The Ina Garten Recipes We Always Come Back To

Ina Garten has given us a lot throughout the years. Cookbooks. Tips. Countless hours of television. A list of store-bought foods that are actually worth buying. And above all…comfort. Put on an episode of Barefoot Contessa, and you feel safe, both in the vibe and in the knowledge that Garten’s going to make something good, week in, week out. 

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Throughout the years, though, there have been a few of her recipes that have risen to the top – not because they’re flashy, or because they deliver something new, but because they exemplify what Garten does best: Simple, effective cooking. In my humble opinion, here are her greatest hits.

Perfect Roast Chicken

Ina’s roast chicken recipe is simplicity incarnate and is proof that sometimes, the most direct route is the best. This chicken is called perfect for a reason: I’ve made it dozens of times, and provided that all the elements are correct, it’s always a winner. There are no bells and whistles here, just a few choice aromatics and herbs, an understanding of the importance of flavoring your chicken from inside as well as out, and a finishing touch of gravy that takes a couple of minutes at the end. Can confirm perfection.

Beef Bourgignon

Garten’s beef bourgignon might have an intimidatingly long list of ingredients, but you’ll have most of them in your pantry – and if you don’t, they’re worth investing in, because this dish rocks. The best thing about cooking this recipe is that the majority of it is hands-off: Once you’ve done the first few steps and everything’s combined, you put it in the oven for 75 minutes. Don’t be tempted to skip the final sautéeing of the mushrooms, either – it adds a lot more than it seems. 

Weeknight Bolognese

You don’t have to simmer bolognese for hours. Not in Ina’s house, anyway. Her weeknight bolognese recipe combines big flavor with an awareness that not everyone has time (or inclination) to stand over a pot for ages at the end of a working day, and it’s a serious go-to for me. The nutmeg and cream, added towards the end of the cooking process, give this bolognese way more heft than other recipes: The nutmeg adds a woody warmth, while the cream stops the spice from overtaking and also incorporates a rich smoothness. It’s heaven. 

Beatty’s Chocolate Cake

Ina Garten’s Beatty’s chocolate cake recipe is named after her friend’s grandmother, and when something is passed down from generation to generation, you know it’s gonna be good. And it is good: This chocolate cake is tender, moist, and packed with flavor without any unnecessary inclusions. The cup of coffee in the recipe might be slightly surprising, but it serves to underpin and amp up the chocolate flavors. If you need a chocolate cake recipe in your repertoire, this is the one.