The Best Recipes from Ina Garten’s How Easy Is That?

Updated October 2026 How Easy Is That? was the second Barefoot Contessa cookbook I bought, and it was another one that helped shape how I work in the kitchen. For a beginner cook, this book gave me exactly the kind of confidence I needed. Most of the recipes are, as the title promises, relatively easy, but they never feel dumbed down or short on flavor. It’s a reminder I come back to often: complicated does not automatically mean better. Sometimes the best food is simply prepared, made with good ingredients, and served without anyone having a full kitchen meltdown. As I flipped back through the book, I was honestly astounded by how many of these recipes have become part of my regular rotation. And as you can imagine, after cooking every one of Ina’s 1,300+ recipes, I do not repeat recipes lightly! But I kept coming across dishes I’ve made again and again over the years, like Soppressata & Cheese in Puff Pastry, Creamy Parmesan Polenta, Weeknight Bolognese, which I’ve slowly tweaked…