How to Organize Your Recipes with a Recipe Binder

We are wrapping up our kitchen organization series with a peek at my recipe binder and how I keep it organized. Recipes have frustrated me for years. I’ve hated searching for just the right recipe and keeping everything straight. It always seems that I’m rushing around trying to find the recipe I need at the 5 o’clock rush when my kids just want to eat dinner! Can you relate?!

I knew I needed an organization system for my recipes that was simple, yet effective. I didn’t want anything that was overly complicated because…come on, who’s got time for that?!

That’s when I started the process of purging my recipes because I knew I had a ton that I would never use again either because my family didn’t like them or our tastes had changed.

I literally got rid of more than half! It was almost embarrassing! Wow, I sure wasted a lot of paper printing all of those recipes. Thank goodness for Pinterest now!

While I was purging my printed recipes, I decided it was time to purge my unused cookbooks as well. I’ve downsized to just my favorites and the ones I actually use! These include my Better Homes and Garden’s cookbook and of course my beloved and often used Pioneer Woman Cookbook! 🙂

I then set out to get my recipes organized. I wanted to make finding each recipe super easy, but I also wanted to simplify meal planning and daily cooking. I wanted to make sure that I had a plan to keep my pantry and refrigerator organized so that I could utilize the food I had on hand and not let so much go to waste. (Does anyone else struggle with this?!)

I use two black binders for my recipes. One is for my main recipes I use for dinner. The other is dedicated to all things baking. I used the following supplies to put my recipe binders together.

Recipe Binder Supplies:

• 2 Black Avery 1.5″ binders
• 8 pack Avery Extra-Wide Dividers (You’ll want these so your tabs stick out beyond the page protectors.)
• Page Protectors
• Label Maker
• The Recipe Binder Kit

I created cover pages for each section of my binder. I have these positioned in from of each of the file tabs in clear page protectors. I’ve also placed all of my recipes in page protectors because #messycook!

I also wanted a quick way to reference kitchen conversions and substitutes. I decided to create this cute printable that I placed at the front of both of my binders for quick and easy reference.

In the front of my binders, I’ve placed a few printables including my pantry and fridge inventory. I don’t use these on a regular basis because I simply don’t have time to keep up with it. #honest But I do like using them when I’m trying to clean out my pantry and refrigerator to use up as much as possible. These are super helpful.

Another thing that has made menu planning so much easier is my “Family Favorites” printable. I seriously don’t know how I ever menu planned without this page in the past!

I’ve simply gone through my recipe binder and favorite cookbooks and listed out our family’s favorite meals. There are about 50 recipes total and I can easily add new recipes as we come across new ones we love. When I’m struggling to come up with meals we haven’t had in a while, I simply flip to this page in my recipe binder and it literally takes me 2 minutes to come up with meals! So simple and efficient!

In the very back of my binder I’ve placed my menu planning printables as well as my printable grocery lists. I grab for these each week when I’m planning my trip to the grocery store.

I also created a printable recipe card I can use for those recipes I come across that aren’t printable. I usually use this for recipes I find in magazines or those that are passed down from family or friends. It’s simply a place to jot down a recipe quickly.

If you’ve been struggling to get your recipes in order and get frustrated at the 5 o’clock dinner rush like I used to, then make sure to snag the recipe binder kit for yourself! I was able to put both of my binders together during one afternoon nap time! So if you’re a busy mama like me, you can totally do this too! 🙂

What’s your biggest organizing struggle in the kitchen?