If you were to ask me what my perfect Sunday afternoon would entail, it’s menu planning. No really. It’s curling up in a cozy blanket with a cup of coffee in hand (during naptime, of course), reading through my favorite cookbooks and dreaming of yummy possibilities for the week. When we were planning what to send from the States to Portugal, my entire cookbook collection was at the top of the list. But every cookbook in that stack is not made for chaotic evenings. So, I’ve pulled together my favorite cookbooks that I reference over and over to make delicious weeknight meals.
Best All Around Weeknight Cookbook: Half Baked Harvest Super Simple by Tieghan Gerard
There’s a reason Tieghan of Half Baked Harvest has a cult following. Her meals are beautiful, delicious, and easy. She has multiple cookbooks and it was nearly impossible for me to pick my favorite. But, this cookbook is designed for weeknight cooking with a focus around instant pot/slow cooker recipes, recipes with less than 10 ingredients, recipes filled with pantry staples, cook time in less than 30-minutes, or one-pan meals. When we had our picnic in the park a couple weeks ago, I brought Tieghan’s Burrata with Pepperonata and Tomatoes which was a family favorite. Now that we are heading into fall, I can’t wait to make Gingered Apple Pork Chops again. If I was going to pick to pick my current best cookbook for weeknights, this would be it! Shop: Amazon or Bookshop
Best Weeknight Cookbook for Elevated Basics: The Comfortable Kitchen by Alex Snodgrass
Alex describes this collection of recipes as laid-back, healthy, and wholesome and I couldn’t agree more. Some of our family’s favorite recipes lately are out of this book. In fact, I’m sending my husband to the seafood market tomorrow for fish, so we can make Herby Green Curry Poached Halibut. Some of our fan favorites lately are Chicken Dan Dan-Inspired Noodles and Texas-Style Instant Pot Brisket Tacos. YUM! Alex focuses on Whole 30 recipes, but don’t worry, if that’s not your style, it’s easy to substitute more traditional ingredients. I personally don’t follow Whole 30 and everything in this cookbook is delicious! Shop: Amazon or Bookshop
Best Weeknight Cookbook for Learning the Basics: Salt Fat Acid Head by Samin Nosrat
The more you know about cooking, the easier, faster, and more intuitive the process can be. There’s no better person to learn the basics from than Samin. She takes you on a journey of the cooking fundamentals – Salt, Acid, Heat, and Fat with such depth and passion. She answers questions like “how do I fix over-salted pasta water?”, “how do I slice an onion?”, and “how do you break down a whole chicken?”. It’s textbook worthy in terms of the amount of knowledge packed into the pages, but don’t let that scare you. Samin is one of the most entertaining culinary writers. Learn more on the basics of cooking and it will make all your cooking easier and more enjoyable! Next up on my recipe list: Finger-Lickin’ Pan-Fried Chicken and Pasta alle Vongole (Pasta with Clams). P.S. If you need a new binge-worthy show on Netflix, check out her series with the same name – Salt, Acid, Heat, Fat and follow her on a multi-continent journey in search of amazing food. Shop: Amazon or Bookshop
Best Weeknight Cookbook for the Meal Prepper: Everyday Dinners by Jessica Merchant
Anytime I need a quick, simple, flavorful meal on a chaotic weeknight, this is the cookbook I pull off the shelf. Not only are the recipes easy and delicious, but at the bottom of every page, Jessica provides a 10-minute meal prep section with suggestions on what could be done the night before or during the day. It’s perfect for the mom who can squeeze in some prep after the kids are in bed or a break between meetings when working from home. Over the past two weeks I’ve made Sheet-Pan Cashew Chicken and Not-So-Sloppy Turkey Joes (B’s favorite!). Shop: Amazon or Bookshop
Best Weeknight Cookbook for Weeknight Entertaining: Cook Like a Pro by Ina Garten
Is any cookbook list complete without a reference to the cooking queen herself? Definitely not. This cookbook always surprises me by how seemingly elegant, but simple the meals are. If I’m hosting a dinner party on a Friday night with little prep time, I’m confident in recipes like Chicken Thighs with Creamy Mustard Sauce or Shells with Broccoli Rabe and Pancetta that I can whip together easily. This cookbook covers everything from cocktails to making your own stock to simple, yet flavorful dinners. Shop: Amazon or Bookshop
Best Weeknight Cookbook with International Flavors: SIMPLE by Yotam Ottolenghi
I picked up a signed copy of this cookbook in one of my favorite stores – Book Larder, an independent cookbook store in Seattle, and I’ve loved thumbing through the pages ever since. If you’re not familiar with Yotam, his food focuses on bold Mediterranean and Middle Easter flavors. I loved the Chicken Marbella recipe I made last month, and pretty much any recipe with harissa (like Roasted Baby Carrots with Harissa and Pomegranate) is next on the line up. SIMPLE stands for Short on time, 10 Ingredients or less, Make head, Pantry (what you already have on hand), Lazy (aka slow cooked), Easier than you think. It’s perfect for the weeknight cook. Shop: Amazon or Bookshop
I hope my favorite weeknight cookbooks get you excited to try some new, delicious recipes! You don’t have to sacrifice nourishing food and flavor on the weeknights.
I’d love to hear from you! Which cookbooks are your favorite for quick and easy meals?
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Want to hear more of my story? Head over to my most recent blog posts to hear about why we chose to pack up everything and move our family of four to Europe.
