My Favorite Cookbooks

Instead of a recipe today, I wanted to share a list of my favorite cookbooks. I have quite a collection of cookbooks and use all of them for different things. When I get a new cookbook, I read it like a novel, add recipes to my meal plan, and drool over all the pictures. I get so excited when food bloggers I love announce that they’re publishing a cookbook. I know that if I love the blog recipes, I will definitely love having a cookbook by that author in print! One of my dreams is to publish a cookbook of my own, so I love supporting other food bloggers who have done that.

In these two pictures you’ll see all the cookbooks that I own. My husband also has a few that he uses for grilling, but these are all the ones that are just for me. I love and use all of them for different reasons, but I wanted to share my absolute favorites and why.

My Favorite Cookbooks

•  Overall champion: “Dinner, Changing the Game”
  •  Favorite recipe: Vietnamese Caramel Salmon
  •  This cookbook has such an incredible variety of recipes. The chapters are divided into protein types (poultry, shellfish, tofu, eggs, beans etc.) as well as having chapters for pasta and vegetarian dishes. Every recipe that I’ve tried has been so delicious and inventive, but not overly complicated. If you have someone in your life who loves to cook, this is the perfect book. At 150+ recipes, you’re definitely getting your moneys worth in this cookbook. This also wins my vote for best cookbook if you like to entertain because they just have such “wow” appeal and can be fancy without being fussy for you as the cook to make.
•  Surprise favorites: “Cravings” and “Cravings: Hungry for More” by Chrissy Teigen
  •  Favorite recipe from “Cravings”: Asian Chicken Salad
  •  Favorite recipes from “Cravings: Hungry for More”: Chicken Teriyaki Burgers and Banana Bread
  •  When I first heard that Chrissy Teigen was coming out with her first cookbook, I didn’t think I would be interested. But after my brother’s fiancé raved about it I decided to give it a try and I have been blown away. I probably open these cookbooks more than any other that I own.
•  Best vegan cookbook: “The First Mess”
  •  Favorite recipe: Vegan Multigrain Pancakes and Eggplant Bolognese
  •  I have shared on the blog before that we do try to eat meatless at least twice a week, frequently more. While we don’t necessarily try to keep those recipes vegan, this cookbook makes it easy to do so. Even though they don’t use animal products, these recipes are certainly not lacking in flavor. This is a great cookbook for anyone who is vegan or vegetarian, but also anyone who is just looking to incorporate more vegetables into their diet.
•  Best dessert cookbook: “Sweet”
  •  Favorite recipe: White Chocolate Cheesecake with Cranberry Compote
  •  This cookbook is beautiful, just beautiful. You could flip through this cookbook and just look at the pictures. I will say that this cookbook is probably not for a beginner baker, but if you know your way around a kitchen and can follow a recipe, this is the best cookbook to own for some seriously delicious sweet treats.
•  Best cookbook to give as a wedding gift: “Half Baked Harvest”
  •  Favorite recipe: Honey Butter Beer Bread
  •  It was so hard to pick a favorite recipe from this cookbook because I have had so many, but I decided to go with the recipe that I make most often. I make the honey butter beer bread anytime I make a soup, stew, or chili. It is absolutely perfect for dunking and so easy. And that’s only one of her recipes! Her recipes are easy and approachable, but also may use flavor combinations you didn’t expect. Anytime I feel like I’m in a cooking rut, this is one that I open. Since it has a great variety and is full of beautiful pictures, it’s also my top choice for a cookbook to give as a wedding gift.
•  Best canning cookbook: “Ball Complete Guide to Home Preserving”
  •  Favorite recipe: Any of the fruit jams!
  •  I will first say that I also love the cookbook “Tart and Sweet” for more inventive canning recipes, but if you are a beginner home canner, the Ball cookbook will never steer you wrong. It has a wide variety of recipes and walks you through the canning process step by step.
•  Best for meal planning, easy meals, busy people: “Skinnytaste Fast and Slow” and “Skinnytaste One and Done”
  •  Favorite Recipe from “Skinnytaste Fast and Slow”: Chicken Burrito Bowls
  •  Favorite Recipe from “Skinnytaste One and Done”: Chicken Parmesan Meatball
  •  It was hard to pick between these two Skinnytaste cookbooks for this category because they both fit the bill. “Fast and Slow” contains meals that are ready in 30 minutes as well as slow cooker recipes. “One and Done” contains one-pot or one-dish meals and divides the chapters up by cooking method. There are chapters for your skillet, sheet pan, slow cooker, instant pot, and air fryer. I don’t own an air fryer and haven’t tried any of these recipes, but all of the other ones are great. Fast, easy, delicious, and healthy recipes that are perfect for anyone. These are great cookbooks for anyone who is just learning how to cook, doesn’t particularly enjoy cooking, or doesn’t have a lot of time to cook. But even if you love cooking and know your way around a kitchen, they are great for fast and easy meal ideas.
•  Honorable mention: “The Pretty Dish”
  •  Favorite Recipe: Our Favorite Bolognese
  •  I love this cookbook, but I couldn’t think of a category for it. The recipes are tasty, the photos are beautiful, and there are a wide variety of recipes. The Bolognese sauce is hands-down the best that I have ever had and I love to keep a container of it in my freezer. While I do love this cookbook, it is not the one that I open as frequently as the cookbooks listed above. If you’re looking to add to your collection, I think you’ll be happy with this one. But if you don’t have much of a cookbook collection yet, I think you’ll get more use out of one of the cookbooks listed above.

And there you have it! These are my favorite cookbooks. As you can see from the photos and in the images below, I own plenty more cookbooks. While I love every cookbook that I own and use all of them, I definitely use some more than others. If you have any questions about the other cookbooks that I own or any additional questions after reading this post, please comment below or reach out to me on Instagram!