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

Would you like to make your own Recipe binder? Grab a copy of the free printables, and get started. Enter your email, and the links to the PDF file will appear below. {note: If you are already subscribed, you will still need to enter your email; but you will not be subscribed twice.}

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

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