7 Best-Selling Easy Cooking Books Millions Love

Explore top Easy Cooking Books recommended by Erin Clarke, Tieghan Gerard, and Kathryne Taylor, trusted experts shaping best-selling culinary guides.

Updated on June 25, 2025
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When millions of readers and top experts converge on a select few easy cooking books, you know there’s something genuinely valuable at play. Easy cooking has surged in popularity because it meets the urgent need for meals that fit busy schedules without sacrificing taste or nutrition. These books offer recipes that simplify your kitchen routine, whether you’re juggling work, family, or school commitments.

Leading voices like Erin Clarke, creator of the Well Plated blog, have shaped this space with approachable, health-conscious recipes that don’t feel like compromises. Tieghan Gerard, the New York Times bestselling author of Half Baked Harvest, blends comfort with simplicity in her acclaimed cookbook. Kathryne Taylor, author of Love Real Food, highlights how these guides bring reliability and joy back to everyday cooking.

While these popular books provide proven frameworks, readers seeking content tailored precisely to their skills and tastes might consider creating a personalized Easy Cooking book that combines these validated approaches with your unique preferences. This way, you get the best of expert wisdom and personal relevance, making every meal a success.

Best for healthy comfort cooking fans
Kathryne Taylor, author of Love Real Food, knows what it takes to make healthy cooking accessible and dependable. She praises Erin Clarke’s warm, encouraging voice and how this cookbook stands out as Clarke’s most thoughtful collection, guiding you to avoid leftover waste and adjust dishes for any season or pantry. This recommendation resonates widely, reflecting the book’s popularity with home cooks seeking practical, nourishing meals. As Taylor highlights, "Fans of the Well Plated blog appreciate Erin’s warm, encouraging voice and foolproof, comforting-yet-lightened-up recipes." This intimate approach helps you cook with confidence and ease, making healthy eating feel like second nature. Adding to this, Tieghan Gerard, New York Times bestselling author, notes the book’s alignment with modern busy lifestyles, making wholesome food easy and enjoyable for families everywhere.

Recommended by Kathryne Taylor

Author of Love Real Food

Fans of the Well Plated blog appreciate Erin’s warm, encouraging voice and foolproof, comforting-yet-lightened-up recipes. The Well Plated Cookbook is Erin’s most thoughtful and thorough recipe collection yet. She ensures that you're never left with a random half-cup of leftover beans and guides you to adjust the recipes to suit your season or pantry. The Well Plated Cookbook will become an indispensable resource in your kitchen.

The Well Plated Cookbook was born from Erin Clarke's dedication to transforming classic comfort food into healthier, approachable meals without sacrificing taste. Drawing from her experience running a top healthy-eating blog, Clarke offers over 130 recipes that cleverly use common ingredients, like her Sweet Potato Boats presented five ways, ensuring you get variety without waste. You learn practical techniques for lightening dishes and adapting recipes to your pantry or season, such as Market Swaps and smart leftover hacks. This book suits anyone wanting to eat well on a busy schedule, especially those tired of complicated healthy cookbooks or odd ingredients. It’s straightforward, tasty, and designed to fit real kitchens and lives.

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Best for busy home cooks seeking flavor
Tieghan Gerard is a food photographer, stylist, recipe developer, and cookbook author known for her blog Half Baked Harvest, where she shares a mix of hearty, healthy, and indulgent recipes. Her expertise in creating flavorful yet approachable dishes shines through in this cookbook, which aims to make cooking enjoyable and manageable for home cooks pressed for time. Gerard’s belief that balance is key translates into recipes that include vegan and vegetarian options alongside comforting classics, offering something for nearly every taste and schedule.
2019·288 pages·Easy Cooking, Quick Cooking, Food, Cooking, Comfort Food

Unlike most easy cooking books that pile on complicated steps, Tieghan Gerard offers more than 125 recipes designed for simplicity without sacrificing flavor. You'll find dishes that fit into your busy life, from instant meals to overnight preps, plus vegetarian and vegan options, making it practical for a range of dietary needs. The book breaks down comfort foods into approachable recipes like Cardamom Apple Fritters and Spinach and Artichoke Mac and Cheese, with helpful sections on one-pot meals and slow cooker dishes. It’s ideal if you want to create satisfying meals quickly, whether for family dinners or casual entertaining, without feeling overwhelmed in the kitchen.

New York Times Bestseller
Named Best Cookbook by BuzzFeed and Food Network
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Best for personal recipe plans
This AI-created book on easy cooking mastery is tailored to your specific cooking skills and interests. By sharing what you want to improve and the types of recipes you prefer, the book focuses on delivering simple, reliable cooking methods suited to your needs. It’s designed to help you build confidence and enjoy everyday meals without overwhelm. Customizing the content ensures you concentrate on what matters most for your kitchen success.
2025·50-300 pages·Easy Cooking, Recipe Mastery, Simple Techniques, Meal Planning, Kitchen Basics

This tailored book explores proven techniques and recipes that make mastering easy cooking accessible and enjoyable. By focusing on simple, reliable recipes and fundamental cooking skills, it provides a personalized approach that matches your background and culinary interests. The content closely examines the essentials of everyday meal preparation, offering guidance that would emphasize practical knowledge and time-saving methods. It reveals how combining popular cooking wisdom with your specific goals can transform your kitchen routine into a confident and satisfying experience. Through this tailored exploration, you gain insights that address your unique cooking challenges and preferences, making each recipe approachable and rewarding.

Tailored Content
Recipe Optimization
3,000+ Books Created
Best for simple, hearty one-pan meals
Jon Bailey’s One-Pan Cookbook for Men addresses a common challenge by offering 100 straightforward recipes that require just a single skillet, making cooking accessible and stress-free. This book has proven popular among those who want to cook hearty, healthy meals without fuss or mess. Its approach emphasizes simplicity and practicality, providing essential kitchen tips alongside recipes that fit diverse lifestyles—from dorm living to casual home dinners. If you aim to enhance your cooking game without complicated equipment or lengthy prep, this book offers a clear, approachable path forward.
2020·172 pages·Easy Cooking, Cookbooks, Cooking, Single-Skillet Recipes, Meal Prep

When Jon Bailey realized that many men struggle with complicated cooking, he created a book focusing on simple, one-pan recipes that fit into busy lifestyles without sacrificing flavor or nutrition. You get 100 easy-to-follow recipes designed for minimal cleanup and maximum taste, featuring dishes like Italian Sausage Strata and Vegetable Stir-Fry, plus essential kitchen tips to build your cooking confidence. This book suits anyone from college students to bachelors or anyone wanting to improve their meal prep without fussing over multiple pots and pans. If you want practical, straightforward meals that deliver both heartiness and health, this book will serve you well.

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Best for minimal-ingredient slow cooking
Karen Bellessa Petersen is a dedicated food blogger and cookbook author who has crafted a niche in slow cooker cooking since 2009. Her passion for creating tasty, approachable meals shines through this book, which is designed to help you enjoy home-cooked food without fuss. Her background in developing simple slow cooker recipes gives you confidence that these meals are both reliable and flavorful.
2017·150 pages·Cooking, Easy Cooking, Slow Cooking, Cookbooks, Meal Prep

Karen Bellessa Petersen's extensive experience as a food blogger focused on slow cooker meals led her to create this collection of 100 recipes that simplify cooking without sacrificing flavor. You learn how to prepare satisfying dishes—ranging from Apple-Cinnamon Oatmeal to Beer Brisket—using only five ingredients and your slow cooker, perfect for busy schedules. The book provides detailed nutrition information and emphasizes whole foods, helping you maintain balanced meals with minimal effort. If you want to streamline your dinner routine with straightforward, wholesome recipes that require little prep, this book will suit your needs well, though those seeking complex culinary techniques might find it too basic.

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Best for budget-friendly easy recipes
Pamela Ellgen is the author of more than a dozen books on healthy cooking and fitness, with contributions to Huffington Post, Livestrong, and The Portland Tribune. Living in Santa Barbara with her family, she draws on her broad writing background to create recipes that fit the busy, budget-conscious lifestyle of college students. This cookbook reflects her commitment to making nutritious, simple food accessible and achievable for young adults navigating their first years of independence.

Pamela Ellgen, with her extensive experience writing about healthy cooking and fitness, offers a cookbook tailored specifically for college students juggling time, budget, and limited kitchen space. The book delivers over 100 recipes that require only five main ingredients and can be prepared in about 30 minutes, making meal prep approachable and efficient. You’ll find practical guidance not just on recipes like Vegan Enchiladas or Thai Chicken Ramen, but also on essential kitchen skills such as knife use and vegetable storage, which are crucial for building confidence in the kitchen. This cookbook suits anyone new to cooking or looking to upgrade from fast food without overwhelming complexity or expense.

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Best for quick meal plans
This custom AI book on quick meals is created based on your cooking background, skill level, and the specific flavors and techniques you want to explore. You share your goals and preferences, and the book focuses on helping you prepare fast, tasty meals that fit your lifestyle. Personalizing the content means you avoid generic advice and instead get a tailored plan that makes every cooking session efficient and enjoyable.
2025·50-300 pages·Easy Cooking, Quick Meals, Flavor Pairing, Ingredient Prep, Time Saving

This tailored book explores a step-by-step plan for creating fast and flavorful meals designed to fit your unique cooking style and daily routines. It covers essential techniques for quick meal preparation, efficient ingredient selection, and simple flavor combinations that bring variety and satisfaction to your table. By focusing on your interests and existing skills, this personalized guide helps you build confidence in the kitchen and discover easy recipes that save time without sacrificing taste. The approach reveals how to streamline your cooking process while maintaining creativity and enjoyment, making weeknight dinners and quick lunches both accessible and delightful.

Tailored Guide
Quick Meal Planning
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for teens learning kitchen basics
What makes this cookbook unique in easy cooking is its focus on teens who may have little to no cooking experience but want to start making their own meals. The Super Easy Teen Cookbook offers 75 straightforward recipes with detailed instructions and helpful tips that demystify cooking. It’s designed to empower young cooks to explore breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts, and snacks confidently using accessible ingredients. This approach addresses a common need for beginner-friendly, enjoyable cooking resources aimed specifically at teenagers, encouraging them to develop lifelong skills in the kitchen.
2020·210 pages·Easy Cooking, Cookbooks, Cooking, Recipe Development, Kitchen Skills

The methods Christina Hitchcock developed while assembling this cookbook make cooking approachable for teens with any skill level. You’ll find 75 recipes that break down meals into simple, manageable steps using affordable, easy-to-find ingredients, from fluffy chocolate chip pancakes to parmesan-crusted chicken. Each recipe includes tips on ingredient swaps and explanations of cooking terms, helping you build both confidence and knowledge in the kitchen. Whether you’re new to cooking or just want to expand your repertoire without adult supervision, this book guides you through creating flavorful, homemade meals without fuss or complicated prep.

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Best for quick Mediterranean diet meals
America’s Test Kitchen, known for its acclaimed cooking shows and bestselling cookbooks, leverages its expertise in this collection of 95 Instant Pot recipes inspired by the Mediterranean diet. With over 4 million weekly viewers, their authority in demystifying cooking shines through, making this book a reliable guide for anyone wanting nutritious, flavorful meals in under an hour.

What happens when America’s Test Kitchen combines the Mediterranean diet with the Instant Pot? You get 95 inspired recipes that make healthy, vegetable-forward meals accessible and fast. This book guides you through dishes like Chicken Tagine and Shrimp Risotto, showing how to use the Instant Pot to cook dried beans, grains, and vibrant main courses in under an hour. You’ll learn how to balance flavors and ingredients in a way that respects the Mediterranean diet’s principles without demanding hours in the kitchen. If you want to eat well without complicated prep, this book offers straightforward guidance and a diverse recipe collection that suits busy cooks eager to embrace wholesome meals.

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Proven Easy Cooking Methods, Personalized

Get expert-backed easy cooking strategies tailored precisely to your tastes and schedule.

Simplify meal prep
Master quick recipes
Enjoy home cooking

Trusted by thousands of easy cooking enthusiasts worldwide

Easy Cooking Mastery Blueprint
30-Day Quick Meals System
Easy Cooking Foundations Guide
Easy Cooking Success Secrets

Conclusion

This collection underscores three clear themes: simplicity without sacrifice, expert-endorsed reliability, and widespread appeal across skill levels and lifestyles. If you prefer proven methods packed with flavor and ease, start with Erin Clarke’s The Well Plated Cookbook or Tieghan Gerard’s Half Baked Harvest Super Simple. For validated approaches that streamline cooking, pair The Easy 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Cookbook with the One-Pan Cookbook for Men.

Teens and college students can build confidence and skills with The Super Easy Teen Cookbook and The 5-Ingredient College Cookbook, while those interested in flavorful, healthful diets might explore Mediterranean Instant Pot for quick Mediterranean-inspired meals.

Alternatively, you can create a personalized Easy Cooking book that blends these proven strategies with your particular culinary goals and lifestyle. These widely-adopted approaches have helped many succeed in making easy, enjoyable meals a kitchen staple.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with The Well Plated Cookbook if you want healthy, approachable recipes that suit busy lifestyles. It’s widely praised for balancing flavor and nutrition, making it a great entry point into easy cooking.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Easy Cooking?

No, many of these books, like The Super Easy Teen Cookbook and The 5-Ingredient College Cookbook, are designed for beginners and build confidence with straightforward instructions and simple ingredients.

Do I really need to read all of these, or can I just pick one?

You can absolutely pick one that matches your needs. For example, if you prefer slow cooker meals, The Easy 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Cookbook offers minimal prep. Each book is valuable on its own.

Which books focus more on practical application versus theory?

All these books emphasize practical cooking. The One-Pan Cookbook for Men and Mediterranean Instant Pot provide step-by-step recipes tailored for quick, hands-on meal preparation without extra theory.

Just because a book is popular, does that mean it's actually good?

Popularity here reflects both expert endorsement and reader success. Books like Half Baked Harvest Super Simple have been validated by top chefs and home cooks alike for delivering reliable, tasty results.

Can I get a cooking book tailored to my specific tastes and skill level?

Yes! While these expert books offer trusted methods, you can create a personalized Easy Cooking book that blends proven strategies with your unique preferences, making your cooking journey even more effective.

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