Recipe Organizer Binders

Recipe organizer binders are an easy way to keep all of your tangible recipes in one place. These binders are completely customizable, easily added to over time, and a great gift idea!

Ever struggle with keeping all your paper recipes organized so you can find what you are looking for? Do you hate how sticky fingers and spills stain your cookbook pages? Maybe you are constantly needing to login to a tablet or phone that keeps falling asleep while you bake.

When I was in college and first married I would clip recipes from magazines. Many magazine recipes were too large or too long to glue onto a recipe card, so I would put them in a file folder.

When I was engaged, by sister-in-laws to be threw me a pantry shower and asked guests to bring their favorite recipes on recipe cards.

As the I progressed into the digital realm, I went more and more often to the internet for recipes but wanted hard copies of recipes I loved.

Then, about 5 years into marriage I came up with the idea of recipe organiation binders, and I’ll never go back.

Using regular three ring binders and protectives sleeves I can keep all my recipes organized and in one place. If I’m meal planning I can pull out just the recipes I need for that special holiday meal or weekly plan. All of my recipes are organized to be right were I would intuitively look to find them. I can re-arrance, photocopy, add, and reorganize to my hearts content.

This is an amazing system, and I’m now offering it to you.

Why Binder Sleeves & Binders Work

Protective

The plastic binder sleeve provides a protective barrier between sticky fingers, splashes, or spills. They also keeps thinner papers from ripping, and protect edges and corners from crinkles and tears.

Cleanable

Easily wipe away messes with a damp cloth.

Size Doesn’t Matter

Perhaps my favorite thing about putting all my recipes into protective sleeves is the fact that ANY recipe is compatible with this system.

Do you have a small recipe card from grandma? No problem, slip it in.

Did you print a recipe off a website or blog? Maybe a friend made a photocopy of a recipe to share with you. Standard printer paper fits perfectly.

Like to clip recipes from magazines? Most magazines are smaller than standard 8.5×11 paper, but even if they aren’t you can trim them to size, or just cut out the recipe you are interested in.

Whether you find a recipe off the back of a soup can or cereal box, the thickness of the printed material doesn’t matter.

Organize How You Like

With three ring binders, moving recipes around and putting them in alphabetical order, or favorite most used recipes to the front is a synch.

How to Make a Recipe Organizer Binder

Supplies:

• 3 ring view binders
• 3 ring 8.5×11 page protector sleeves
• Recipe Organizer Binder PDF Printable

Gather Supplies

Choose whether you will be making a single recipe organizer binder, or a collection of binders.

Gather the necessary supplies based on your needs. Be sure whatever binder you purchase has the clear pocket on the cover and sides for you to insert the category pages (view binders).

If you prefer using view binders, see the alternate vinyl decal option at the bottom of the post.

I purchase my binders from Target, because I love how the Up & Up brand has additional pockets on the inside of the covers for collecting loose papers and notes. You can also buy an 8 pack of 1 inch view binders from Sams Club for under $20. I also recommend buying a bulk box of page protectors at Sams Club or Costco if you are making multiple binders.

Purchase and download the Recipe Organization Binder PDF

After downloading the recipe organizer binders pages PDF printable, print the pages that are useful to you. If you aren’t sure yet, then you can just hit “print all” and sort them out as you go.

Consider color coding each recipe binder for easy identification on the shelf. (Desserts – pink, Main Dishes – blue, Home Preservation – green, etc) Choose a coordinating color of cardstock for printing the heading and category pages. Vibrant colors will easily stand out, making subsections easier to find among the pages of recipes.

Load the Binders

Insert the desired category heading page(s) into the front pockets of the binder(s).

Fill the binder(s) with plastic page protectors.

Divide the remaining category pages as desired to make individual sections in each binder.

Insert your recipe cards, magazine pages, photocopies, and printed pages into individual sleeves and organize them in a way that makes sense to you.

Gift Ideas

If you choose to create a recipe organization binder or binders set for a gift, consider filling with some of your personal favorite recipes before gifting. Or try one of these other ideas…

Bridal Shower

When I was engaged, a neighbor of my in-laws gave me a binder filled with all her favorite recipes, as she has done for all of my sister-in-laws when we got married. Consider making a collection of recipe organization binders for your next bridal shower, and ask each guest to bring one or two of their favorite recipes to share. It’s a fun group activity or great alternative to a guestbook.

Christmas

If you know someone who loves to cook, or needs some help organizing in the kitchen, a collection of recipe organization binders could be just just the thing. If it’s someone you are close with, maybe include a little certificate for a friends date organizing and filling the binders together.

The 85+ page recipe organizer binder printable PDF download includes heading pages for 7 different recipe categories plus a BONUS category. This allows you to easily organize your recipes into sections within one large binder, or divide into as many as 8 different binders if your recipe collection is extensive.

Heading Categories

• Main Dishes
• Salads & Sides
• Desserts
• Dips & Sauces
• Drinks
• Bread
• Home Preservation
• BONUS: Canning & Freezing

Each heading category includes a heading page along with a coordinating binding strip in two sizes to make grabbing the correct book off the shelf easy and quick.

Within each heading category listed above you will find 70+ different subcategories along with blank templates to add your own categories. Some of the subdivisions include:

Subcategories Sample Selection

This collection is designed with the “make from scratch homestead cook” in mind.

Find the entire 85+ page PDF download here

Vinyl Decal Alternate Method

If you choose to plain non-view binders, and would rather create an adhesive cover and binder page., try this vinyl method.

Purchase printable adhesive vinyl paper and print the heading pages and binding strip pages onto the adhesive page using your ink jet or laser printer.

Cut binding strips to the desired size to fit the thickness of your binder.

Peel off the paper backing and apply pages as desired to the front and sides of the binder.

Here are a few recipes to get you started…