eggs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">brunch-worthy eggs benedict recipes</a>.
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Bite Into Beautiful Breadings or Batters

From hearty beer-laced fish and chip batter to the delicate crunch of tempura, once you’ve got the hang of batters and breading, the world is your deep fryer. Some coatings require an egg or milk layer for extra adhesion, while others merely have a one-step dunking. Dip into Christine Cushing’s <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/dark-ale-battered-catfish-and-chips/3450/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dark Ale-Battered Catfish and Chips</a> or Lynn Crawford’s <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/bbq-halibut-collar-and-tempura-spot-prawn-salad/14878/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tempura Spot Prawns.
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