Founded in 2003 by Elise Bauer, Simply Recipes began as a family recipe archive and quickly grew into one of the most respected recipe websites in the world (Wikipedia). Today, the site serves over 15 million readers each month, offering accessible, rigorously tested recipes paired with expert cooking guidance .
From Kitchen Recovery to Culinary Authority
After grappling with chronic fatigue while working in Silicon Valley, Elise moved back home in 2001 and began documenting her parents’ cooking . She created the blog to preserve those recipes—and made them available to the world. That personal journey became the heart of the site’s mission.
Over time, content contributors including James Beard Award nominee Hank Shaw joined her, enhancing variety and frequency while preserving Elise’s original approach.
A Recipe Philosophy Built to Last
Simply Recipes aims to help make home cooking joyful, reliable, and repeatable. Every recipe is:
Professionally developed and tested in real kitchens using common tools.
Simple to follow, consistently deliver great results, and worth making again .
Based on real ingredients—fresh or pantry staples—with occasional use of convenience items .
These values help explain why readers return again and again for kitchen confidence and flavor-rich staples .
Iconic Recipes & Memorable Moments
Banana Bread: Often cited as the internet’s most popular banana bread, easy, comforting, dependable.
Chicken Pozole: A go-to early favorite that exemplified the site’s clarity and attention to detail .
Civil War–Style Mac & Cheese: An inventive recipe grounded in history and home cooking fundamentals.
Simply Recipes’ top 10 blog recipes span comfort food, cultural classics, and clever weeknight options—they aim to be recipes that feel like old friends you keep in rotation .
Growth, Community & Legacy
By 2007, the site was receiving over one million monthly visits, and quickly grew to millions more.
In 2016, the site was acquired by Fexy Media, then became part of Dotdash Meredith in 2020—while maintaining editorial integrity and Elise’s founding ethos.
In 2023, Elise celebrated Simply Recipes’ twentieth anniversary with heartfelt reflections on community, kitchen culture, and the joy of shared meals .
What Sets Simply Recipes Apart
Authentic voice: Elise writes like your favorite home cook—warm, approachable, and practical.
Solid methodology: Every recipe is thoroughly tested in home-like conditions before publication.
Community responsiveness: Comment threads are active and factored into recipe refinement.
Evolution with purpose: The site embraces new formats—Instant Pot, air fryer, vegetarian options—without losing its identity .
Final Thought
Simply Recipes remains a pillar of home cooking—celebrated for its approachable style, trusted recipes, and human-first approach. Whether you’re craving a reliable comfort dish or looking to learn new techniques step by step, it’s a go‑to resource filled with practical wisdom and kitchen warmth.
