How to Create an Organized Recipe Collection

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Recipes seem to attract disorganization. Hand-written cards passed down from grandma, folders full of magazine tear-outs, dozens of cookbooks from your bridal shower….oh, and hundreds of recipes you've probably saved on Pinterest and then totally forgot about.

Let's face it—there are more recipes out there then you could ever make in a lifetime, yet we somehow hang on to them all…just in case. Because….SOMEDAY.

When my own collection spilled out onto another shelf in my kitchen, I knew it was time to do something. Thankfully, I love fixing messes and putting everything in order, so I was actually excited to tackle this project. Although I have to admit—hundreds of recipes can be a little overwhelming!

I eventually created The Printable Recipe Binder Kit to wrangle my own recipes into submission, but the truth is, a pre-designed kit isn't going to work for everyone. That doesn't mean you should give up though. If you want seamless meal planning and cooking time in the kitchen, an organized recipe collection will help immensely.

In this post, I'm going to teach you exactly how to start and complete your own recipe organization project, all while finding a solution that works for YOU. As you'll quickly find out, there are dozens of options to choose from—the key is finding one you'll love and use long-term!

1. Declutter Your Recipe Collection

The first step in any organization project is to pare down what you currently have. This eliminates overwhelm and turns your remaining recipes into a much more manageable project. This means you should:

• Be ruthless and get rid of any cookbooks you don’t use. This one was painful for me because I love my cookbooks! But I felt so much better knowing they weren't taking up precious cabinet space anymore.

• Comb through all loose pages and make two separate piles. One for recipes you know you won't make {for instance, if they have ingredients you never buy}, and one for recipes you would like to try in the future. When in doubt, throw it out. Remember, we're trying to minimize the clutter!

BONUS TIP: For cookbooks you want to keep, place an index sheet inside the front cover, with a list of pages you reference. Or, mark those pages with a cute page flag instead.

2. Organize Your Recipes

Now it's time to get your recipes in order. I cannot stress this enough, but the most important aspect of recipe organization is finding a system that works for you! 

There are a lot of options out there, but you want an organizational system that works the way your brain works. Otherwise, you'll have to do the whole thing over again in a few months—yuck. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before trying anything:

• Do you like using technology {phones, tablets, or computers} in the kitchen? If yes, then an e-solution might be your best option. If not, then you shouldn't even consider them. Even though they look fancy and work well for others, it's not going to be something that works for you.

• Are you inspired by pretty things? For some, function in the kitchen is the most important. It doesn't matter if the recipes are a combination of cards, clippings, printouts, and pages, just as long as they are organized. For others, it may be more important to have everything look coordinated and pretty. Depending on which side you fall on, your preferred system will be different.

• How much time are you willing to spend? This is common hangup with any organizational adventure. You want to get organized, but are overwhelmed by the time it might take. Remember, you want a system that fits your personality. Time is a factor, but shouldn't be the only one.

Now let's look at some recipe organization solutions…

3. Have a system for new recipes going forward

Once your recipes are organized, you'll need a system in place for any new ones you want to add to the list. The last thing you want to do is surround yourself with a cluttered mess again. This is where the “want-to-try” Recipe Folder comes in!

This folder holds all looseleaf cards and printouts you want to hang onto, so you can easily incorporate them into your Weekly Meal Plan rotation. I usually add 1-2 new recipes a week so it's not too overwhelming. If the recipe is “meh”, I throw it away. But if it gets raving reviews and is something I'll make again, I add it directly to my Recipe Binder.

Whatever you do, avoid creating yet another recipe pile. Take 3-5 minutes to type or write out your recipe right away, then toss your looseleaf paper in the trash. One of the keys to staying organized is doing those quick tasks now versus later!

I'll be honest—organizing your recipes isn't always a quick project, and I think that's why so many of us tend to put it off.

But it's so worth it. I know exactly where to find all my favorite recipes, and an organized system inspires me to be much more creative in the kitchen. Chaos might be the easiest solution now, but organization is much better long term!

Which recipe organization solution is your favorite?

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.