Celebrity Cookbooks Worth the Hype……..Okay, confession time: I never thought I’d be the kind of person who cares about celebrity cookbooks. Like, honestly? Half the time I can barely convince myself to chop an onion without having a minor breakdown (why do they sting so much, is it revenge?). But here I am, on a Sunday morning, coffee in hand, ranting to you about which celebrity cookbooks are actually worth the hype.
And look, I know what you’re thinking: “Do I really need Chrissy Teigen telling me how to make banana bread when I can just, I dunno, Google it?” I used to think the same thing. But sometimes—hear me out—it’s not about the recipes themselves. It’s about vibes. It’s about flipping through glossy pages of comfort food and thinking, “If I just follow this, maybe my dinner won’t look like a crime scene.”
Plus, half these books are lowkey like diaries. Messy, funny, unfiltered. And that’s what hooked me.
When I Accidentally Became a Cookbook Hoarder
So, quick backstory: My cookbook collection started as a joke. One Christmas, my cousin got me Stanley Tucci’s “Taste” (okay, technically it’s half memoir, half cookbook but whatever). I rolled my eyes and thought, “Cute. I’ll never read this.” Fast forward to me two days later—crying into my pasta because Tucci somehow made a simple bowl of spaghetti feel like poetry.
From there, it spiraled. Chrissy Teigen’s Cravings. Snoop Dogg’s From Crook to Cook (yes, that’s real, and yes, it’s amazing). I now own more celebrity cookbooks than I do actual spatulas. Which is… embarrassing, but also not?
You ever buy books and not read them just to feel smarter? Yeah. Same with cookbooks. But at least these ones double as coffee table flexes.
The Ones That Actually Changed My Kitchen Game
Alright, here’s where it gets good. These are the celebrity cookbooks that, in my totally unqualified opinion, actually deserve the hype.
1. Chrissy Teigen’s Cravings (and Cravings: Hungry for More)
Say what you want about Chrissy, but the woman knows her way around comfort food. These books are loud. They’re full of recipes that make you want to unbutton your jeans halfway through eating. Like, jalapeño-cheddar cornbread? Sweet potato gnocchi? Sign me up.
And she writes the way she tweets: slightly chaotic, zero filter. Honestly, reading her cookbook feels like texting your funniest friend at midnight. The food tastes like it too—messy, indulgent, no apologies.
2. Snoop Dogg’s From Crook to Cook
Listen. If you told 12-year-old me that one day Snoop Dogg would be teaching me how to make baked mac & cheese, I would’ve laughed in your face. But this cookbook? It’s a cultural reset.
It’s got legit soul food staples (fried bologna sandwiches, anyone?), but also bougie recipes that make you wonder if Martha Stewart ghostwrote half of it (which, honestly, maybe she did). Either way, it’s pure joy.
Plus, imagine pulling this book off your shelf when you have guests. Instant conversation starter.
3. Stanley Tucci’s Taste
Not strictly a cookbook, but hear me out. This one is like having an Italian uncle who insists you eat just one more bowl of pasta. It’s stories, memories, and a handful of recipes that make you want to book a flight to Naples immediately.
Tucci doesn’t just cook food—he romanticizes it. And suddenly, you’re like, “Wow, maybe I should spend three hours making risotto instead of scrolling TikTok.” (Spoiler: I still chose TikTok, but the thought was there.)
4. Ayesha Curry’s The Seasoned Life
This one surprised me. Like, I bought it because it was on sale (don’t judge), but it ended up being one of the most usable cookbooks I own. The recipes are family-friendly but not boring, which is a miracle in itself.
She’s also super approachable—like, “I know you have work, kids, a headache, and five group chats blowing up, but here’s dinner in 30 minutes.” Bless her.
5. Antoni Porowski’s Antoni in the Kitchen
Ah yes, our beloved avocado king from Queer Eye. I was ready to roast this book, but honestly? It’s good. It’s not Michelin star fancy, but it’s very me on a Tuesday night trying to impress myself. Think elevated basics: fancy-ish grilled cheese, sexy pasta, lots of avocado (duh).
Would I trust him to run a restaurant? Probably not. But to help me look like I know what I’m doing when my in-laws come over? Absolutely.
Why Celebrity Cookbooks Just… Work
Here’s the thing: celebrity cookbooks are basically edible fan service. They give you permission to play pretend. Like, I know damn well I’m not about to be besties with Chrissy Teigen, but if I make her “John’s Famous Fried Chicken,” it’s like I’m in on the inside joke.
And that’s kinda the magic. Recipes are everywhere—you can Google “chili recipe” and get 500 versions. But when you flip through a celebrity cookbook, you’re not just cooking. You’re stepping into their world for a minute.
Sometimes I don’t even cook from them—I just read them like bedtime stories. (Weird? Maybe. Comforting? Definitely.)
The Ones I Regret Buying (Yeah, Not All Are Hits)
Okay, real talk: not every celebrity cookbook is a winner. Some are basically PR stunts with glossy photos and zero substance. Like, I won’t name names (fine, Gwyneth Paltrow), but some of these books are basically like, “Here’s how to make kale air.”
I once tried a recipe from one of those “clean eating” celebrity books. It required spirulina powder, organic bee pollen, and something called maca root. I ended up with a $45 smoothie that tasted like swamp water. Never again.
Should You Actually Cook From Them?
Here’s my advice: If you’re even slightly tempted, grab one. Worst-case scenario, it sits on your shelf and makes you look cultured when people come over. Best-case, you find your new go-to weeknight meal.
Don’t expect perfection. Half the fun is messing it up, texting your friend “I just turned Chrissy’s meatballs into soup by accident,” and laughing about it.
Because that’s the thing about cooking—it’s not supposed to be perfect. It’s supposed to be messy, weird, and sometimes a little burned.
Final Thoughts about Celebrity Cookbooks Worth the Hype
Celebrity cookbooks are like the Spotify playlists of food. Some are trash, some are genius, but all of them tell you a little something about the person who made them. And about you too—because choosing which celebrity cookbook you own says a lot.
If you’re a Cravings person, you’re the friend who always brings snacks to the party. If you own Tucci’s Taste, you probably cry at pasta commercials. If you’re rocking Snoop’s book, you’re 100% the fun cousin everyone wants at Thanksgiving.
Me? I’m all of the above. Which means my kitchen is chaos, but at least it’s delicious chaos.
So yeah. If you’ve been side-eyeing those celebrity cookbooks in the store aisle, wondering if they’re worth the hype… they kinda are. Even if you never cook from them, they’ll make you smile. And isn’t that worth it?
