20+ Rudimentary Recipes Every 20-Something Should Know How to Make

Become a badass brunch hostess by getting your french toast game down. If you're serving up french toast for a crowd, try this caramelized baked version, and if you're feeling extradecadent, you can do no better than this Nutella-stuffed s'mores iteration.

Hosting a game-day party? Look no further for recipe inspiration than these chili con queso nachos. Or, for a fun throwback to childhood, swap out tortilla chips for tater tots.

Pretty much everyone we know is flat-out obsessed with hummus, and while there are some pretty great store-bought options, nothing compares to a homemade batch. Whether you go ultraclassic or spice things up, you won't be disappointed. Once you're a pro at making hummus, try it slathered on crostini for an easy app, or use it as the base for a Mediterranean spin on seven-layer dip.

Tortilla chips' favorite dipping partner, salsa, is supersimple to make and a great excuse to practice your knife skills. Get smoky with roasted chipotle-tomatillo salsa, make classic pico de gallo, or channel the tropics with a watermelon, mango, and cucumber take.

Whether you choose to go the homemade dough route or pick it up at the supermarket, pizza is one of the simplest ways to feed a crowd. Some of our favorite topping ideas include tangy buffalo chicken, smoked salmon and crème fraîche, and ribboned asparagus and goat cheese, though pretty much anything goes.

Few recipes will make you feel more grown-up to master than a juicy, crisp-skinned roast chicken. Make it for dinner tonight and reap the rewards all week with leftovers. Short on time? Roast quicker-cooking drumsticks instead of a whole bird.

Is there a more throw-together dish than ground beef tacos? Before you get cooking make sure to give these cardinal rules for cooking ground beef a glance.

Most carnivores will agree: steak makes a great dinner, whether it's for a date, special occasion, or Wednesday night. You don't even need a grill for this recipe, which is cooked on the stove top and finished in the oven.

When it comes to sides, it doesn't get much more versatile than mashed potatoes. Add nothing more than salt and butter to retain a pure potato flavor, or get crazy with mix-ins. Use leftovers as a topping for homemade shepherd's pie.

Whether you're tossing it with a pasta, spreading it on pizza dough, or dipping mozzarella sticks in it, homemade tomato sauce is dressed to impress. To spice things up, stir in hot chile flakes or powder, add in cream, or incorporate capers, olives, and anchovies.

More a technique than a recipe, roasted vegetables are one of the simplest ways to get a scrumptious side on the table. In the Summer months, avoid heating up your kitchen by grilling them instead.

If you have garlic, oil, and seasonings — and surely you do — then you're already set to make roasted garlic. Add it to an antipasti plate for a special homemade touch, or spread it on bread, whir it into mayonnaise, or use it to add flavor to mashed potatoes.

If you've never made brownies before (the box only sort of counts!), then start with this ridiculously fudgy recipe. From there, the options are endless: you can swirl in any additional toppings or sauces like chocolate chips, caramel sauce, or Reese's peanut butter cups.

For a dessert recipe even nonbakers can make with ease, look no further than this Oreo icebox cake. For more inspiration, try one of these other no-bake options.

Your cocktail options are extremely limited if you don't have a little bar ingredient known as simple syrup on hand. The sugar-water mixture plays an essential role in classic drinks such as the old-fashioned, pisco sour, and mojito, and can also be used to soak sweets such as sponge and pound cakes. Our favorite infusion of the moment? Ginger simple syrup.