Comic Cookbooks That Show You How It’s Made

Have you ever gotten annoyed at relatives trying to teach you to cook a dish by saying things like “a pinch of this, a dollop of that”? In this gorgeous cookbook combining comics and illustrations, you’ll find a thoughtfully curated guide to “intuitive cooking,” meaning less measuring and precision and more following your senses. Artist Mariah-Rose Marie shares guidance for finding the right kitchen tools, using the ingredients you have on hand, caring for cast iron, and so much more. Even better, the book includes twenty vegetarian recipes for classic dishes from around the globe. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or new in the kitchen, this cookbook will give you new skills and flavors to explore.

This Gourmand Award-winning graphic cookbook beautifully illustrates recipes from a variety of immigrant creators, coordinated by Küche, a food-led organization in Glasgow that helps cooks who are navigating the UK immigration system. Even better, the recipes come with personal stories and reflections on heritage and culture from their creators, who are professional chefs, food writers, activists, and more. Illustrated by BAFTA nominee Shuangshuang Hao, it’s a powerful cookbook that will make you want to try something new.

Dumplings are one of those dishes that are especially difficult to learn to make from written text in a cookbook alone. If you don’t have a parent or grandparent to teach you to make dumplings, comics are the next best thing. This comic cookbook combines the powers of chef Hugh Amano and artist Sarah Becan to show that making dumplings isn’t as scary as it seems. You’ll find a guide to the most popular folding styles, instructions for different cooking styles, and recipes for fillings like pork gyoza, crab rangoon, and sweet Cambodian rice dumplings. Once you fall in love with it, check out Let’s Make Ramen! by the same authors and Let’s Make Bread! by the same illustrator in partnership with chef Ken Forkish.

Cooking on a budget? Then this is the graphic cookbook for you. Artist Nero Villagallos O’Reilly shows that you don’t have to be rich to shop ethically and eat delicious, veggie-forward meals. The Poorcraft Cookbook includes comics about meal planning, grocery shopping for less, setting up your kitchen, and saving money by making your own spice blends. It also features dozens of vegetarian and vegan recipes for a variety of skill levels. This book makes a great gift for new grads and anyone moving into their own home for the first time.

Alright, I’ll admit that this isn’t exactly a graphic cookbook in the sense of having comic panels and characters, but it’s such an adorable little book with colorful illustrations that I couldn’t help but include it. In this pocket-sized cookbook, you’ll find recipes for pickles, savory, sweet, sour, and spicy—from classic dill to vibrant red onions to Korean kimchi and beyond. Each pickle is paired with a vivid illustration, and you’ll also find plenty of fun pickling facts along the way. Pickles, Illustrated makes a perfect gift for your favorite fermented food lover, and the delightful artwork might just convince me to get a pickle tattoo.

Have you ever paused while drinking an old fashioned to wonder just how old your cocktail is? This comic history book dives into the world of cocktails, from ancient wassail to Renaissance trends to Prohibition-era creations, all of which have shaped what we order when we walk into a bar today. Along with all that fascinating history, you’ll find twenty recipes for classic cocktails with illustrations to help you mix them just right.

Queer foodies: this book is made for you! This anthology of comics, essays, and illustrated recipes celebrates the role food plays in queer history and culture. From queer farming and foraging to beloved LGBTQ+ restaurants and cafés, it’s full of fascinating stories. But even more, it’s got comic-supported recipes to bring the flavors of queer history to your own dining room. The breadth of backgrounds of the book’s contributors, combined with the bright illustrations and comics, makes this collection really special.

So you might not actually want to follow the recipes in this book, as they’re known for going off the rails. But if you’re someone who struggles to get food to behave in the kitchen, you’ll find Where There’s Smoke, There’s Dinner very relatable. Jennifer Hayden is known for her comics and illustrations. Her cooking? Not so much. In this “anti-cookbook,” Hayden pokes fun at her own ability to burn every ingredient she touches, including water. It’s a hilarious graphic memoir full of satirical recipes that teach you to roll with the punches when things don’t go to plan.