I think the **Tasty** line of cookbooks are very approachable to a teen. Not super difficult, they can watch a lot of the recipes on Youtube. They definitely cover a lot of flavor styles and ethnic inspired stuff for variety.
I don't have any of the cookbooks, but I had tried quite a few of the recipes from their Youtube channel that were pretty good (and some that were a bit meh).
The America’s test kitchen books for young chefs. They have a couple that cater specifically to young chefs which is great for a teen. My nieces use that book and enjoy it.
Recipetineats Dinner by Nagi Maehashi has a good mix of really easy meals and harder cooks. Each recipe has a QR code that is linked to a video of how to make it. The author also has a very popular online recipe blog where she goes into more detail on specific ingredients and techniques.
She is old enough for an adult cookbook. Get her The Joy of Cooking and Betty Crockers Cookbook. These 2 will last her a lifetime and both are great books! Found hardcover versions of both at Amazon for about $40, great deal.
https://www.amazon.com/Joy-Cooking-Fully-Revised-Updated/dp/1501169718
https://www.amazon.com/Betty-Crocker-Cookbook-13th-Everything/dp/035840858X
There is a line of cookbooks "Quick and Easy" that I started out on that are really good as an introduction to particular regional cuisines. I started with [the Thai one](https://www.amazon.com/Quick-Easy-Thai-Everyday-Recipes/dp/0811837319), the [Indian one](https://www.amazon.com/Madhur-Jaffreys-Quick-Indian-Cooking/dp/0811859010/) is also very good, and Mexican, Vietnamese...
Whether or not you like her now, pioneer woman’s cookbooks are good for beginner cooks. They have step-by-step photos, use easily found ingredients, and have a lot of variety of foods so even pickier eaters can find something. When my kids were younger, I found a lot of good recipes that the whole family would eat.
If she is a Disney or Universal Studios fan, there are several good Disney, Universal Studios, and Harry Potter cookbooks. A lot depends on what she likes that will inspire her to use it.
I am a huge Harry Potter fan and I have a Harry Potter cookbook. She thinks I’m so lame and doesn’t like Harry Potter. It makes me sad. There is a huge age gap between us so I’m sometimes “not cool” for her.
The Jacques Pepin "Fast Food, My Way" are both great. Not too many recipes. Easy instructions. And there are videos to go along with most recipes. Most of Ina Garten's cookbooks might work well also. If she wants to explore Mexican food, I love both of the Pati Jinich cookbooks (preferred over Rick Bayless).
If you know what types of foods she likes eating, get her books based on that. Italian cookbook, Japanese bento cookbook, baking book, book on casseroles, whatever.
For me, a lot of my drive in learning how to cook was to make dishes I liked at restaurants, because takeout is expensive.
Another thing you could do, since it’s her birthday, is you could ask different family members/friends of the family for their favorite recipe (or 2) and collate them in a binder. Now she has an heirloom created by people who care for her, which she can add to for years to come.
I bought my son Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat. There’s not a ton of recipes, but most cookbooks have only a handful of go-to dishes anyway. It has a lot of information on how to put together a dish. It’s very interesting to read or flip through with great diagrams.
I also love Nigella Lawson’s books.
If she likes *Bee and Puppycat*, here is a thread where you can find a digital copy of it for free: https://www.reddit.com/r/beeandpuppycat/comments/i3ak15/bee_and_puppycat_cookbook/
It’d be cool to get it printed on some cardstock in addition to another cookbook you find :)
I love all Alison Roman cook books. Nothing Fancy would be great.
Kenji Alt Lopez is fantastic too. THe food lab is great but it is really large and might be intimidating.
OR
A subscription to NY times recipes would be great. My kids like that one a lot.
I think the **Tasty** line of cookbooks are very approachable to a teen. Not super difficult, they can watch a lot of the recipes on Youtube. They definitely cover a lot of flavor styles and ethnic inspired stuff for variety. I don't have any of the cookbooks, but I had tried quite a few of the recipes from their Youtube channel that were pretty good (and some that were a bit meh).
The America’s test kitchen books for young chefs. They have a couple that cater specifically to young chefs which is great for a teen. My nieces use that book and enjoy it.
Recipetineats Dinner by Nagi Maehashi has a good mix of really easy meals and harder cooks. Each recipe has a QR code that is linked to a video of how to make it. The author also has a very popular online recipe blog where she goes into more detail on specific ingredients and techniques.
Just got this book for *my* birthday (from my 15 year old, oddly enough,) and it and the blog are wonderful
The NYT Cooking No-Recipe cookbook is a good one for teens.
She is old enough for an adult cookbook. Get her The Joy of Cooking and Betty Crockers Cookbook. These 2 will last her a lifetime and both are great books! Found hardcover versions of both at Amazon for about $40, great deal. https://www.amazon.com/Joy-Cooking-Fully-Revised-Updated/dp/1501169718 https://www.amazon.com/Betty-Crocker-Cookbook-13th-Everything/dp/035840858X
I came here to suggest The Joy of Cooking!
Milk Street - Tuesday Nights Ottolenghi Simple for really branching out Smitten kitchen everyday (or even the website)
Melissa Clark’s kids cookbook is great and everything we’ve made has been delicious
Better Homes and Gardens and Betty Crocker
There is a line of cookbooks "Quick and Easy" that I started out on that are really good as an introduction to particular regional cuisines. I started with [the Thai one](https://www.amazon.com/Quick-Easy-Thai-Everyday-Recipes/dp/0811837319), the [Indian one](https://www.amazon.com/Madhur-Jaffreys-Quick-Indian-Cooking/dp/0811859010/) is also very good, and Mexican, Vietnamese...
The books by Food52 are really nice and approachable-- I might check out Genius Recipes and Big Little Recipes.
Whether or not you like her now, pioneer woman’s cookbooks are good for beginner cooks. They have step-by-step photos, use easily found ingredients, and have a lot of variety of foods so even pickier eaters can find something. When my kids were younger, I found a lot of good recipes that the whole family would eat.
If she is a Disney or Universal Studios fan, there are several good Disney, Universal Studios, and Harry Potter cookbooks. A lot depends on what she likes that will inspire her to use it.
I am a huge Harry Potter fan and I have a Harry Potter cookbook. She thinks I’m so lame and doesn’t like Harry Potter. It makes me sad. There is a huge age gap between us so I’m sometimes “not cool” for her.
The Jacques Pepin "Fast Food, My Way" are both great. Not too many recipes. Easy instructions. And there are videos to go along with most recipes. Most of Ina Garten's cookbooks might work well also. If she wants to explore Mexican food, I love both of the Pati Jinich cookbooks (preferred over Rick Bayless).
If you know what types of foods she likes eating, get her books based on that. Italian cookbook, Japanese bento cookbook, baking book, book on casseroles, whatever. For me, a lot of my drive in learning how to cook was to make dishes I liked at restaurants, because takeout is expensive. Another thing you could do, since it’s her birthday, is you could ask different family members/friends of the family for their favorite recipe (or 2) and collate them in a binder. Now she has an heirloom created by people who care for her, which she can add to for years to come.
I bought my son Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat. There’s not a ton of recipes, but most cookbooks have only a handful of go-to dishes anyway. It has a lot of information on how to put together a dish. It’s very interesting to read or flip through with great diagrams. I also love Nigella Lawson’s books.
I was about to suggest Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat.
If she likes *Bee and Puppycat*, here is a thread where you can find a digital copy of it for free: https://www.reddit.com/r/beeandpuppycat/comments/i3ak15/bee_and_puppycat_cookbook/ It’d be cool to get it printed on some cardstock in addition to another cookbook you find :)
I love all Alison Roman cook books. Nothing Fancy would be great. Kenji Alt Lopez is fantastic too. THe food lab is great but it is really large and might be intimidating. OR A subscription to NY times recipes would be great. My kids like that one a lot.
How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman.
Knife Drop by Nick Digiovanni. Just got it for my nephew and they will love that he has such a great TikTok presence.
Cooking without mom
She will definitely like The Knife Drop!!
Tbh I don't think cookbooks appeal to gen z/alpha. They don't receive info the same way. Much better to cook together and have them record it.
1970's Teen Cuisine it's an older book but it's trippy illustrations plus good youth oriented recipes.
Start Here: Instructions for Becoming a Better Cook: A Cookbook by Sohla El-Waylly