I've cooked over 1,000 Ina Garten recipes. Here are 10 of my favorites for an easy dinner.

"Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics," page 128

This baked shrimp scampi was the very first Ina recipe I ever made, and it's still a favorite. The prep takes less than 15 minutes, and the recipe only bakes for 12.

The results are buttery, lemony shrimp with hints of rosemary and garlic and a nice panko crunch. Spoon it over rice, pasta, or polenta with broccoli on the side, and you have a meal.

"Foolproof," page 137

This sausage-and-grapes recipe was the biggest surprise of the entire project.

The idea of roasted grapes wasn't all that appealing, but with only five ingredients, I figured I'd give it a shot. It was heaven.

The dish has the ideal balance of sweet and salty, and the grapes' flavor concentrates, creating a wine-like pop of sweetness. I'm with Ina that a pool of creamy polenta is the easy, delicious base to complete this meal. 

"Modern Comfort Food," page 122

Ina's trick of searing the salmon on the stovetop and finishing in the oven leads to tender, perfect salmon every time.

The spicy aioli infused with chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, lime juice, and roasted red peppers is the ideal sauce to complete the dish.

"Cooking for Jeffrey," page 114

Growing up in the 1990s, Hamburger Helper made regular appearances at our table. I cackled when I saw someone say they thought of this dish as the adult version of the beefy packaged pasta dish.

But, as Ina would say, this could be like Hamburger Helper with the volume turned up.

If I were forced to pick my all-time favorite Ina recipe, it would be this one. Pasta, sausage, and tender fennel in a tomato cream sauce? Yes, please. 

"How Easy Is That?" page 160

If you're looking for a hearty vegetarian option, this "risotto" is for you. Even better, it doesn't require standing over the hot stove for 45 minutes stirring — you simply bake in the oven and then stir in all the flavorings.

In addition to adding peas, I like to sauté asparagus or other veggies and add them in at the end to make this a more well-rounded meal.

"Cook Like a Pro," page 91

If I never had to eat another chicken breast in my life, I'd be happy. Chicken thighs are another story, and one of my all-time favorite ways to enjoy them is in this mustard cream sauce.

It's a simple dish with a high reward — crispy, juicy chicken thighs swimming in a white-wine, creme-fraîche, and Dijon sauce. I love serving with rice and charred broccoli to sop up all that phenomenal sauce. 

"How Easy Is That?," page 154

For those days you're craving a stick-to-your-bones meal but don't have the four hours to slowly simmer a sauce, Ina has you covered with this pasta dish.

The Bolognese is a very flexible recipe with crushed tomato — over the years, we've added and subtracted ingredients based on preference to make it our own. 

"Make It Ahead," page 118

One of our favorite easy weeknight meals is a steak salad, and the rub for this steak is our go-to — it's sweet, spicy, and earthy with the surprising addition of ground coffee.

We just dress greens in a balsamic-Dijon vinaigrette, add avocado, tomato, and onions, and serve with the sliced steak on top. 

"Foolproof," page 56

Ina is the queen of comfort food and, as her 12th book "Modern Comfort Food" is titled, she likes to modernize those comforting favorites.

Here, she takes a classic tomato-soup-and-grilled-cheese combo and creates a dish that kids will love but is complex enough to be appreciated by adults.

Who wouldn't love a creamy tomato soup with orzo topped with buttery grilled cheese oozing with melty Gruyere?

"Go-To Dinners," page 68

Like Ina, I love breakfast for dinner. Serve this eggs-in-purgatory dish with crusty bread and a simple side salad and dinner is ready.

The eggs are cooked in a flavorful sauce, and store-bought is fine. In this recipe, Ina infuses jarred arrabbiata sauce with onion, garlic, red-pepper flakes, and rosemary.

The recipe only serves two, but it's easily scalable. 

This story was originally published on September 22,2023 and most recently updated on September 11, 2024.