A recipe journal is the ultimate home for your kitchen stories, but staring at that first blank page can be the hardest part of the process. Hi! I’m Shelby or @shelbyonpapaer on Instagram, and I’m sharing a few simple pages to add to your recipe journal to get you started.

SUPPLIES (use code: SHELBYONPAPER10 to save!)

• Archer & Olive Notebook (I’m using the B6 Lamp Post Notebook!)
• Calliograph Pens 
• Vinyl Planner Tabs 
• Ink & Type Alpha Sticker Set 
• Bonnies Fave Collage Papers 
• Bonnies Fave Letter Stickers 
• Gold-Handled Stationery Scissors 
• Sticker Tweezers 
• Tape or Glue
• Black Pen

There is something incredibly special about a physical recipe journal—it's a place where your favorite flavors, kitchen successes, and family traditions finally have a home of their own. Deciding on where to start can be intimidating, so to help you move past the planning phase and into the kitchen, I’ve put together 6 easy, creative pages to add to your journal. Let’s get cooking with these simple page suggestions to help you break the seal and start your recipe journal today.

1. Intro Page

The perfect way to start a journal is by creating a simple Intro page. It’s not just about the decoration but about setting the tone and vibe for the journal. The first page of a new journal is often intimidating, but by creating this decorative spread, you remove the pressure and just get to have fun. It also gives you a chance to play with the layout, color palette, or handwriting style you want to use throughout the book. I used some Calliograph Pens and created a simple title as well as added some fun food stickers to keep it on theme. Have fun with it! Draw some of your favorite foods, make a collage with some food magazine cut-outs, or use food packaging to give it that junk journal feel. However you want to approach the cover page, take your time and get creative!

2. Recipe Log

The Recipe Log acts as the essential "search engine" for your journal, providing a dedicated space to list your dish titles alongside their corresponding page numbers. By setting this up early, you save yourself from the frustration of frantic page-flipping, ensuring every meal is just a quick glance away. It’s more than just a table of contents; it’s a growing map of your culinary progress that keeps your collection organized, and easy to navigate as it evolves over time.

3. Conversions + Substitutions

The next couple of pages I like to call the “Kitchen Essentials Guides” because they are going to be super helpful in the kitchen and acts as a quick-reference that lives right in the front of your book. First up is the Conversions & Substitutions page. Instead of scrolling through a phone to look up a conversion, you can simply glance at your open journal on the counter. Also if you find yourself halfway through a recipe only to realize you’re missing an ingredient, having a list of substitutions allows you to pivot and save the meal.

4. Seasonal Produce

Next up on the “Kitchen Essentials Guides” is the Seasonal Produce page. This is a visual roadmap that reminds you which fruits and vegetables are at their absolute peak during each time of the year. Grouping ingredients into Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall will help you know what will taste best when you’re shopping at the store or a local farmer’s market. On those days when you don't know what to cook, a quick glance at your seasonal guide can spark an idea. Seeing "Asparagus and Radishes" in the Spring section or "Parsnips and Turnips" in the Autumn section gives you an immediate starting point for your next meal. To make things even easier, I’ve created a free printable you can download to instantly add all these kitchen essentials to your journal.

5. Recipes to Try

The Recipes to Try page is your culinary wish list, acting as a dedicated space for all those ideas you either get from other people, cookbooks, or dishes you find online and want to try out. By dividing this spread into four sections—Appetizers, Main Dishes, Sides, and Desserts—you create an organized space for inspiration that won't clutter up your finished recipe collection. This layout is incredibly helpful because it allows you to see at a glance all the recipes you want to try, making it the perfect tool for stress-free meal planning when you’re in the mood to try something new.

6. Five Star Meals

The Five Star Meals page acts as the ultimate Hall of Fame for your kitchen. Think of it as a gallery wall for your most successful and overall favorite dishes. This is a space to showcase the “greatest hits”—the showstoppers that always result in empty plates and requests for the recipe. I created this spread using some collage papers to give it that gallery wallpaper look and some picturesque stickers to complete the look.

BONUS PAGE- Recipe Layout Idea

All there is left to do is start adding in our recipes! Here is one example that I created to get you started. I would recommend adding in pictures, doodles, a fun title, and a list of the ingredients and instructions. Make sure to check out these blog for even more recipe journal inspiration:

Best Spread Ideas To Include In Your Recipe Journal- @danosbujo

Recipe Journal Inspo + FREE Fruits & Veggies Printable

How To Make A Recipe Bullet Journal + FREE Recipe Card Printable- @thecrystallinaperspective

If you want to see exactly how I created this Recipe Journal, you can check out this video for the full set up process!

There we have it—6 super easy pages to add to your Recipe Journal! I hope this gave you some inspiration to start your own journal and get creative in the kitchen. If you re-create any of these, make sure to tag us on Instagram at @archerandolive and @shelbyonpaper.

Happy journaling!

Follow me on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for even more journaling/bookish content!