10 of the Best New Cookbooks for the Home Chef on Your List

Cook Like a Pro: Recipes and Tips for Home Cooks, by Ina Garten
I spend…a lot of time gushing about Ina Garten. The woman used to write the country’s nuclear energy budget, for crying out loud. If she wants to tell me how to cook, I’m automatically going to listen. But what it really comes down to is this: Garten’s recipes are delicious, simple, and impressive, and you just can’t say that about too many cookbook authors. In Cook Like a Pro she shares the tips and tricks she has picked up over several decades of working with some of the world’s top chefs. Perfect for a home cook who’s ready to up their game.

Cravings: Hungry for More, by Chrissy Teigen
When I received the original Cravings in a subscription box a couple years ago, I didn’t really know who Teigen was (which seems unthinkable in 2018), and while I definitely have heart space for a celebrity cookbook, my standards there are high. Well. Fast forward a few weeks later, when I began idly flipping through the pages and gave the eggplant pasta bake a shot…and rapidly became a very serious fan. Hungry for More is her second, post-baby cookbook, and it focuses on ease, health, and comfort. It’s just as stylish and beautiful as the first, while delivering a slightly more laid-back vibe. Buy for the new parent, or the busy millennial who knows how to cook and wants to embrace some adventure.

Whiskey in a Teacup: What Growing Up in the South Taught Me about Life, Love, and Baking Biscuits, by Reese Witherspoon
Speaking of celebrity cookbooks, this one is absolutely charming. Drawn largely from Witherspoon’s love of her grandmother and of the South, it goes beyond cooking into entertaining and lifestyle (there’s a hot roller section, and all I have to say about that is where on earth did hot rollers wander off to for twenty years?). With recipes like pecan-encrusted chicken, vegetable plate-in-a-jar, and tea punch, which sounds like the most deliciously alcoholic way to lose an afternoon, there’s a lot in there for the home cook. But where the book really won my heart was in the playlist for a full moon midnight BBQ barn party, which starts with some classic Patsy Cline. Ideal for the host or hostess in your life, whether they’re a cook or not.

Milk Street: Tuesday Nights: More than 200 Simple Weeknight Suppers that Deliver Bold Flavor, Fast, by Christopher Kimball
I really like the way this cookbook is organized: from fast to fastest, with additional chapters on more ways to save time. That’s my kind of cooking, and when it comes in recipes like Miso-Ginger Chicken Salad, Rigatoni Carbonara with Ricotta, and Chocolate-Tahini Pudding, I’m sold. Kimball was named one of Epicurious’ Greatest Home Cooks of All Time, and let’s be real: all most home cooks want is to be that, but in under thirty minutes, and with someone else doing the dishes. A great gift for someone learning how to cook, a busy parent, newlyweds, or a recent college grad.

Skinnytaste One and Done: 140 No-Fuss Dinners for Your Instant Pot, Slow Cooker, Air Fryer, Sheet Pan, Skillet, Dutch Oven, and More, by Gina Homolka
As 2018 seems to be the year of the Instant Pot, I assume there are a lot of people out there who could really benefit from this cookbook. (And if you know a young person without one, how cute would an instant pot + this cookbook be?) Skinnytaste One and Done is all about healthy one-pot meals, and that’s awfully welcome if you’ve ever spent hours trawling the internet for “healthy” recipes that won’t take fifteen dishes and two hours to make. Great for families and the health-conscious.

Windows on the World Complete Wine Course: Revised, Updated & Expanded Edition, by Kevin Zraly
This is the kind of book you’ll want to order two of, one for your holiday list and one for yourself. It’s the beginner’s wine book you’ve always wanted, if, like me, you like wine and also know absolutely nothing about it. Recently updated and expanded, Windows on the World takes the reader on a trip around the world. Ever been curious about the difference between Californian and South African reds? What about the white wines of Washington versus those of New Zealand? And is Prosecco basically the same thing as Champagne? Zraly has all the answers, and you’ll leave the book with a whole new world of wine in front of you.

Israeli Soul: Easy, Essential, Delicious, by Michael Solomonov and Steven Cook
By the authors of Zahav, this beautiful cookbook is a collection of recipes from the best markets and tiny family restaurants in Israel, from Tel Aviv to small Israeli towns. Solomonov and Cook adapt these recipes for the home cook, making it possible to bring some of this love and deliciousness into your own kitchen. From mouthwatering traditional sandwiches to an incredibly adaptable hummus, Israeli Soul is perfect for any cook with a love of travel, adventure, or satisfying home cooking.

Ottolenghi Simple: A Cookbook, by Yotam Ottolenghi
Well, hello there, Middle Eastern recipes with a cook time of thirty minutes or less. In a single pot. With fewer than ten ingredients. Many of which are pantry staples. Where have you been all my life? (You and hot rollers, because seriously.) Written by the revered Yotam Ottolenghi, this cookbook is a home chef’s dream. With 130 recipes, Ottolenghi Simple brings freshness and interest to every meal, from brunch to dessert. Standout recipes include Iranian Herb Fritters, Braised Eggs with Leeks and Za’atar, and, for dessert, Fig and Thyme Clafoutis.