Homemade Recipe Binder

If you’re anything like me, you’ve got a STACK of printed recipes from the internet. Often I think “I’ve got pork chops, what’s a good recipe to make?” I could look through my cookbooks, but I am usually looking for something specific and and I want it NOW (that’s a whole other issue).

I immediately jump on the internet, look for the 5-star rating with the most reviews, and print it. In most cases, we love it, and so I add the recipe to the stack.

A few years ago, while recovering from chemo, I had a lightbulb moment – why not create my own homemade recipe binder with printed recipes? I’m sure I could buy one, but I wanted a simple binder that I could have as many categories as I wanted, along with being able to improvise as needed.

I have to tell you, I had so much fun making it and I think you will too! It will take a little bit of time, but once you get it set up the way YOU want it to be, you’ll wonder how you ever did without it?

HOMEMADE RECIPE BINDER

• Start with purchasing a 2 inch, 3-ring binder. I found some really cute floral binders on Amazon. You may be able to get away with a 1″ or 1 1/2″ in. binder, but I wanted to allow my binder to grow, so I started big, and I’m glad I did!

• Take your binder to a craft store (if you want to match colors) and buy as many pieces of cardstock as categories you will have.

• Purchase tabs for number of categories needed. I purchased THESE 1.5″ Self-Adhesive Tabs. These come in a package of 50 (you may not need that many) and I’ve used them for other reasons as well!

• Use a 3-hole punch for the cardstock and put in binders. Make sure to have the order of colors figured out before you attach the tabs. Also 3-hole punch your recipes.

• Carefully attach tabs to cardstock. I’m a bit OCD, so it took a little time to get the tabs lined up just right, but it was worth it for my OCD eyes and brain!

• Print labels for the tabs. You can easily create them in Google docs or Word, or use the paper given, which I always struggle to use! I would suggest printing them on cardstock and folding them over, so that they are double the thickness and stay in the tabs better. Here are the categories I included in mine: appetizers, snacks, beverages, soups, salads, breads, vegetables, breakfast, chicken, seafood, beef, wild game, pastas, Mexican, Chinese, dessert, bars, canning, freezing, air fryer, dinners, and other.

• Insert the labels into the tabs.

• Start organizing your recipes! This is the fun part…

This has been a GAME CHANGER for me! My recipes now are completely organized just the way Kristin likes it :). I can add any recipe to my book at any time, and can even add different categories in the back if needed. If you have questions about how to make this or if you’ve made something similar, please comment below! And if you end up making one, please email me your final project. I’d love to see it!