As you’ll see below, I use a variety of cookbooks. I regularly reference everything from Paleo cookbooks to vegetarian cookbooks and never shy away from a quality dessert cookbook. In addition to giving a little bit of information about each cookbook below its title, I’ve also included a few of our favorite recipes from each cookbook just in case you want to try out some of our favorites in your house, too!
And please let me know about the cookbooks you love most in the comments section of this post so I can check them out as well!
My Favorite Cookbooks
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The How Not to Die Cookbook by Michael Greger, MD
This book is fascinating (the beginning pages are basically a crash-course in disease-fighting foods) but, most importantly, the recipes are wonderful. They’re all plant based and incorporate lots of vegetables, fruits, seeds, whole grains and beans. I have yet to make a recipe from this cookbook that I didn’t absolutely love but I will also admit that a handful of my absolute favorite recipes in this one are a bit time-intensive. Still, the extra effort is always worth it and I always feel good whenever I cook up a recipe from this cookbook to feed to my family. (Note: There are also very easy ways to shortcut some of the more labor-intensive recipes. For example, when a recipe calls for homemade date syrup, often substituting maple syrup or honey works well!)
Favorites recipes: Lentil Shepherd’s Pie, Split Pea Dal, Golden Quinoa Tabbouleh, Berry Chocolate Chia Pudding
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The Whole Smiths Good Food Cookbook by Michelle Smith
I swear the recipe for The Whole Smiths’ Whole Roasted Chicken is worth the purchase of this cookbook alone! It’s SO GOOD and a recipe I’ve made more times than I can count since purchasing this cookbook last year. It’s a cookbook packed with delicious whole food recipes made with simple ingredients and I love the way the recipes taste like elevated versions of old favorites… but without any extra work! Of all of the cookbooks I own, I’ve made the most recipes from this cookbook and I haven’t had it nearly as long as some of the others which is saying something.
Favorite recipes: The Whole Smiths’ Whole Roasted Chicken, Buffalo Chicken Sweet Potato Bites, Pizza Soup, Sweet Potato Hash, Charred Shishito Peppers
This cookbook has been my go-to cookbook for cookie recipes for years because they’re always a slam dunk! It’s also a visually stunning cookbook with pictures of nearly every recipe and I love the way the cookies are categorized (Soft and Chewy, Chunky and Nutty, Cakey and Tender, Crisp and Crunchy, etc.), making it easy to find a cookie recipe to satisfy any craving. As an added bonus, it’s a great cookbook to break out when I want to make cookies with Chase because he can easily point a picture of a cookie that appeals to him in the front of the book because they’re all laid out together in the first few pages — the ultimate cookie index!
Favorite recipes: Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies, Ne Plus Ultra Cookies, Brown Butter Toffee Blondies, Classic Shortbread
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Juli Bauer’s Paleo Cookbook by Juli Bauer
Juli Bauer knows flavor and the Paleo recipes in this cookbook are unbelievably delicious. The recipes in this cookbook are some of Ryan’s favorite meals (the marinated flank steak with chimichurri is #1 in his eyes) and I feel 100 percent confident that whenever I attempt a recipe from this cookbook it will be a big-time crowd-pleaser. It’s also my go-to cookbook when I’m preparing a meal for friends with any kind of gluten or dairy allergies because every recipe is gluten-free and dairy-free. And nothing is easier than prepping a big batch of Juli’s Oven Chicken Fajitas to serve with tortillas, pico de gallo and all the fixings when you have to feed a crowd!
Favorite recipes: Oven Chicken Fajitas, Marinated Flank Steak with Chimichurri, Maple Vanilla Candied Walnuts
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Pioneer Woman Cooks by Ree Drummond
When I want to make an indulgently delicious recipe, this is my go-to cookbook. Ree’s recipes are perfect for special occasions and holidays and something about flipping through the pages of her cookbooks (yes, I have multiple) fills me with a feeling of comfort. Also, if you’re someone who is typically intimidated by cooking or baking, this cookbook is a winner because it includes step-by-step photos of how to make the recipes with plenty of detailed descriptions, making her recipes virtually fool-proof.
Favorite recipes: Sour Cream Pancakes, Lasagna, Chocolate Sheet Cake, Mocha Brownies
Without a doubt this is the most nostalgic cookbook in my collection. When I think about my mother following a recipe from a cookbook in our kitchen when I was a little girl growing up in Illinois, I picture her flipping through the pages of this red five-ring binder recipe book. Though Betty Crocker’s cookbook is packed with staple recipes for everything from beef stew to chicken curry, the real winners in my eyes are the desserts and sweet treats!
Favorite recipes: Apple Pie, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Oatmeal Cookies, Quiche Lorraine
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Against All Grain: Meals Made Simple by Danielle Walker
I received Meals Made Simple as a Christmas gift from a friend a few years back and have so many recipes dogeared in this bad boy! The Pepperoni Pizza Pasta was the first recipe I made from this cookbook and it’s still our favorite to this day. Meals Made Simple is a cookbook that incorporates lots of vegetables and simple ingredients and every recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free and Paleo-friendly.
Favorite recipes: Pepperoni Pizza Pasta, Creamy Mashed Root Vegetables, Chipotle Barbacoa, Ginger Chicken and Broccoli
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Oh my gosh, I have the Betty Crocker Cookbook! My aunt gave it to me at my bridal shower (over 30 years ago!) and I still have the handwritten note that she put in there – I use it as my bookmark. It’s my go to book for corned beef and goulash – best ever! Now I will have to check out the desserts as well.
The Betty Crocker cookbook is my go-to cookbook for pies – I love getting it out every Thanksgiving!
I’m also loving Shalane Flanagan’s Run Fast, Eat Slow cookbook these days. The Chicken and Rice Stew, Summer Salmon Salad, and Superhero Muffins are some of my favorites!
was just going to recommend Run Fast Eat Slow…the recipes are amazing! Super nutritious but you can tell they were formulated by people with appetites, not the usual “beautiful texture and colors” mentality (although there are times for that 🙂 So tasty
I love the Southern Living weeknight meals cookbooks. Fast, simple, delicious, kid approved, and with pictures of each meal. I need pictures 🙂 My favorite is “Southern Living Busy Moms Weeknight Favorites.” I use that one at least once a week. Their What’s for Supper series is good too.
I love Juli’s Paleo Cookbook, I’m not even paleo but it has great simple meals. My new favorite cookbook is Fed N Fit’s Cook Once Eat All Week. It’s a wonderful resource for busy moms.
I like the Susan Branch –Heart of the Home and also her Christmas from the Heart of the Home.
I love all the Pioneer Woman cookbooks–I have tried a few recipes from each and they are not hard and they have turned out well and –biggest thing is that family likes them.
That Betty Crocker cookbook is from my childhood as well! The banana bread recipe in it is my very favorite banana bread to make! And of course the pioneer woman cookbooks are great! I will have to check out some of the other books you mentioned. I have so many cookbooks but find myself not consulting them when I need recipe ideas.. I need to get back to that! They are such a good resource!
LOVE seeing other people’s favorite cookbooks 🙂 Such a fun idea! Ina Garten is my go-to for classic recipes like roast chicken, and then I just got the “Run Fast Eat Slow” cookbook to try on a friend’s recommendation for new healthy dinner recipes.
Hi Julie! Have you tried either of the “Oh She Glows” cookbooks? We are obsessed! The app is also awesome. Some of our faves: Life affirming nacho dip, veggie burgers, 10-spice vegetable soup, tofu quiche (website recipe only), and texmex casserole.
I do have the app and LOVE it but I should check out her cookbooks as well. I always love Angela’s recipes!
I love print cookbooks! My favorites are Skinnytaste for simple, easy weeknight meals and an “Italian Cooking” book that I gave my grandmother as a child that she recently gave back to me.
I’ll have to try out the Martha Stewart Cookies book. I have really been wanting to read the “How Not to Die” book from seeing it on numerous blogs and hearing so many great things. My favorites are all of the Skinnytaste cookbooks, as well as Chrissy Teigen’s cookbook. Wilmington, DE
I’ve been loving Inspiralized & Beyond by Ali Maffucci! It’s filled with creative ways to use vegetables and I love how it takes tried and true dishes and changes them up a bit. I’ve loved the Mediterranean zucchini pasta salad and cinnamon raisin sweet potato bagels.
I also have the Whole Smith’s Good Food cookbook but haven’t explored it too much. The roast chicken sounds super delicious!
I would love to try more spiralized veggie recipes. I always enjoy them but for some reason don’t make them nearly enough! That cookbook sounds great!
I love–LOVE–the Runner’s World Cookbook. I swear by it. I’ve made a bunch of recipes out of it and have never been even close to disappointed. Everything is phenomenal, and most of it is relatively healthy, too, which is a nice added bonus. Can’t recommend it enough!
I got so excited seeing this post come up. Not only am I a die-hard blog post fan, I also love cookbooks. My favorites right now are Shalane Flanagan’s two cookbooks (Run Fast Eat Slow) . My kids are obsessed with the superhero muffins.
I need to try that cookbook!!! I’ve heard such good things!
Over the years I’ve collected quite a few cooks books but buying a new one never gets old – in fact, I have three on the way from amazon! I love the Once Upon a Chef cookbook. And her blog recipes are also amazing!
100 Days of Real Food (she has 3 out!) They’re all made with real/simple ingredients. She’s all about cutting out processed foods… I’ve never made anything that’s wasn’t amazing or simple! Annnddd the Pioneer Women is always a fan favorite!
Hey Julie!
Would highly recommend the Fraiche Food Full Hearts cookbook. Everything I’ve made from it so far has been great and they provide options to make the recipes vegan, vegetation, gluten free etc. depending on your dietary restrictions (if any) aaaaand I love Jillian Harris and her cousin Tori so that’s an added bonus! Lol