Simple and Quick Recipe Binder with Free Printables

“Now, what was the name of that recipe that I found using Pinterest? I just know I’ve made it before…”. Is this you?

Pinterest. I love Pinterest for finding recipes. But, then there is the problem that there. are. so. many. recipes to try. Right?

How do I keep them organized? My recipe board has over 300 pins. That one recipe we tried — and liked — pretty sure it was pinned about 80 pins ago…

This was a weekly struggle until I made a DIY Recipe Binder. In typical form, I chose to organize recipes simply. If it isn’t simple, I won’t keep the habit. I know that about myself.

How to Use a Recipe Binder

This binder contains recipes that I’ve found online or in a magazine. It does not include family recipes. I do have family recipe cards that were part of a wedding gift, but those are kept in a separate recipe book.

Originally, I put the online recipes into the family recipe book but I ran into several problems:

1. The online recipes didn’t fit into the family recipe book and would have to be reformatted.
2. The online recipes weren’t handwritten like the family recipe book (and I’m picky… so I like things to match, ha!)
3. Sometimes, I’d stick recipes in the family book “to try” and end up not being a huge fan. However, I really consider the recipes in my family book to be iconic, well-loved, recipes.

All that to say, there is no reason you couldn’t store everything in one recipe binder. Yet, if you’re like me, a recipe binder is a very simple, flexible, method for storing recipes — even it’s not the only place you keep recipes.

Those are my Valentine’s flowers, ya’ll! Less than $3 at Aldi’s. They are looking lovely in our breakfast nook, and perfect for this photo shoot.

How to Make a Recipe Binder

So, are you convinced? Do you need a simple method to organize recipes?

There is a title page and nine recipe binder categories included in this free printable set: Appetizers, Breads, Breakfast, Desserts, Drinks, Main Dishes, Side Dishes, Snacks, Soups

If a recipe prints as a full-page, 3-hole-punch the sheet and stick it into the binder.

If the online recipe prints out as a “card” – typically 4×6 – then cut it out and tape it onto a blank sheet. Keep several blank sheets inside each recipe category for this purpose. Try using washi tape to attach the cards, for a little color and fun. 

The printable set also includes a “recipe” label for the binding. The label holder on my binder was stubborn. Due to a tight fit, I could only get a half-size sheet into the label holder.  The binding label is designed to fit binders of widths equal to, or larger than, 1 inch — just trim the label sheet accordingly.

I keep a stack of Menu Sheets inside the binder, for easy access when planning weekly meals. Now there are no more excuses to meal plan, right? #yeahright #illfindanexcuse

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Would you like to download the free printable? Click the button, below, to sign up for our newsletter and gain access to the freebie library. Once subscribed, you will receive an email with instructions to access the library.

If you have any problems signing up, please send an email to loragreen@craftivitydesigns.com, and I will sign you up manually.

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How do you organize recipes? I’d love to hear what works for you.