If you’ve never cooked for yourself, the idea of whipping up your own meals might terrify you. After all, looking at a recipe with twenty steps and ingredients that you’ve never even heard of can completely put you off of the idea of venturing into your kitchen.

But don’t let your nerves keep you from trying something new! There are a lot of recipes that don’t require you to do anything too complicated. This blog post will take you through some easy healthy meals that even the most novice of chefs can enjoy.

Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken

The slow cooker does most of the work for this recipe, so it’s incredibly easy! Once you have your shredded chicken, you can use it in many different ways. Enjoy it plain, add a little barbecue sauce for a delicious barbecue chicken sandwich, put it in a wrap with some fresh veggies and avocado… The possibilities are endless!

Ingredients:

6 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. black pepper

2 tsp. garlic powder

(optional) 1/2 cup water or chicken broth (see note below)

Directions:

Place chicken breasts in slow cooker, and sprinkle with seasonings (and liquid, if using). Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, or until the chicken shreds easily with a fork. (*If making a smaller batch, keep an eye on your slow cooker as the chicken will likely need less cooking time.)

Remove the chicken with tongs, and shred using two forks. Use immediately, or freeze in plastic bags or a sealed container.

**If you’re using frozen chicken, you may not need the water or chicken broth to keep the chicken moist. Adding it in won’t hurt the chicken either way, so if you’re not sure if your chicken will be moist enough, go ahead and add the liquid.

Easy Baked Chicken

Ingredients:

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon seasoning salt

¹⁄₂ teaspoon black pepper

4 tablespoons parmesan cheese (if desired)

1 teaspoon paprika

1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray to prevent sticking.

Place chicken in pan, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with other ingredients. The great thing about this recipe is that it’s flexible—if you don’t like the herbs or spices, just leave them out!

Bake the chicken for about thirty minutes, until it’s fully cooked and the juices run clear.

Pan-Grilled Salmon

Ingredients:

¹⁄₃ cup tamari (or low-sodium soy sauce)

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

1 teaspoon sesame oil

1 tablespoon honey

1 lb salmon fillet

Chopped green onion (if desired)

Directions:

Whisk together soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and honey in a bowl.

Remove and set aside 1/4 cup of mixture.

Place salmon fillets in a shallow dish and pour marinade over top. Cover and chill 5 minutes.

Heat sesame oil in large skillet over medium-high heat.

Remove fillets from marinade.

Cook, skin side up, 5 minutes; turn and coat with reserved marinade.

Cook 5 to 7 minutes more or until fish flakes with a fork.

Top with green onions (optional).

Practicing easy recipes like the ones above are a great way to get started in the kitchen. It won’t be long before you feel confident to try more complicated recipes! Once you’re ready to branch out and try some more recipes, look for them on our blog and on our Facebook page. We wish you the best of luck!