The Simplified Cookbook: Delicious Meals with Effortless Prep

by Emily Ley

Discover how to simplify feeding your family so you can get satisfying and easy meals on the table with less stress and more time to spare.

Crazy-busy with hungry people in your house? Learn how to simplify mealtimes without losing your cool. Plan, cook, and assemble satisfying meals with guidance from award-winning Simplified founder Emily Ley.

Whether you love cooking, hate it, or it depends on the moment, it's likely the people in your house need to eat. Every. Day. Emily, entrepreneur and mom of three, has written the book that she always an easy guide to getting food on the table without sacrificing your to-do list, your relationships, or your sanity.

The ideas and recipes in The Simplified Cookbook will help your life and your kitchen run more smoothly while satisfying even the heartiest—and pickiest—of appetites. A tasty guide for novice and experienced cooks alike, The Simplified Cookbook 

Easy-to-use sections for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert, along with a few bonus recipes for those times you're feeling fancy60 delicious and easy recipes with limited ingredients60 more ideas for assembly meals you can throw together in a cinch (or a pinch) and be on your way without a lot of chopping, sauteing, or, you know, cookingFour weeks of meal plans, so you have a roadmap for successA detailed resource section all about gadgets, staples, substitutions, and moreInspiration and insight from Emily on why dinners together matter, how to avoid decision fatigue, and other tips and tricks for an efficient and welcoming kitchen 

With recipes like Baked Apple Oatmeal, Ramen Chicken Salad, Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas, and Pound Cake that can be served plain or fancy, there is something for every need.

Take the stress and frustration out of your meal planning and preparation with The Simplified Cookbook. It's time to simplify your cooking so you have time for the good stuff—time around the table with the people you love the most.

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 4, 2025

About the author

Emily Ley is the founder of Simplified® - a brand of planners and organizational tools for busy women. Emily has been featured in Forbes, Family Circle, Better Homes and Gardens, Glamour, and Good Housekeeping. She has been recognized with numerous awards, including Best New Product at the National Stationery Show as well as Top 10 Designers to Watch by Stationery Trends Magazine. Emily and her team recently collaborated with AT-A-GLANCE® to create gift and planning collections carried in Office Depot, Staples, and Target. Emily is the author of national bestselling books, Grace, Not perfection: Embracing Simplicity, Celebrating Joy and A Simplified Life: Tactical Tools for Intentional Living. Now as an author, entrepreneur, wife and mother to three, Emily lives in Pensacola, Florida with her husband, Bryan, and their son Brady (8), and twins Tyler and Caroline (4).

Reviews

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect cookbook for anyone who is busy and wants easy meals to make. There are recipes called 'Assembly Meals' that require little to no cooking which I think make this a unique cookbook. The recipes I'm most excited to try are Hashbrown Bake,Ramen Noodle Bowl, Chicken and Rice Casserole, and Chocolate Truffles.I would highly recommend this! Special Thank You to Emily Ley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Gift and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

[A Bookworm Crafts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily Ley, the author of The Simplified Cookbook, is the founder of the bestselling Simplified brand of planners and organisational tools. In this book, she presents the recipes that she has adapted to suit her busy home life. The keyword is simple: most of these recipes need fewer than six ingredients and take less than fifteen minutes to prep. In addition, ingredients can be subbed in and out, and the recipes are meant to be adaptable (no need to use the specific kind of cheese listed) and adjusted to own individual dietary needs. The recipes often use short cuts such as condensed mushroom soup, cake mix, stuffing mix, or ranch seasoning to make them easier to prepare.

The book starts with Kitchen Notes: Emily's top tips on topics such as make-ahead lunch box meals, feeding picky eaters, help for morning chaos, and freezer meals for big life events. The recipes are then divided into sections based on meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Dessert, and Fancy - with a table of contents at the beginning of each section. The final part of the book presents some more useful information (a table of safe cooking/refrigerating temperatures and a list of twenty common substitutions for when you run out of a pantry ingredient like baking powder or soy sauce), followed by an index.

There are a wide variety of recipes, all presented with prep time, cook time, number of servings, ingredients and directions and, occasionally, a small comment from Emily (e.g. "perfect for a potluck"). There are also 5 stamps of approval which are given to specific recipes to help narrow the options down when you're short on time: Picky Eater Approved, Great for Leftovers, Emily's Pick. Easy to Make Ahead, Freezer Friendly. Each section also includes assembly meals: quick, easy dishes that can be made by combining ready-to-use ingredients with little to no cooking, for days when you don't feel like cooking. Notable recipes include ramen noodle salad, baked feta pasta (a version of the viral recipe), and foil packet dinner. I can't wait to try the air fryer salmon bites and the easy shrimp boil!

A recommend read for fans of Jamie Oliver's 5 Ingredients and quick and easy recipes for picky eaters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomes Nelson for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kayley Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the simple recipes and fresh ideas. I gleaned three winning recipes from this one!

[Julia Shelburne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: The Simplified Cookbook by Emily Ley

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As a busy person constantly juggling the demands of life, I was thrilled to discover The Simplified Cookbook: Delicious Meals with Effortless Prep by Emily Ley. This cookbook has quickly become my go-to guide for getting meals on the table without feeling overwhelmed or stressed out.

Emily Ley understands the chaos of everyday life, especially for those of us who are always on the go, whether it's managing work, family, or just the general whirlwind of responsibilities. She has crafted this cookbook to help those of us who love to cook and those who dread it alike. With her own experiences as a mom of three, Ley provides practical solutions for simplifying mealtimes that resonate deeply with anyone who’s ever faced dinner-time panic.

What I really appreciate about this cookbook is its thoughtful organization. Each section—breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert—offers a wide variety of recipes that are not just easy to make but also incredibly satisfying. The recipes are laid out with clear prep times, cooking times, serving sizes, and straightforward instructions. Plus, the beautiful photographs accompanying each dish make it hard not to feel inspired to whip something up!

One standout feature is the inclusion of assembly meals. These quick and easy options require minimal cooking and can be put together by combining ready-to-use ingredients. It’s like having a lifesaver on those particularly hectic days when the thought of cooking feels extraordinarily daunting. I found myself reaching for these recipes on days I was feeling too exhausted to tackle a full-on cooking session.

From delicious Baked Apple Oatmeal to the refreshing Ramen Chicken Salad, and even the crowd-pleasing Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas, there’s something here for everyone. The fact that many recipes require only six ingredients or fewer is a game-changer for me, as it keeps my grocery list short and my meal prep efficient.

Overall, I would definitely recommend The Simplified Cookbook to anyone looking to make mealtime less stressful while still enjoying delicious food. Emily Ley has managed to create a resource that not only helps in the kitchen but also frees up time for what really matters—spending quality moments around the table with loved ones. If you’re in need of some culinary simplicity in your life, this book is worth a look!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

[Jacque M (SheReadsaBit) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me start out by saying that this cookbook is super cute. The pictures are well done and I love the layout of the recipes. However, the title of this cookbook really shines through in the recipes, and I don't mean that as a positive.

First, the omission of putting a line in the ingredient list of "salt and pepper to taste" is not a favorite of mine. I often help new cooks in the kitchen and teach them to read the ingredients list and instructions before proceeding. This means that those tried and true novice chefs may truly leave out the salt. Also, a lot of the recipes have no flavor builders. I love a good homemade tomato soup, but this tomato soup recipe seemed like it was just hot liquid tomato with some onion flavoring.

I love quiche. I've made so many variations over the years. When I saw the simple quiche recipe, I had to try it. I used the same pre-made pie dough I always use. The length of cook time was too long and the milk to egg ratio I think was too much because my crust was way too dark and the egg was still fairly wet even though it was set up. The bottom of the crust was soggy while the edges were almost burnt. I felt an hour was too long, but trusted the recipe. I didn't make another recipe from the book as I had some reservations after the quiche recipe was a bust.

So for me, this cookbook is a pass. It's asthetically stunning, but the recipes fall flat.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I honestly was not a fan of this cookbook. It’s written by a woman who runs a successful planner company and the idea is that it’s simple, tasty meals. The recipes are certainly simple. They tend to be just a handful of ingredients like cooked pasta, a jar of Alfredo sauce, and whatever cooked veggies and protein you want to add. Does anyone need a recipe for that? Or cut canned biscuits into fourths, deep fry, and roll in sugar. Cans of cream of something soup are in most of the dinner recipes. They are very high in processed ingredients and vegetables are scarce. Her roast calls for a can of coke and a packet of onion soup mix. Her pumpkin muffins are made of a cake mix combined with a can of pumpkin with extra brown sugar on top. There is a recipe for baked Dorito sandwiches. There is also a breakfast recipe that calls for painting white bread with food coloring, toasting it, and then putting whatever you want like jelly on top. There are photos for most recipes (and a ton of photos of her) and no nutritional information. Sorry, this isn’t a book I’d really recommend but others are likely to enjoy it.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

[Nikki Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like the title suggests, this cookbook is full of simple recipes, that are perfect for the busy family or when you want to get food on the table quick and with minimal ingredients.

While I do love a good homemade recipe, where everything is made from scratch - life also gets busy and I don’t always have the time for that, so I appreciated that many of these recipes used packet and canned foods, just making it that little bit simpler on those busy nights and also quite affordable.

I picked out 8 recipes to try and the Rice Krispy Treats were a favourite and perfect for lunchboxes or to serve at parties. The Air Fried Salmon Bites were my personal favourite and I will easily made again, as it was delicious with the rice bowls we make and eat weekly. I was also surprised by the Coca-Cola Pot Roast, I would do this again and use the meat for pulled beef tacos.

Thank-you @netgalley @thomasnelson @zondervan and Emily for a Digital Advanced Readers Copy, in exchange for an honest review.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy reading cookbooks and like the idea of cooking, but in reality, all the planning, effort, and cleanup usually hold me back. Most of the time, I checkout cookbooks from the library, hoping to find one or two recipes worth trying.

I’m a fan of Emily Ley and her planners, so I had a feeling this book might be a good fit—and I was right. I decided to order a hard copy, and I’ve already found at least 90 recipes I want to try. The meals look great, use simple ingredients, and actually seem doable. I also appreciate the pre-assembly and freezer options, which make things even easier.

If you like straightforward, no-fuss recipes, this cookbook is definitely worth a look.

[Reading Adventures · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has it all! Recipes that are so easy to do and follow that even beginners will feel like experts. There are recipes with only a few ingredients, meals you can throw together quickly and everything in between. Emily Ley also includes a resource section packed with helpful Information like things needed to cook with and substitutions.Delicious photos show us the mouth-watering meals. I found some new family favorites like Egg Roll Bowls and easy Biscuits and gravy. I could definitely use all the easy I can get with our busy live.
I really enjoyed this cookbook and can't wait to try them all. Enjoy this fabulous book with your family.

[Macy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice compilation of basic, easy to prepare recipes using a lot of prepared/canned/jarred items. This is for anyone who is new to the kitchen, doesn’t enjoy the process of prepping and cooking, has limited time or any combo of the aforementioned. It’s more assembly than actual recipes, but is quite helpful and purposeful for a novice cook. The recipes are super easy to follow, use limited ingredients and are accompanied by lovely photographs.



I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Teresa Starrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some excellent things about Emily Ley’s new cookbook that make this a standout. Fist, the recipes are family friendly and accessible. These lunch treats include tomato soup, several salads and a fun ramen noodle bowl. In addition, for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert (YES), assembly meals are included. This is a great way to plan your meals for the week- and get the entire family involved.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

[Christina Bleeker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this simple cookbook. I have 5 kids and I feel like these are all very family friendly meals. I think these recipes are perfect for families, those who need simple meals, meals for when you have sports/dance/band/theater taking up your evenings, and those who are new to cooking. I think this would make an excellent gift for a college kid out on their own for the first time, a young adult, newly married, young families. I’m excited to make many of the recipes in here.

[S Tondra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great cookbook for new cooks and busy mom's that just want to have some delicious simple recipes. I enjoyed the pictures for each recipe and her labels (make ahead, freezer, picky eater, etc) were helpful. I would totally buy this as a wedding gift.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lisa H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bright and kid-centric...

I really liked the bright and clean layout and easy to read recipes in this kid-centric cookbook.
It truly is simplified and geared toward families and getting food that they would actually eat on the table in a reasonable amount of time. From breakfast, lunch, dinner to dessert, easy to make with ingredients you probably have on hand.
Highly recommend.

[Joni Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cool cookbook especially for parents of small kids. The recipes are well written and easy to follow instructions. The pictures are plentiful. As someone that’s been cooking for a long time (like 30+ years) I wouldn’t use a lot of these recipes but for not as proficient cooks this would be amazing.

[cMa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book for a busy family. The perpetual grocery list is a great addition, and the “healthy-ish” section is the best.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this ARC.

#TheSimplifiedCookbook
#NetGalley

[Danielle Mccoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

I loved the easy, simple recipes in this book! The assembly meals in each section are brilliant, fun and easy to recreate. I could see myself using this cookbook often and not having a problem following or trading items.

[Catie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you need easy recipes that you can assemble quickly on a weeknight, this is your cookbook. Lots of options for families that can be scaled down for smaller households. Great as a gift for a new cook or mom of small children.

[Maria Kammer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely basic cookbook for those new to the kitchen and anyone who wants next to no prep. Most of these recipes start with pre-packaged ingredients which do have a place when you want to get a meal on the table quickly. This is definitely a beginner/starter cookbook for newbies.

[Miss Pippi the Librarian]

This book is geared for busy moms, but I think this book is perfect for someone who hasn't cooked or starting out on their own. Sometimes simple is the best to understand how to put together a meal.

Reviewed from a library copy.

[Victoria Hoppes · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many good recipes that I want to try! And they are all simple.

[Beth Bandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book on a whim liking some of the recipes as I flipped through it. Let me say - the recipes are VERY simplified! I haven't tried any of the recipes but will soon. Happy cooking!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good ideas, terrible recipes

[Sara Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this up on my birthday and I’m excited to try many meals! Super simple, not many ingredients and I think picky eater approved! Ready for some new meals to add to the mix!

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is good for what it is - quick, simple, everyday foods.

[Anna Catherman · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you want a "cookbook" where 90% of the recipes are "throw together a bunch of processed foods" and where the instructions are vague and unhelpful, this is for you.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of yummy and easy recipes.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recipes are definitely simple as the title implies. Nothing special and most need some jazzing up to add some flavor/pizzazz. Would be great for someone new to cooking or an extremely picky eater

[ReadonReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great cookbook for me and my family. I tried the different recipes at home to mix up our weekly go to meals and most if not all were a big hit. I loved that the author introduced the perpetual grocery list, as it helped me strategize my own grocery shopping and cutting down on waste. Overall, this was an easy cookbook, with fantastic pictures, something for everyone(even those picky eaters), and great ideas.